REVIEW: THE COMPLETE PRICE GUIDE TO WATCHES, Shugart & Gilbert             1995

I have been fascinated by the subject of old watches and clocks but am not
a collector of same.  However, I was most interested in taking a good look
at this book - it stood out from the others on the shelf at my local Barnes
and Noble shop. Turns out it was a fine choice to learn everything a beginner
needs to know about the subject of collectible pocket and wrist watches.

This annual guide is actually six books in one and deals with American and 
European pocket watches, wrist watches, "Swatch" wrist watches and 
comic watches.  In addition, there's plenty of collector information,
identification, tips, history and terminology.  In short it contains a
great deal of wisdom and experience on the subject.  

THE COMPLETE PRICE GUIDE TO WATCHES is very lavishly illustrated with over
6.000 illustrations including sharp and clear photographs and drawings.
It was printed on high quality paper stock - which I believe adds a lot to
the clarity of the illustrations.  I was pleased with the choice of paper
stock they used - no corners cut here!

The authors have both been active watch buyers since the 1960s, seeking out
fine and rare timepieces all over the world.  They travel extensively to 
auctions throughout the United States and Europe, swap meets and shows to
keep their finger on the "pulse" of the watch market.  As with any price
guide, buyers and sellers should bear in mind that many factors go into 
determining the value of a certain piece and that this book is just that - 
a guide to approximate values.  Watches listed are priced at the collectable
fair market retail level of what a collector should expect to pay for a watch
from a watch dealer.  This guide has a lot of authority behind it and so
its price ranges are a pretty good indicator.

In addition to the thousands of watches listed there is a gold mine of
information covering how watches work, history of the development of
watches, many production documents and other company information to assist
the serious collector in identifying, grading as to condition and pricing
pocket and wrist watches.  

There is a whole lot more in this book on the subject - far more than I can
possibly hope to mention here.  Its virtually a mini-encyclopedia of
collectable pocket and wrist watches.  It is a valuable reference tool and
should be of great interest to anyone interested in the subject.  I will
spend many hours absorbing te knowledge contained in its 1,100 pages.


%T      Complete Price Guide to Watches
%A      Cooksey Shugart & Richard Gilbert
%I      Cooksey Shugart Publications 
%C      PO Box 3147, Cleveland TN 37320-3147
%D      1995
%O      $21.95 from publisher or major US booksellers
%G      ISBN:0-89145-657-0 
%P      1071 pages paperbound
%K      watches, timepieces, collecting, price guide


(C) 1995
Michael Crestohl
Nahant Massachusetts  USA
mc@shore.net

DISCLAIMER:  I have no interest, financial or otherwise, in the success or 
failure of the book or materials reviewed herewith, nor have I received any 
compensation (other than a review copy requested by me) from anyone who has.  
All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

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