12 FACES OF TIME – Famous Watchmakers Sign Books at Basel

12 Faces of Time launched at Basel with eleven of the famous watchmakers portrayed in the artistic book on hand to sign copies for visitors.

WORLDTEMPUS - 30 March 2010

Elizabeth Doerr

12 Faces of Time, written by Worldtempus’s own Elizabeth Doerr and photographed by Ralf Baumgarten, launched at Baselworld’s bookstore on March 20 and 21 with signing sessions. Eleven of the famous watchmakers portrayed in the artistic coffee table book were on hand to sign copies for visitors to Baselworld, including François-Paul Journe, Vianney Halter, Philippe Dufour, Kari Voutilainen, Felix Baumgartner, Thomas Prescher, Volker Vyskocil, Paul Gerber, Beat Haldimann, Roger Smith, and Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. Only Kenji Shiohara did not make the trip to Basel from Japan this year and was therefore not on hand to sign.

Back row: Thomas Prescher, Vianney Halter, Kari Voutilainen, Paul Gerber, Felix Baumgartner (partially hidden), Philippe Dufour, François-Paul Journe, and Roger Smith. Front: Ralf Baumgarten and Elizabeth Doerr. © Elizabeth Doerr / Worldtempus

The aesthetic book published by TeNeues came out just in time for the 25th anniversary of the A.H.C.I., a creative grouping of independent watchmakers. The coincidental juxtaposition was fortuitous, for nine of the watchmakers portrayed in the hardback book belong to the legendary group created to profit from the synergy of strength in numbers.

Philippe Dufour signs a copy of 12 Faces of Time for a fan. © Ian Skellern

Watchprint.com, who runs Baselworld’s book store, confirmed great enthusiasm from buyers of the book and sold out of it on the last day of the fair. Other legendary horological figures and owners and managers of famous watch brands reserved signed copies of it, which they picked up on the last day.