Customer Reviews
The Bible on Rolex 
2008-09-12
It has been said, but this really is the king of all Rolex books. The pictures are outstanding, every little detail is here in the text. If you want a book on Rolex watches, this is the book for you.
Its a great coffee table book, but full of everything Rolex.
It has the dates, year by year of all the different models and gives movement numbers and case numbers.
It also covers the Tudor watch, also made by the Rolex company.
The book is a very useful reference book if you are a Rolex owner, or want to buy Rolex. It has numerous sections & include several discussions including: tips on differentiating the real from the fakes, history of the different models, bracelets, purchasing Rolex via ebay, vintage Rolex, etc.
I must 100% recommend it.
Big Watches; Big Book 
2008-04-24
Similar to Rolex watches on which this book focuses, it's heavy, quite large, and overpriced. Again similar to Rolex watches, it does the job fairly well. Generally good to excellent photography traces the evolution of Wilsdorf's watches from "unknown," to a famous name. Furthermore, Wilsdorf understood the value of publc relations and advertising campaigns to boost his product to what's probably the most recognized brand of Swiss mechanical watches. While the book is lavish in its photographic presentations, there are too few words. Especially with watches, I want to know original and current selling prices, too. I yearned for a newer edition. Of course there can't be one every year, but this volume is better suited to the collector of older watches. I'd love one highlighting post-2005 Rolexes. But, you sure can't slight the research accomplished. Tops in that regard, few cover older Rolexes as completely. As a photographer who owns six Rolex watches, I appreciate the photography, and respect the teeth-pulling exercises the authors no doubt went through to locate the pictures. I prefer smaller books that are more conveniently sized for reading and storage. My library leans like the famous tower due to myriad so-called "table- or coffeetable-top" books that are oversized. Sometimes, as is this publication, that's the only way I find the material I seek: books about cars and watches. A slick, perhaps thicker, paperback edition possible to read lying down beats hell out of these large, cloth bound, impractical volumes. This book, at its price, is a product only a "watch buff" or a Rolex fan will likely cough up $125.00 to own. I'm both, plus I got it for $75: a "bargain," I suppose, maybe much in the same way Rolexes are when compared with several finer Swiss timepieces, such as Patek Philippe, a brand against which all watches are weighed,watchmakers often say. Rolexes are no Patek Philippes, of course, but they don't sell new for $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 or more, either, and sans diamonds as well! As a "gearhead" and watch hound for more than 50 years, I say a Rolex is similar to a Dodge pickup loaded with leather, GPS, Sirius and all the toys. They're tough, rough, practical. As mechanical devices go, they're reliable as granite. Each has a strong, masculine, but very attractive presence, and either one that's serviced religiously will work a century more. This isn't the best watch book I own, nor is it even the best Rolex book I have, but those of us dedicated to horology and Rolexes may say, as did I: "To hell with its dimensions, ungainly weight and price: I gotta' have it!" Unless Auntie Maude is the bearded weight lifter at the circus, don't send her after it. Plan to sit at a table to flip through it comfortably. (Be sure to order the 3rd edition, circa 2006!)
The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches, an unauthorized history 2008-04-23
This is a fantastic Rolex reference which is rich is history, background information, and abundant full-color photos. This is a must-have reference for the serious Rolex collector.
The Rolex bible. Not more to add to that. 2008-02-25
The best Rolex book available. Known among collectors as the Rolex bible it is easy to see why.
The quality of pictures nearly all color is beyond any other watch book published. The history sections flow from page to page and makes light reading.
As a guide and reference book on Rolex watches. It is simply the best.
I don't know much about the authors but they show their love for the watches in section after section. The price is fair; this is a very large well put together book.
I would like to give it 10 stars. The work involved producing it certainly merits it.
Just a masterpiece 2008-02-09
This has been called the Rolex bible. I dont agree with the phrase but it merits the award.
It is fantastic. No other wordfor it. Excellant pictures. Great facts and well put together.
A great book for Rolex watch fans 2007-10-31
The name Rolex is recognized around the world. It has become an icon of beauty, quality, accuracy, style, and taste. While there are other fine manufacturers of timepieces, none has reached this pinnacle of public respect and acclaim. The watches produced by Rolex over the last 100 years are celebrated in this lavishly illustrated classic, now in a revised and expanded third edition. Over 30 newly discovered wristwatches are included in this volume, along with new information and a revised value guide. In addition there are detailed looks at some of Rolex's legendary movements. Dowling and Hess, both acknowledged Rolex authorities, have captured the watches' beauty in color photography and present the most thorough and extensive history written of the company. The watches and the extensive information this book offeres to collectors make it a truly useful volume, one that will be cherished by watch lovers around the world.
Not as good as I thought 2007-10-24
If you are not an antigue ROLEX watch collector, don't buy this book. Average reader like me who would like to have more information of Rolex watches that he or she is seeking now will find little help from the book. 95% of the content is related to models produced before 1980's. The other 5% information you could find it much more adeguate from the internet. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Great Rolex reference, but not much in updates for 3rd edition 
2007-08-19
For a comprehensive Rolex history with pictures, this is one of the best books out there. I definitely recommend this book for the Rolex enthusiast. Because it focuses mostly on history, the pictures are mostly of vintage models.
I own the 2nd edition (published 2001) and was excited when I saw the 3rd edition available (published 2006). I thought maybe there would be updates on the newer watches especially the 50th Anniversary Submariner and Day-Date (the green ones). To my disappointment, the 2nd and 3rd editions appeared to be identical except for the price guide at the end of the book. Yes, it's nice to have updated numbers, but I feel an updated edition should mention some updated watches as well.
A printing error on page 383 was not corrected in this 3rd edition either. That page shows a picture of an upside down Seadweller, but the print below the picture says "The Yachtmaster."
If you already own the 2nd edition and don't care for an updated price list, there's no need to spend $75+ for the 3rd edition. However, the 3rd edition is a good purchase for the first time buyer.
Overall I give the book 5 stars, but I'm giving it 4 stars here because of the lack of updates for the 3rd edition.
Simply the Rolex bible 2007-08-18
Not much to say about the book. It has evertthing a Rolex collector will neeed.
The best pictures published on watches, ever, No book comes close.
The best Rolex reference history book. 2007-08-15
Its worth every penny if you want a reference book on Rolex. No book comes close.
The pictures and quality are fantastic, It is a reference book and not a book that is light reading, its full of heavy detail on every Rolex ever made up to 1999.
Another edition should be due about now, for updates.
I 100% recommend to any Rolex enhusiast, Rolex dealer or Rolex collector. There simply is no book with more detail on the market.
