THE ABECEDARIUM OF SWISS WATCHES: The Quadragenary Edition Hardcover – November 1, 2025

Every book deserves its own origin story, and this special edition of "The Abecedarium of Swiss Watches" exists because some tales demand to be told in full. While the original thirty-two brands already stretched the definition of "abecedarium," this expanded version abandons all pretence of alphabetical restraint in favour of something more valuable: completeness, growing from survey to symphony with forty carefully chosen brands.New to this edition is Robergé, properly placed under R in the alphabetical order, yet carrying special weight as it reflects a deeply personal chapter in Liam Devine's own career. Alongside seven other additions, each chosen for their ability to complete narratives begun elsewhere, these brands transform the book from mere reference work into something approaching confession. Complementing these portraits, Devine adds his unvarnished reflections on an industry where he's spent far too much time and money to remain objective.With wit sharpened by experience and honesty that cuts deeper than before, this expanded edition proves that behind every complication lies an even more complex human story. The forty brands gathered here represent not just an alphabetical journey but a map of an industry's soul, complete with its nobility and neuroses. Whether you're a fellow sufferer or someone who simply enjoys watching collectors rationalise their madness, this version offers the full confession of a man who fell hard for an industry where genius and folly dance together.Finally, a watch book that admits what we all know: we're not just buying timepieces, we're buying into beautiful insanity. Read more