In 2016, luxury author Aaron Sigmond released DRIVE TIME: Watches Inspired by Automobiles, Motorcycles, and Racing, kicking off a trilogy of hardcover monographs devoted to comprehensively covering the most popular segments of the luxury watch world. Sigmond teamed with WatchTime’s own Mark Bernardo for the second book in the Timepiece Trilogy, SEA TIME: Watches Inspired by Sailing, Yachting, and Diving, and Bernardo finally flies solo as full author of the final volume, AIR TIME: Watches Inspired by Aviation, Aeronautics, and Pilots, launching in July 2021. Published by Rizzoli New York like both its predecessors, and packed with 150 color and black-and-white photographs, AIR TIME explores more than a century of stylish timepieces inspired by, built for, or made famous by aviation pioneers — from daring balloonists and wartime jet pilots to globetrotting jet-setters and astronauts.
In a narrative spanning from 1904 to the present day, and showcasing nearly 100 timepieces vintage and modern, over 240 pages, Bernardo interweaves history, technical insight, and the cultural impact of pilot’s watches into an authoritative and visually stunning coffee table book. Historical chapters showcase milestones such as Cartier’s development of the first men’s wristwatch for Alberto Santos-Dumont; Charles Lindbergh’s invention of the Longines Hour Angle; and the Omega Speedmaster’s journey to becoming the first watch to land on the moon.
The most iconic timepieces, like the Breitling Navitimer, IWC Big Pilot’s Watch, Breguet Type XX, and Rolex GMT-Master, are given their due spotlight, while an assortment of vintage and contemporary timepieces from the likes of Bell & Ross, Bremont, Oris, Patek Philippe, Hamilton, TAG Heuer, Zenith, among dozens of other brands, fill out a range of categories, from chronographs made for pilots and astronauts to world timers aimed at frequent flyers. Decorated naval aviator Jim DiMatteo provides the foreword, former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly pens the afterword, and seasoned aerial photographer Eric Adams contributes a photo essay on the high-tech future of aviation. Available for pre-order online at rizzoliusa.com, AIR TIME is priced at $85.
May I know where can I buy a copy a the Airtime, and what’s the cost?