Books about watches continue to roll in — just in time for the holidays.
Looking for the perfect gift for the watch-loving friend in your life? Think beyond accessories and straps this year. A beautifully crafted book—something they can flip through, learn from, or simply savor while indulging in their favorite hobby—makes for a meaningful, lasting present. Luckily, the second half of 2025 was packed with exciting new releases for horology fans. Here, we round up our top picks so, whether your watch-obsessed friend prefers celebrity culture, deep history, iconic brands, or future-forward thinking, there’s something for every kind of collector.
Watch Spotting: The Collectors
By Rhonda Riche — Published by ACC Art Books
Watch Spotting The Collectors by Rhonda Riche.
There’s no better way to kick off this list than with a book by my friend and colleague Rhonda Riche, whose fresh, culturally fluent voice has made her one of today’s exciting watch writers. Watch Spotting: The Collectors explores the personal watch collections of 30 celebrities—offering a vibrant, pop-culture-driven look at why high-end watches have become modern cultural currency.
This isn’t just another glossy coffee-table compilation. Riche goes deeper, revealing how timepieces have evolved into markers of identity, creativity, and status. From the refined tastes of Orlando Bloom and David Beckham to the bold flexes of Rihanna, Kevin Hart, Lionel Messi, Ryan Gosling, and even Taylor Swift, each chapter shows what their watches say about who they are—and what the collecting culture says about all of us. With its blend of celebrity, style, design, and storytelling, Watch Spotting is poised to become one of 2025’s must-own horological titles. Approximately $30.
Time Machines: How Watches Shaped the Modern World
Gestalten, Edited by Blake Z. Rong & Sean Paul Lorentzen
Time Machines book
Next up is a heavyweight release for history lovers, design geeks, and anyone who appreciates the big-picture view of watchmaking. Time Machines is a full-color, stitch-bound, 320-page journey through 100 influential watches from 1900 to today.
Co-edited by my colleagues Sean Paul Lorentzen and Blake Z. Rong, the book blends storytelling with sharp cultural insight, illustrating how watches have mirrored the world’s transformations—technological, stylistic, and emotional. Expect rich visuals, smart commentary, and a compelling narrative that connects the dots between design, identity, and the evolution of modern life. At somewhere between $85 and $90 (depending on where you buy it), it’s a high-impact, high-value pick for any watch enthusiast.
The Watch Book: Rolex — Next Generation
By Gisbert L. Brunner — Published by teNeues
The Watch Book Rolex Nest Generation book
Rolex fans, rejoice: 2025 brings a new chapter in one of the most successful series in watch publishing history. The Watch Book Rolex: Next Generation delivers what collectors crave—heritage, innovation, and the magic of the Crown—all presented through the knowledgeable lens of author and Rolex expert Gisbert L. Brunner.
This edition feels especially timely. Rolex has never been hotter among younger collectors, and Brunner captures both the brand’s storied past and its dynamic present. From icons like the Submariner and Explorer to the modern references lighting up social feeds, this beautifully designed volume shows why Rolex remains the most coveted name in watches. With its blend of adventure, celebrity stories, and deep horological detail, this is the definitive Rolex gift for 2025 – after a watch, of course. It sells for between $110 and $125 depending on the seller.
Ahead of Time
By Ressence — Published by Luster
Ahead of Time book.
Closing out our list is a completely different kind of watch book—one that barely talks about watches at all yet speaks directly to the spirit of innovation that defines modern horology. To mark its 15th anniversary, independent brand Ressence releases Ahead of Time, a 230-plus-page exploration of the future through conversations with 20 visionary thinkers.
Founder Benoît Mintiens sets the tone with a powerful message: the future belongs to those who dare to imagine it. Interviews with figures like OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Airbnb’s Joe Gebbia, architect Daniel Libeskind, Google’s Ivy Ross, and Michelin-star chef Virgilio Martínez form a wide-angle narrative about creativity, emotion, and shaping tomorrow with intention. Beautifully produced by Belgian publisher Luster, this is a book for the futurist in your life—the collector who loves ideas as much as movements. Price: $40-$45.
Each of these books offers fresh inspiration, great visuals, and serious bookshelf appeal.
