500 Years, 100 Watches

How do you tell 500 years of watchmaking history? Through a timeline? Through brands? Through inventions?

The book 500 Years, 100 Watches takes a different approach: it tells the story of horology through 100 extraordinary timepieces, each representing a moment when watchmaking changed direction.

In this episode of Watches and Politics — Series 3: Watch Books, I explore the book by Alexander Barter and Daryn Schnipper, two respected voices in the world of watch history and auctions. The result is something fascinating: a curated journey across centuries of craftsmanship, innovation, and cultural change.

In this episode, we discuss:

• why these particular 100 watches were selected• how individual timepieces can represent entire eras of watchmaking• the relationship between technical innovation and historical significance• the role of collectors and auction houses in preserving horological history• what this book reveals about the evolution of watchmaking from the 16thcentury to today• who should read this book — and who might prefer a deeper technical reference

This episode connects directly to:

▶ Series 1 — watches as symbols of culture and power▶ Series 2 — collectors and the modern watch market▶ Series 3 — the books that define horological knowledge

Series 3 is the library of Watches and Politics — where watches are explored not only as objects, but as milestones in human ingenuity.

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