I am a watch guy! I am also a guy who reads about watches, learning more about the tradition and history behind the watchmaker and the company, while learning about the product releases since the company’s inception.
But I saw a book that was different from watch books that I typically read.
I decided to give Matt Hranek’s October 2017 book “A Man & His Watch: Iconic Watches and Stories from the Men Who Wore Them” a try because it’s a book in which men share their stories of an important watch (or watches) that have true meaning for them.
May they be watches they received from a loved one, a friend or something they won from a competition, I believe there is a story behind a watch for some owners and that is what made me interested in giving this book a try.
The hardcover book comes with a slipcase (with both sides opened) and the book features the cover of a Model 6263 Big Red Rolex Daytona once owned by the late Paul Newman and now owned by his youngest daughter Clea, who can be seen in many interviews and events sporting the watch.
For those not familiar with the watch, the Paul Newman watch is the most expensive of all time. There are two Rolex Daytona watches which Paul Newman owned, one he wore from 1969 through 1984 which was a Model 6239 Rolex Daytona which he gave to his daughter Nell’s boyfriend at the time, James Cox, who didn’t own a watch and Paul Newman gave his old watch to him.
James had it in his possession for many years until 2016 when he contacted renown auctioneer Aurel Bacs and that Paul Newman’s Model 6239 Rolex Daytona was sold in October 2017 at an auction by Philips for $17,752,500 and has now become the most expensive watch ever.
The watch is the “holy grail” for hardcore watch collectors and is known as the Paul Newman watch.
The watch had the inscription “Drive Careful, Me” (which his wife Joanne Woodward gifted him back in 1969) but the reason why Newman gave it to a young Cox at the time, aside from him not having a watch, was also the fact that Joanne bought him a new Model 6263 Big Red Rolex Daytona which had the inscription “Drive Slowly, Joanne”.
Clea Newman decided to sell the watch in December 2020, consigning it to an auction with proceeds benefiting charitable organizations founded by Paul Newman.
But these are stories that I find fascinating. How people come across watches, may they be luxury watches or inexpensive watches, just reading those stories is something I enjoy reading about.
And numerous stories are featured in Matt Hranek’s “A Man & His Watch: Iconic Watches and Stories from the Men Who Wore Them”.
While I’m not going to discuss many of the stories featured (because if you are interested in watches, I really do want you to check this book out!), you do have numerous people such as Mario Andretti, Dimitri Dimitrov, Kikuo Ibe, James Lamdin, Paul Boutros, Mark Cho, Kenta Watanabe, Tom Sachs, Josh Condon and many more individuals who contributed to this book.
Featuring great macro shots of the watch on a black background (just the front of the case/dial with part of the strap from the top and bottom), I had a great time reading this book, but since it’s shorter at around over 216 pages, I made sure to read two entries a day, so I can thoroughly enjoy the book.
There was one review that he found the book “boring” and “uninspired” because they are not “watch guys”, while I respect one’s opinion, personally for me, I’m a watch guy but I enjoyed this book because they are not all “watch guys”. There are more than enough watch bulletin boards/forums to read from watch guys who come across a watch.
I don’t want to read a story about a person who scored a cool watch on eBay, or bought a watch at a cool deal from a seller/trader on a popular watch forum. I want genuine stories from people, from all facets of life, who kept a watch they were given, no matter if they were “watch guys” or not, why the watch they kept has meaning.
While I’m sure there are many men who have received cool watches handed down to them or those who scored a luxury watch at an estate sale, personally I feel these stories can continue on for a volume 2 of “A Man & His Watch”, which I hope Hranek does consider.
I feel that this book can be utilized as a coffee table book for those who need a middle-sized book to stack upon a larger book. For me, if I was to enter someone’s home and saw this book on their coffee table, it would be a good communication starter and heck, I would buy this book immediately just knowing what it’s about.
I personally discovered this book actually looking for a Rolex historical coffee table book and saw this come up on the search and immediately had to give it a try and so glad I did. It’s the kind of book you don’t see being made. Watch books are usually about the history or are watch photo books, this one is quite special and unique and I’m grateful to Hranek for working on this book and hope for a second volume!
Matt Hranek’s “A Man & His Watch: Iconic Watches and Stories from the Men Who Wore Them” is highly recommended!
