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The Ultimate Collection

The Impossible Collection of Watches (2nd Edition)

€1.400 EUR

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For this update to the 2014 original edition, British historian and journalist Nicholas Foulkes has selected the 100 breakthrough timepieces developed since the advent of the twentieth century, weighing the virtues of rarity, costliness, innovative functions, historical importance, grand provenan...
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Author, historian and journalist Nicholas Foulkes is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, Financial Times How to Spend It, GQ and The Rake magazine. Best known for his trilogy of nineteenth-century British histories, Last of the Dandies, Dancing into Battle, and Gentlemen and Blackguards, he has published around thirty books on history, the arts and style. Among his recent works are a biography of the painter Bernard Buffet (Random House), a biography of Princess Ira von Fürstenberg (Harper Collins) and Time Tamed, a history of humankind’s calibration of time from the Paleolithic era to the moon landings (Simon & Schuster). His books for Assouline include Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century (2011), Swans: Legends of the Jet Society (2013) and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso (2020).

This French concept embodies the art of knowing exactly what to do and when to do it. At Assouline, savoir-faire defines every creation: from the artistry of our covers to the meticulous detailing of our Ultimate Collection and the precision of every page. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each tome in the Ultimate Collection bears the distinct imprint of the artisan. Nestled in luxurious clamshell presentation cases, every title is a journey of craftsmanship, from concept to creation, guided by our creative team and brought to life with the highest standards of design, photography, and production. Each book reflects the dedication, care, and expertise that transform an idea into a lasting work of art.

  • Handle with Clean, Dry Hands: Always use clean, dry hands when handling your book to avoid transferring oils or dirt onto the pages and cover. 
  • Avoid Direct Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause fading or discoloration of the cover and pages. 
  • Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Humidity and moisture can damage both the paper and binding. Store books upright on a flat surface, away from heat sources. 
  • Dust Regularly: Use a soft, dry cloth or feather duster to gently remove dust from the cover and page edges. 
  • Use Caution When Opening: Do not force the spine flat, especially on new books, as this may damage the binding. 
  • Keep Away from Liquids and Food: Avoid placing books near food or beverages to prevent spills and stains.
If your order arrives damaged or incorrect, please contact Customer Service as soon as possible. For damaged items, kindly email us your order number, a description of the issue, and photos of the damage. If you wish to return your order for any other reason, we allow exchanges for merchandise credit within 14 days of delivery. We do not allow refunds and the customer is responsible for the cost of return shipping. Please note that items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received, with all the original packaging. Exchanges and credit are applicable only at the original point of purchase. The Ultimate Tower, The Allure Bookstand, headphones, and vintage or third-party objects are final sale and not eligible for return or exchange. Please email us at customerservice@assouline.com with your order number to begin the return process for an online order. EU and EFTA customers have the right to withdraw from their purchase within 14 days of delivery; return shipping is at the customer's expense.

Last-Minute-Geschenke: Das verschenken Sie zu Weihnachten an Uhrenfans; By: Daniela Pusch, GQ Online (Germany), December 2022

Assouline Releases Another Installment of ‘The Impossible Collection of Watches’; By: Yoni Yardeni, HiConsumption Online (USA), December 2022

‘The Impossible Collection of Watches’ Is Back in a Bigger Second Edition; By: Demetrius Simms, Robb Report Online (USA), December 2022

The SHARP List: Our 2022 Culture Gift Guide, Sharp Online (Canada), December 2022

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Time was created as an image of eternity.

— Plato

In the details

Ultimate Collection curates culture from around the world and across the ages. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each page of this limited-edition series bears the unique imprint of the artisan.

In the details

Each purchase comes with complimentary white handling gloves and our signature tote bag.

Page count

168 pages

Number of illustrations

150

Language

English

Released on

December 2022

Dimensions

W 40 x L 47 x D 8 cm

Cover materials

Handcrafted volume in a luxury rubber
clamshell case with metal plaque

ISBN

9781649801869

Weight

11.34 kg

Author

Text by Nicholas Foulkes

Our commitment to sustainability

Assouline supports One Tree Planted in its commitment to a more sustainable world through reforestation. Since 2019, this partnership has contributed to global efforts to restore forests, with the long-term vision of creating a sustainable cycle by sourcing paper from the trees planted. Our dedication to craftsmanship extends beyond the books themselves—today, our titles are printed on paper selected with the environment in mind, supporting the shift toward more responsible materials. With the belief that beauty stands not just in how it looks, but in how it’s made.

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