Watches Inspire New Books

[Chewbacca]

Rolex: The Impossible Collection,” by Fabienne Reybaud

Assouline, 194 pages, $845

Tackling the subject of Rolex for Assouline’s “Impossible Collection” series posed a twofold challenge for Fabienne Reybaud, editor of watches and jewelry at the French daily Le Figaro. Rolex would not collaborate, and none of the owners wanted to be identified. Still, Ms. Reybaud succeeded in tracking 87 Rolexes that she considered rare enough for the book.

It makes clear that all the timepieces are objects of desire, although all are not created equal. On the cover, for example, is the most coveted of all Rolexes: the Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6239, also known as “Paul Newman’s Paul Newman.” This watch made headlines in 2017 when it sold at auction for $17.8 million. The buyer’s identity remains a well-guarded secret — and for those who may wonder whether Ms. Reybaud uncovered that information, the cover image was provided by Phillips, the house that handled the auction.



https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/f...fp-journe.html