Collector Tips
Books
Good literature belongs in every collection. Here are books on Rolex and watches that I can recommend, both current and out of print.
There's a lot of knowledge in books, waiting to be discovered. Not everything in reference books like these is correct, though, so it's worth cross-checking the information against other sources.
Some books are out of print and sell for high prices, though they're usually worth it. For English-language books, take a look at the US Amazon sites. There's no fixed book price in the US, and depending on the exchange rate the books can cost a lot less than the list price. Customs and VAT get added on top, though. For books still in print, the bookstore price (list price) is shown. For the rest, it shows the former retail price and, where there's an offer, the current price on Amazon Marketplace. All figures as of 2026.
Still available new
The Watch Book Rolex
- Author
- Gisbert L. Brunner
- Publisher
- teNeues
- Edition
- 4th revised edition (August 13, 2026)
- Pages
- Hardcover, 288 pages
- Language
- German
- ISBN
- 978-3961717866
In print, list price €90.00 · Amazon *
A richly illustrated reference on Rolex from its founding in 1905 to today, with the latest models in the fourth edition.
The Watch Book Rolex: Next Generation
- Author
- Gisbert L. Brunner
- Publisher
- teNeues
- Edition
- 3rd edition (August 12, 2025)
- Pages
- Hardcover, 256 pages
- Language
- German
- ISBN
- 978-3961717040
In print, list price €85.00 · Amazon *
Illustrated book by Brunner focusing on style and pop culture around Rolex.
Rolex: Die Geschichte einer Ikone
- Author
- James Dowling
- Publisher
- Callwey
- Edition
- 1st edition (November 20, 2025)
- Pages
- Hardcover, 336 pages
- Language
- German
- ISBN
- 978-3766728340
In print, list price €59.95 · Amazon *
A tribute to 120 years of Rolex, told through 120 well-known and rare models.
Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History
- Author
- J. M. Dowling, Jeffrey P. Hess
- Publisher
- Schiffer Publishing Ltd
- Edition
- 3rd revised edition (May 15, 2006)
- Pages
- 399 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 978-0764324376
In print, list price €119.24 · Amazon *
Oyster Perpetual Submariner: The Watch That Unlocked The Deep
- Author
- Nicholas Foulkes
- Publisher
- Wallpaper*
- Edition
- 1st edition (October 28, 2024)
- Pages
- Hardcover, 252 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 978-1805218937
In print, list price €140.00 · Amazon *
A comprehensive history of the Submariner. According to the publisher, the first book authorized by Rolex.
Watchmaking
- Author
- George Daniels
- Publisher
- Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd
- Edition
- New edition (June 30, 2015)
- Pages
- Hardcover, 462 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 978-0856677045
In print, list price €120.00 · Amazon *
The Watch Book I
- Author
- Gisbert L. Brunner
- Publisher
- teNeues
- Edition
- 2nd edition (March 11, 2025)
- Pages
- Paperback, 256 pages
- Language
- German, English, French
- ISBN
- 978-3961716500
In print, list price €30.00 · Amazon *
The best watches from the premium brands in one volume, from the teNeues tN4t series. Not just about Rolex.
The Watch: Stories and Savoir Faire
- Author
- Audemars Piguet
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson
- Edition
- 1st edition (October 21, 2025)
- Pages
- Paperback, 584 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 978-2080453228
In print, list price €88.99 · Amazon *
A reference on watchmaking from Audemars Piguet: the history and construction of wristwatches, from the dial to the complications. It's not just about Rolex, but about watches in general.
Used or out of print only
Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History
- Author
- Martin Skeet, Nick Urul
- Publisher
- Schiffer Pub Ltd
- Edition
- 3rd expanded edition (August 28, 2008)
- Pages
- Hardcover, 240 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 0764329812
Used only, former price €81.99
Amazon Marketplace *: from €182.17
Collecting Rolex Submariner
- Author
- Franca Mondani, Guido Mondani, Lele Ravagnani
- Publisher
- Guido Mondani Editore
- Pages
- 264 pages
- Language
- English, Italian
Used only, former price €420
Amazon Marketplace *: from €4,647.40
Rolex GMT-Master
- Author
- Giorgia Mondani, Guido Mondani, Lele Ravagnani
- Publisher
- Guido Mondani Editore
- Edition
- 2016
- Pages
- 320 pages
- Language
- English, Italian
Used only, former price €420
Amazon Marketplace *: from €1,873.70
Rolex Daytona Story
- Author
- Osvaldo Patrizzi and Guido Mondani
- Publisher
- Guido Mondani Editore
- Edition
- Limited Edition of 2000 examples worldwide.
- Pages
- 280 pages
- Language
- English, Italian
Used only, former price €980
Amazon Marketplace *: from €3,195.80
Moonwatch Only
- Author
- A. Marquié, G. Rossier
- Publisher
- Watchprint Com Sarl
- Pages
- 495 pages
- Language
- English
Used only, former price €250
Amazon Marketplace *: from €338.79
The Master of Omega
- Author
- Alberto Isnardi
- Publisher
- Edizioni Gtime
- Pages
- 367 pages
- Language
- English, Italian
- ISBN
- 978-8890240409
Currently unavailable, former price €178
Rolex-Chronographen: Faszination durch Präzision
- Author
- Pablo Gobbi / Filippo Vinardi
- Publisher
- Callwey
- Edition
- 1st edition (discontinued)
- Pages
- Hardcover with slipcase, 416 pages
- Language
- German
- ISBN
- 3-7667-1622-0
Used only, former price €350
Amazon Marketplace *: €350.00
The photos are of a quality you won't find in any other watch book. The printing is brilliant and high-grade, so the print grid you'd normally notice is barely visible to the naked eye.
Rolex: 3.621 Uhren
- Author
- Kesaharu Imai
- Publisher
- Callwey
- Edition
- 2nd edition (completely revised)
- Pages
- Hardcover with dust jacket, 215 pages
- Language
- German
- ISBN
- 978-3-7667-1720-7
Used only, former price €49.95
Amazon Marketplace *: from €129.99
Successor to the long out-of-print book "Rolex: 2.421 Uhren"
Chronometer für das Handgelenk: Rolex
- Author
- Anton Kreuzer
- Publisher
- Carinthia
- Edition
- 1st edition, 1996
- Pages
- Special binding
- Language
- German
- ISBN
- 3853783805
Used only
Amazon Marketplace *: from €28.00
The Rolex Report: An Unauthorized Reference Book For The Rolex Enthusiast
- Author
- John E. Brozek
- Publisher
- Infoquest Pub
- Edition
- 4th edition (July 1, 2002)
- Pages
- Paperback, 288 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 0972313303
Used only, former price $39.99
Amazon Marketplace *: from €71.43
Begin Super Item Book 1: Rolex Explorer I
- Publisher
- Begin
- Language
- Japanese
Out of print
The four books in the Begin series are very popular but almost impossible to find. Although the text is entirely in Japanese, they're full of excellent pictures and illustrated comparisons, so you can "read" them just fine without knowing Japanese. A5 format.
Begin Super Item Book 2: Rolex Explorer II
- Publisher
- Begin
- Language
- Japanese
Out of print
Begin Super Item Book 4: Rolex Submariner
- Publisher
- Begin
- Language
- Japanese
Out of print
Begin Super Item Book 10: Rolex Daytona
- Publisher
- Begin
- Language
- Japanese
Out of print
Viaggio nelle pubblicità storiche Rolex
- Publisher
- Value Collection
- Pages
- 552 pages
- Language
- Italian
- ISBN
- 978-8-8909-2660-0
Out of print, former price €185.00
Heuer Chronographen: Faszination von Zeitmessern und Motorsport, 60er und 70er Jahre
- Author
- Arno Michael Haslinger
- Publisher
- Callwey
- Pages
- Hardcover, 288 pages
- Language
- German, English
- ISBN
- 978-3-7667-1755-9
Used only, former price €68.00
Amazon Marketplace *: from €296.99
* Links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links. If you order through them, oysterinfo gets a small commission, and the price stays the same for you.