While you and I may not readily jump to a quick association between the movie and watch industries, they are disciplines that overlap and their histories during the 20th century are sure to have some unique parallels. To be sure, there have been plenty of watches and clocks that have shown up on the silver screen, but it can go further than that. Girard-Perregaux is helping to further demonstrate those connections for us with a book they’ve released in collaboration with the brand’s sponsorship of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The forthcoming book will be named “Mechanics of Dreams.”
We did bring you news a little bit ago about Girard-Perregaux’s recently released watch celebrating the movies, their Hollywoodland Chrono Hawk (here), which was part of the brand’s focus on Hollywood. While that is obviously a very modern crossover, this new book actually delves into the history of the industries, and how we might see them overlap. For example, take a look at this image (below). This is actually a rare peek into the book that we’ve been given the green light to show to you, our readers. Go ahead, read through that text – it gives you a sense of what the book is all about.
Book Preface
I like how they’re working to emphasize the craftsmanship and passion that are present in both industries – while they may not directly overlap, I’d say they’re definitely complementary, with one being able to understand what drives the other. I’d say there’s even more mundane associations to be drawn, as of course timing is at the root of so many things.
Where I think this book is really going to shine for us watch folks, though, is the amazing pictures that are showing up in it. Both the museum and Girard-Perregaux have delved into their archives, and brought forth images that many of us likely have simply not seen before. While the text of the book can give us insight into the industries, I think the visual aspect of the book is really what makes this a collaboration we’re interested in.
Of course, that sort of naturally makes sense – the movies are a visual art, and while we enjoy knowing about the engineering of a watch, it’s really the visual presentation and artistry of how a movement is showcased that really draws us in. In much the same way, I think this book will end up supporting the old “1000 words” analogy. I know for me, it’s the most interesting book about the movie industry that I’ve run across. The Girard-Perregaux Mechanics of Dreams book is available now. girard-perregaux.com