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Time Machines

Iconic Watches and their Era

A journey through timepieces that have shaped history, defined style, and captured the spirit of innovation.

Available on September 25, 2025

Wristwatches have transcended their original function as mere timekeepers, evolving into symbols of craftsmanship, design, and cultural significance. From the early 20th-century innovations that gave rise to the first wristwatches to the iconic models that have shaped modern watchmaking, these timepieces have become timeless artifacts of human ingenuity.

Time Machines delves into this rich history, presenting a curated selection of 100 iconic watches from 1900 to today. Each watch tells a unique story, capturing pivotal moments in design, technology, and the cultural shifts that influenced—and were influenced by—these masterpieces.

Structured chronologically, the book offers readers a deep dive into the evolution of watch design across the decades, exploring how watches have reflected cultural movements, technological advancements, and personal style. Through engaging stories and stunning visuals, the book highlights the intersection of craftsmanship, art, and the enduring appeal of watches as both tools and cultural icons.

Time Machines is an essential exploration of the global legacy of watchmaking, offering a visual and narrative journey through the innovation, artistry, and cultural resonance of some of the world’s most influential timepieces.

 

Editors: gestalten & Blake Z. Rong & Sean Paul Lorentzen
Release date: September 2025
Format: 24 x 30 cm
Features: full color, hardcover, stitch bound, 320 pages
ISBN: 978-3-96704-186-6

Blake Z. Rong and Sean Paul Lorentzen are seasoned writers with a deep passion for storytelling, design, and culture. Blake Z. Rong brings a unique blend of automotive and horological expertise, while Sean Paul Lorentzen’s deep knowledge of watchmaking adds technical insight. Together, they create a compelling narrative that explores the intersection of design, history, and the human stories behind machines.



FSC™️ (Forest Stewardship Council™️) Certified.

 

SHIPPING COSTS

SHIPPING WITHIN GERMANY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION:

SHIPPING WITHIN THE US:

SHIPPING WITHIN THE UK:

SHIPPING TO ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:

  • €0.00 for orders above €60.00 EUR (value of goods) placed via our EU online shop
  • €40.00 for orders below €60.00 EUR (value of goods) placed via our EU online shop

Additional customs charges, taxes, and fees may be charged for shipments to countries outside the EU and the US.

 

SHIPMENT TRACKING

Once your order is ready to be shipped, you receive a confirmation email with the delivery details and a tracking link. Please note, that it can take some days before the tracking information is uploaded. You will also be able to track your order when you log into your account.

 

DELIVERY TIMES

Unless otherwise specified, 

  • deliveries within Germany usually take 2–5 working days, 
  • deliveries within the European Union, to Switzerland and Norway usually take 3–7 working days, 
  • deliveries within the UK, usually take 3–7 working days,
  • deliveries within the US usually take 5–10 working days,
  • deliveries to all other countries may take 3–8 weeks

from the date you receive your order confirmation (or, if advance payment  is agreed, from the date payment is instructed).

Please note that we don’t ship on weekends and public holidays and that there will be no deliveries on Sundays and public holidays.

If you have ordered items with different delivery times, we will send the goods in one shipment, unless we have made a different agreement with you. In this case, the delivery time is determined by the item with the longest delivery time that you have ordered.

 

PAYMENT OPTIONS

We accept the following payment methods:

  • Credit card: MasterCard, VISA
  • Paypal
  • Google Pay
  • Apple Pay
  • Shopify Payments
  • SEPA direct debit
  • Sofortüberweisung
  • ideal
  • eps-Überweisung
  • Bancontact

FURTHER DETAILS ON PAYMENT:

The currency used in our EU online shop is Euro (€) and VAT is included in all our prices. The currency used in our UK online shop it is GBP (£) and in our US online shop it is USD ($) and all prices are expressed as exclusive of any VAT or other sales tax payable unless otherwise stated.

All prices and product information on the gestalten online shop are subject to change.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

We will only take payment from your credit card, debit card or your Paypal account once your order has been dispatched.

For card purchases we work with an authorized payment agent that helps us to check directly with your bank that the card is valid for purchases. Our payment agent processes your card details in the correct way according to the international security standard PCI DSS, which was developed by the card companies VISA, MasterCard, Diners, American Express and JCB. This means that your card details are processed with a very high level of security. To make card purchases with us as secure as possible all information is sent in encrypted form using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This means that the information is passed through a secure connection and that your card details cannot be read by external parties.

For further information about Paypal or to create a Paypal account please visit paypal.com.

When paying by SEPA direct debit, you authorize us to collect the invoice amount from the specified account by issuing a corresponding SEPA mandate. You will receive a pre-notification at least 5 days before the date of direct debit collection. Please note that you are required to ensure sufficient funds are in the account on the announced date. 

 

RETURNS

You have a 14-day window to revoke your contract without specifying any reasons. To exercise your right of revocation, please notify us accordingly.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Please note, that gift cards and downloadable software products are non-returnable.

Upon revocation, we will provide a full refund using the same payment method you utilized. You are responsible for covering the direct costs associated with returning the products, especially any shipping charges incurred. Repayment may be withheld until the products are returned to us. For further details, please refer to the section on Revocation Right.

Wristwatches have transcended their original function as mere timekeepers, evolving into symbols of craftsmanship, design, and cultural significance. From the early 20th-century innovations that gave rise to the first wristwatches to the iconic models that have shaped modern watchmaking, these timepieces have become timeless artifacts of human ingenuity.

Time Machines delves into this rich history, presenting a curated selection of 100 iconic watches from 1900 to today. Each watch tells a unique story, capturing pivotal moments in design, technology, and the cultural shifts that influenced—and were influenced by—these masterpieces.

Structured chronologically, the book offers readers a deep dive into the evolution of watch design across the decades, exploring how watches have reflected cultural movements, technological advancements, and personal style. Through engaging stories and stunning visuals, the book highlights the intersection of craftsmanship, art, and the enduring appeal of watches as both tools and cultural icons.

Time Machines is an essential exploration of the global legacy of watchmaking, offering a visual and narrative journey through the innovation, artistry, and cultural resonance of some of the world’s most influential timepieces.

 

design Design & Fashion

Editors gestalten & Blake Z. Rong & Sean Paul Lorentzen
Release date: September 2025
Format: 24 x 30 cm
Features: full color, hardcover, stitch bound, 320 pages
ISBN: 978-3-96704-186-6

Blake Z. Rong and Sean Paul Lorentzen are seasoned writers with a deep passion for storytelling, design, and culture. Blake Z. Rong brings a unique blend of automotive and horological expertise, while Sean Paul Lorentzen’s deep knowledge of watchmaking adds technical insight. Together, they create a compelling narrative that explores the intersection of design, history, and the human stories behind machines.



FSC™️ (Forest Stewardship Council™️) Certified.

 

SHIPPING COSTS

SHIPPING WITHIN GERMANY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION:

SHIPPING WITHIN THE US:

SHIPPING WITHIN THE UK:

SHIPPING TO ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:

  • €0.00 for orders above €60.00 EUR (value of goods) placed via our EU online shop
  • €40.00 for orders below €60.00 EUR (value of goods) placed via our EU online shop

Additional customs charges, taxes, and fees may be charged for shipments to countries outside the EU and the US.

 

SHIPMENT TRACKING

Once your order is ready to be shipped, you receive a confirmation email with the delivery details and a tracking link. Please note, that it can take some days before the tracking information is uploaded. You will also be able to track your order when you log into your account.

 

DELIVERY TIMES

Unless otherwise specified, 

  • deliveries within Germany usually take 2–5 working days, 
  • deliveries within the European Union, to Switzerland and Norway usually take 3–7 working days, 
  • deliveries within the UK, usually take 3–7 working days,
  • deliveries within the US usually take 5–10 working days,
  • deliveries to all other countries may take 3–8 weeks

from the date you receive your order confirmation (or, if advance payment  is agreed, from the date payment is instructed).

Please note that we don’t ship on weekends and public holidays and that there will be no deliveries on Sundays and public holidays.

If you have ordered items with different delivery times, we will send the goods in one shipment, unless we have made a different agreement with you. In this case, the delivery time is determined by the item with the longest delivery time that you have ordered.

 

PAYMENT OPTIONS

We accept the following payment methods:

  • Credit card: MasterCard, VISA
  • Paypal
  • Google Pay
  • Apple Pay
  • Shopify Payments
  • SEPA direct debit
  • Sofortüberweisung
  • ideal
  • eps-Überweisung
  • Bancontact

FURTHER DETAILS ON PAYMENT:

The currency used in our EU online shop is Euro (€) and VAT is included in all our prices. The currency used in our UK online shop it is GBP (£) and in our US online shop it is USD ($) and all prices are expressed as exclusive of any VAT or other sales tax payable unless otherwise stated.

All prices and product information on the gestalten online shop are subject to change.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

We will only take payment from your credit card, debit card or your Paypal account once your order has been dispatched.

For card purchases we work with an authorized payment agent that helps us to check directly with your bank that the card is valid for purchases. Our payment agent processes your card details in the correct way according to the international security standard PCI DSS, which was developed by the card companies VISA, MasterCard, Diners, American Express and JCB. This means that your card details are processed with a very high level of security. To make card purchases with us as secure as possible all information is sent in encrypted form using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This means that the information is passed through a secure connection and that your card details cannot be read by external parties.

For further information about Paypal or to create a Paypal account please visit paypal.com.

When paying by SEPA direct debit, you authorize us to collect the invoice amount from the specified account by issuing a corresponding SEPA mandate. You will receive a pre-notification at least 5 days before the date of direct debit collection. Please note that you are required to ensure sufficient funds are in the account on the announced date. 

 

RETURNS

You have a 14-day window to revoke your contract without specifying any reasons. To exercise your right of revocation, please notify us accordingly.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Please note, that gift cards and downloadable software products are non-returnable.

Upon revocation, we will provide a full refund using the same payment method you utilized. You are responsible for covering the direct costs associated with returning the products, especially any shipping charges incurred. Repayment may be withheld until the products are returned to us. For further details, please refer to the section on Revocation Right.

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