Note: This book review is solely based on the digital review copy from the publisher.
The Toronto-based writer Rhonda Riche is considered a gem and a treasure by many Canadians. Her vast experience in various fields over the years informs her writing with a distinct sense of humour that is as full of character as infectious. In years past, I always enjoyed seeing every shoulder in the vicinity come to an ease when Mrs. Riche would enter the room. This elevated sense of persistent joy resonates in her new book, The Wonderful World of Women’s Watches, and we are going to take a quick look at it today and find out why you may want to own this book even if its mission does not have you squared within its sights.
When searching for books on horology at any given retailer, it is easy for the novice consumer to become overwhelmed by the seemingly boundless landscape of options. Their titles do not help either, as the field is flooded with vague and unfocused titles which promise the most return on one’s dollar by casting as wide a net as possible. The risk this poses for the casual or fledgling enthusiast is that they may purchase a photobook without direction or focus. This is where Mrs. Riche’s title shines in its focus.
While searching for books on this field, many titles either strictly fall into the camps of taking a historical or highly technical perspective. Some books often attempt to combine the two and fail on both fronts. Mrs. Riche’s book focuses on the cultural aspect of watches, which is how most people become interested in a particular watch. Just as many men have gravitated to dive watches based on what is on James Bond’s wrist, I know many ladies are influenced by Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s choice of the Cartier Tank.
Over the years, I have been welcomed into many enthusiast groups that women primarily dominate. In most cases, those active in these groups expressed some interest in the world of watches, but they did not know where to start. I have heard some diehard watch enthusiasts, out of reflex, recommending highly technical books such as the beloved Watchmaking by George Daniels, which, when pressed, they would admit not to comprehend fully themselves.
Like Hands of Time by Dr. Rebecca Struthers, which made our gift guide last year, and I wrote a full review here, Mrs. Riche offers an entry into the world of horology, but by being even more approachable. By providing plenty of visual examples along the way, the reader is eased into the written words with plenty of references. Since this book is in English and German, you are regaled with twice the number of photographs you would expect. This combination of Mrs. Riche’s relaxed and genial prose makes learning about the feminine aspects of horology almost as easy as breathing.
Starting with a condensed introduction into the very beginnings of humans measuring time, it quickly dawns on the reader that women have always been central to the act of time keeping and its advancements.
Mrs. Riche decided to highlight and focus on the women who wore historically significant timepieces and reveal how their influence gently guided the industry as the centuries unfolded. From Queens to the pivotal role of the aforementioned Jackie Kennedy Onassis, to those of modern celebrities, the women who wear these watches, which are at times commissioned just for them, prove equally as impactful as endorsements such as male athletes and action heroes in various movie franchises. This is the vehicle Mrs. Riche uses to introduce the world of horology for those new to it.
Mrs. Riche also introduces the reader to specific brands and their models, and one watch in particular brought a smile to my face once I reached its chapter – the Cartier Tank. Many years ago, I was in the same room as a friend’s fiancée was to meet her new in-laws for the first time. The couple could not have been from cultures more different than the wife’s strictly traditional Chinese background to the liberal and Western-leaning yet Islamic culture of the husband’s family. Upon sitting across from each other, their eyes locked on their wrists. Both wore a Cartier Tank, though their models were separated by a few decades. Simultaneously, their chest plates inflated and exhaled in relief as they were both immediately grounded by a deep familiarity.
To those who do not make their timepiece a part of their personality but choose to wear it as a part of their daily lives, their choice of watch conveys a lot about themselves to others. This is often overthought or overlooked entirely by those who have considered themselves collectors of timepieces. The book’s final act looks at women in the industry today before bringing it to a close with a return to what conveys time to the reader’s eyes: the hands of a watch.
This book has laid the groundwork for many future volumes focusing on women in the world of horology. There are hundreds of watchmakers, journalists, consultants, and other women working in and orbiting the world of horology whose stories are begging to be told. Men, too, should be paying attention to this space and the tastes of women when it comes to watches. As our minds expand with our species’ progress, boundaries once seen as a burden are being broken down. This is especially true of the watches men have been wearing lately. A move towards smaller vintage and women’s timepieces is not only for the red carpet. Many men in financial districts can now be seen with smaller women’s watches, and on occasion with timepieces adorned with gemstones.
It is easy to recommend this book to those who want an easy entry into the world of watches from a woman’s perspective, regardless of the reader’s gender identity. Let us hope that Mrs. Riche continues her line of work with future volumes, bringing light to an aspect of horology that is often overlooked. More importantly, it is not possible for all of you reading this to meet Mrs. Riche in person and have a conversation with her. This book offers the next best thing; her voice will enliven your day and enlighten your views on horology and much more.
“The Wonderful World of Women’s Watches: Beauty Beyond Time” by Rhonda Riche was released in North America on May 6th, 2025
This website uses cookies.