There are few decent books available about Rolex watches. Therefore, Dowling and Hess' massive tome on the subject is an extremely welcome addition to the subject. Their book is definitely well-researched, producing what is currently the definitive book on Rolex. Brief but informative chapters about some of the most recognizable Rolex designs (e.g., Explorer, Submariner, Daytona, OysterQuartz...) are augmented by beautiful color reproductions of the models they discuss. Furthermore, the authors provide very informative chapters regarding the Perpetual movement, chronometers, and the history of the company. Simply stated, this is THE Rolex book. If you love Rolex, this book is a must.
While the book, as a whole, is excellent, there are still some areas that I feel prevent it from being a 5-star book. First, the chapters could have been expanded to include more information about the watches. For example, the chapter on the Sumariner and Sea-Dweller (Ch. 12), while providing the basic underlying premises and history for both models, is far too brief. As with some of the other chapters, the authors should have included more information, even if that meant deleting a few pictures. While the authors obviously uncovered a lot of new information (mostly technical, to their credit), their text also "recycles" facts that most Rolex aficionados already know. Perhaps the book is intended for the generalist as well as the specialist; however, the short chapters create a text that cannot fully meet the needs of either. Secondly, the book could have used some additional editing. The writing is acceptable, but for such an expensive book a few more drafts could have smoothed out the prose style, which is at times a little rough and detracts from the subject.
In sum, while I love this book because it is certainly the best book about Rolex that exists, it is also likely that it will not fully meet the needs of many people who purchase it. Maybe there is a need for two volumes: one that is intended for the novice, and one that is intended for the experienced collector. In this book, it seems as though Dowling and Hess try to placate everybody, but they do so with mixed success, revealing the book's limitations as well as its strengths. But go ahead and buy the book for its strengths alone--it is definitely worth it.
