The Abecedarium of Swiss Watches: The American Edition No 39 Edition

Every book deserves its own origin story, and this American Edition N°39 of "The Abecedarium of Swiss Watches" exists because some battles demand to be fought in print. While the signature edition boasts forty brands in alphabetical harmony, this limited run of thirty-nine copies makes a pointed statement: Hamilton, the American-born brand, has been symbolically excluded from a book defending Swiss excellence against American tariffs—proving that trade barriers create artificial divisions in intertwined histories.

Page 39 features a formal appeal to President Trump, himself the owner of a Senna Watch by Universal Genève N°41 acquired in 1997 from Devine, then CEO of the brand, calling for the abolition of the 39% tariff on Swiss watches. This isn't mere coincidence but cosmic irony: Trump chose N°41 honoring Senna's victories; today Devine publishes 39 copies against a 39% tariff. The numbers echo across decades. Complementing this appeal, Devine's unvarnished reflections reveal an industry where human interactions prove more complicated than any movement, where excellence transcends borders but tariffs don't.

With wit sharpened by history and honesty that cuts through protectionist rhetoric, this edition proves that tariffs have never stopped time—they've only made it more expensive. The thirty-nine brands gathered here represent both an alphabetical journey and an economic lesson written in steel and gold. Whether you're a collector who understands that true luxury knows no borders or a policymaker who needs reminding that history repeats, this version offers testimony from the CEO who sold Trump his Swiss watch to the President who could preserve such access for all Americans.

Finally, a watch book that admits what history proves: barriers to beauty benefit no one.