History of Wristwatches

The wristwatch may seem like just an fashion accessory today when every cell phone and computer have a clock, but its history has its beginnings in sea navigation. It even has played an important role in war.

Significance

The first mechanical clocks with pendulums were created to aid sea navigation. Even though they were somewhat accurate, they were unusable at sea because of the irregular movements of the ship.

History

The first pocket watch was created by Peter Henlein in 1524. Eventually both men and women attached pocket watches to their clothing with pendant chains. The first wrist watch was invented in 1868 by Patek Philippe, but this "wristlet" was considered for women only.

Function

The first man to wear a wrist watch was aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, who in 1904 asked Louis Cartier to design a watch that would leave his hands free for flying. The men's wristwatch gained popularity during World War I, when it was easier to wear a watch than pull it out of a pocket.

Types

After World War I, watches began to appear in all shapes and styles. Many new innovations occurred during the 1920s--the combined wristwatch/stopwatch, the self-winding mechanism, water-resistance and quartz technology.

Fun Fact

The first pocket watches only had an hour hand.

References

• The Pocket Watch
• International Watch Magazine; The History and Evolution of the Wristwatch; John E. Brozek; January 2004
• The History of Wrist Watches