History Of Watches

BHINDI Since 1929 KOAARDX MILLER OS THE HISTORY OF THE WRIST WATCH AND OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF WATCHES Wrist watches weren't always worn on the wrist. Sometimes, especially in the early years, they were carried in the pocket or attached on a chain. While today we have largely one type of wristwatch and several styles, over the years the type of wristwatches varied greatly. They evolved from big, clumsy and mechanical to small, but preferred by women and later into a useful tool for aviators and military men. They soon became more than a useful tool and are now jewels or fashion statements. Watches were very different in the past and small things we now take for granted, like the minute hand, were not so normal back then. Let's see when and how the wristwatch ap- peared and how it evolved. 1275 1504-1508 The mechanical clock is invented in England. Peter Henlein invents what is considered to be the first pocket watch. But this invention is 1541 rather disputed. The Swiss watch industry is born. Reformer John Calvin of 1574 Geneva bans people from wearing jewelry, altering the future of Switzerland. Geneva's jewelers The first known pocket watch is created, but the are forced to learn another craft and are inventor remains taught the art of watchmaking by refugees from France and Italy. unknown. The watch, crafted in bronze, depicts Saint George slaying a dragon on the front and the Crucifixion on the back. 1657 The balance spring is invented by either 1680-1700 Robert Hooke or Christiaan Huygens. The minute hand is introduced in Britain in 1680 &1700 in France. 1812 Breguet creates a watch to fit on a wrist (the first wristwatch), for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. 1820 The keyless clock emerges, doing away with the need to use a key for winding or setti 1868 Patek Philippe of Patek Philippe&Co made the first wristwatch. Perpetual calendar and the split- seconds hands appear. 1904 Cartier and his master watchmaker, Edmond Jaeger come up with the first prototype for a man's watch called the 1914-1918 Santos wristwatch. Soldiers were given wristwatches, called 1930 "trench watches." 100 80 70 Breitling Watch Company patents the first stopwatch. EATO 19 VITERSE 60 1957 O The term "electric watch" becomes generic and popular, and referred to any watch that was powered by electricity. IITAL 1962 30 Rado becomes known as originator of the scratch- proof watch with the release of the DiaStar I, made of hard metal. 1969 The quartz watch is introduced. 1979 The Delirium is introduced as the thinnest watch in the world, measuring 1983 1.98 mm. n 12 1 10 6: 3. Swatch introduces its .8 first plastic Swiss quartz watch, marketing the line as affordable fashion items. 1999 ...... Watch brands turn to space-age materials such as titanium and carbon fiber. 2000 FRI MAR PATEK PHILIPPS Watch companies such as Ulysse Nardin and Patek Philippe begin using high-tech materials like silicon and ceramic in their movements. BHINDI® Since 1929 CALL: (562) 402-8755 | EMAIL : [email protected] SOURCES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_watches http://www.itshot.com/images/history-watches.jpg| http://www.tourneau.com/catalog/editorial_onecolumn.jsp?pageName=HistoryOfTimeKeepingTimeline 15 5.