Evolution of the Wrist Watch

                               

The evolution of the modern watch has been from the tower clock through the pocket to the wrist. The word clock takes its origin from the French term for a bell. The earliest mechanical clocks appeared in France. The records of the town of Citeaux in France show the existence of a clock as early as 1120 that struck the bell every one hour of the day. Soon most of the cities in Europe had clocks in the city centre. These mechanical clocks worked on a system of pulleys and weights. They were not accurate and they could gain or lose up to half an hour a day.

                                   

Galileo is certainly the genius that made the modern precise clocks possible. His discovery in 1594 of the principle of pendulum was applied by Dutch scientist Christian Huygens to clock making in 1657 which resulted in the birth of the precise modern clock. The journey from clocks mounted on towers to watches in pockets was the result of the invention of the German locksmith Peter Henlein. The term watch was a loan word from sailors who had kept four hours of watch before the hour glass which soon were replaced by the handy and precise Henlein’s pocket clocks now newly christened as watches or pocket watches.

                                                  

In the earlier days men used watches that were attached to a chain and put it in the pocket. However, women did not have pockets so initially they wore them around their neck. It was something like a chain or necklace with the addition function of measuring time. By about the early part of 1920 watches shaped like bracelets became popular among women. The evolution of these bracelet-watches resulted in the birth of the modern lady’s wrist watches. However, in the army a wrist watch was a practical tool and the army adapted what was a fashion statement as a practical tool. The army wrist watches later became everyday wear for both men and women.

                                   

During the past thousand years many watches came into existence and some have become the relics celebrating man’s date with time. Names like Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Rolex, Zenith, Vacheron Constantin spell class. Owning these watches are the dreams of many.