Did you know the first wristwatch was actually made by Abraham-Louis Breguet for the Queen of Naples in 1810. More than 50 years later, in 1868, Countess Koscowicz of Hungary had a bracelet watch made by the Swiss watch manufacturer, Patek Philippe? Amazing.
I wear a wristwatch, and we can choose from a simple, high-tech, or expensive watch from many designers. I choose the Citizen where I don't need a battery, and it's powered by light. It's not that expensive, and I can depend on it.
Let's learn a little more . . .
1571 - Queen Elizabeth I receives a working "wristwatch" from her life-long friend and possible beau, Robert Dudley.
In the later 1500's, balance and the spiral spring were created, which made the construction of precise watches possible. The coil spring replaced the long pendulum that was used in the past and thus created the foundations for a small wristwatches.
In 1673 Christiaan Huygens created a watch with spiral spring and balance, which was already relatively small and portable.
1680 – As watches became more accurate (losing about 10 minutes per day), this allowed a minute hand to be added to the dial.
1780 – Abraham Louis Perrelet invents the first self-winding movement, utilizing the oscillating motion of a weight inside the watch.
1780 - Louis Recordon, a friend Abraham Louis Breguet, obtained a patent for a self-winding watch.
1782 - Marie A1868 – Patek Philippe manufactures the first wrist watch (wound with a key). Patek Philippe were responsible for developing the perpetual calendar, the split-second hand, the chronograph and having minute repeaters in watches. These watches were a form of jewelry for women.
1880 – Kaiser Wilhelm I (of Germany) ordered 2000 wristwatches be made for German naval officers.
1900s – Women start wearing “wristlets” – small pocket watch-style watches worn on the wrist. ntoinette herself owns a self-winding watch, probably made by Breguet.
1786 - Bregue begins to manufacture his "perpetuelles" in more than single digit numbers.
And now there are many watches for sale in stores, on line, and at festivals and fairs! I hope you've enjoyed learning about wristwatches today. Thank you for joining me!
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Thanks for posting! I don't wear a wristwatch now but I used to in my 20's. I think I stopped when my jobs became mostly office-type ones where I was surrounded by clocks and computers. My husband wears one daily.
ReplyDeleteI wear a wrist watch and have for many, many years.
ReplyDeleteI wear a wrist watch and have since tween years. I feel lost when I don't have one on when I'm leaving my home. Great post about the history of watches.
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