BLOG

Home > BLOG

A Brief History of Watches

Below is a brief history of the "watch" as we know it today. 



16th Century: The Dawn of Watches

  • 1500s: Portable clocks transition into early watches, often worn as pendants.
  • 1571: The first wristwatch is created, reportedly for Elizabeth I of England.

17th Century: Introduction of the Balance Spring

  • 1657: Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invents the balance spring (hairspring), greatly improving timekeeping accuracy.

18th Century: Advancements in Mechanical Complexity

  • 1755: Vacheron Constantin is founded, becoming one of the longest continuously operating watchmakers.
  • 1780: Abraham-Louis Perrelet invents the self-winding (automatic) watch mechanism.
  • 1795: Abraham-Louis Breguet develops the tourbillon, a mechanism to counteract gravity's effect on watch accuracy.

19th Century: Mass Production and Durability

  • 1820s: Lever escapement becomes standard in watches, enhancing reliability.
  • 1850: American company Waltham Watch Co. pioneers mass production of watches.
  • 1880s: Wristwatches begin gaining popularity, particularly in military contexts.

20th Century: The Quartz Revolution

  • 1904: The first modern wristwatch, the Cartier Santos, is created for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.
  • 1926: Rolex introduces the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch.
  • 1930s: Electric clocks and rudimentary quartz technology emerge.
  • 1969: Seiko releases the Astron, the world’s first quartz wristwatch, revolutionizing accuracy and affordability.
  • 1970s: The Quartz Crisis threatens traditional Swiss watchmakers as quartz watches dominate the market.

Late 20th Century: Digital and Precision

  • 1972: Hamilton Pulsar P1 becomes the first digital wristwatch.
  • 1983: The launch of Swatch helps revitalize the Swiss watch industry with affordable, fashionable timepieces.
  • 1989: Citizen introduces the Eco-Drive, a solar-powered watch that eliminates the need for battery replacements.

21st Century: Smartwatches and Connectivity

  • 2000s: Luxury brands integrate advanced complications like perpetual calendars and minute repeaters into modern designs.
  • 2014: Apple launches the Apple Watch, blending connectivity, health tracking, and timekeeping.
  • 2020s: Developments in hybrid smartwatches and sustainability (e.g., recycled materials and solar-powered mechanisms) become industry focuses.