Evolution of Watches

1
Evolution of Watches

• By Kate Whittemore

2
Preview

• First Watch
• Balance Spring
• Timeline
• Spread of Watches
• Influence of Quartz
• Influence on Society

3
First Watch

• First watch around 1500 made by Peter Henlein in
  Germany
• Had dial and hour hand
• Later called Nuremberg eggs because of their
  shape

(www.nwta.com)
4
Balance Spring

• Made in 1675
• Balance or hair spring made watches accurate so
  they were only off about five minutes a day
• Credit was given to Christian Huygens of Holland

(www.europastar.com)
5
Timeline
(www.forbes.com)
First self-winding watches
First chronographs
First waterproof watches
Girard-Perregaux produced in quantity
1915
1926
1899-1902
1880
1909
1912
1932
1957
First electric watch, Hamilton Ventura
First date watches
Caught on with military types in Boer War
Rolex patented first Oyster watch
6
Spread of Watches

• Military and women were main reason for spread of
  watches
• Without their popularity as jewelry, watches
  might not have survived the 20th century

(www.forbes.com)
7
Influence of Quartz

• Appearance of cheap quartz technology caused
  Swiss watchmakers to lose jobs
• Values of watches in the U.S. have gone down
  since quartz was added
• Employment in the Swiss watch industry has gone
  from 90,000 jobs in 1970 to 40,000 today

(www.forbes.com)
8
Influence on Society

• Society is on time
• As watches became more accurate, the peoples
  obsession with time grew
• Reflex to look down at wristwatch
• Reflects personality and lifestyle
• Shows a persons wealth

(www.forbes.com)
9
Summary

• First Watch
• Balance Spring
• Timeline
• Spread of Watches
• Influence of Quartz

10
Bibliography

• Dave West Clocks (2005). Electronic Reference
  Restoration of an Eureka Battery Clock.
  Retrieved August 26, 2005 from http//www.davewest
  clocks.co.uk/Eureka20battery20clock.htm
• Forbes (1996). Electronic Reference The
  Worlds Best Watches. Retrieved August 26, 2005
  from http//www.forbes.com/2003/12/03/cx_ns_1203gu
  ide.html
• ISA Swiss Movement (1999). Electronic
  Reference Questions in Time. Retrieved August
  26, 2005 from http//www.europastar.com/europastar
  /watch_tech/nicolet6.jsp
• The Northwest Territory and Environment (2003).
  Electronic Reference A Brief History of
  Watches. Retrieved August 26, 2005 from
  http//www.nwta.com/couriers/10-96/watches.html