Wristwatches are something that many of us take for granted and use a huge number of times each day. A good watch will always be there when you need it, helping to make sure you’re on time for work, don’t miss your favourite television programme and know when you really should be in bed! Although wristwatches have now spread around the globe, and you’d be hard-pressed to be in a room where there wasn’t someone wearing one, it is only in the last hundred years or so that they have been the timepiece of choice for people on the move.
The precursor to the wristwatch was the pocket watch, which held sway until the 1920s. Designed to be carried in a gentleman’s pocket, this form of watch was designed in the 16th century and German Peter Henlein is often credited with coming up with the first model in 1524. Although this is disputed by some, he was certainly one of the first early watch makers. The Waltham Pocket Watch was one of the first mass-produced watches, and it helped to make ownership of a portable timepiece a reality for many more people.
But it was soldiers fighting in the First World War who began to see the benefits of having a highly accessible timepiece that would allow them to launch co-ordinated attacks at a precise time without having to be in direct contact with other sections of the fighting force. By the 1920s the use of wristwatches was becoming far more widespread among the general population – with sales in mens and ladies watches booming.
What has to be regarded as one of the biggest steps forward in the history of the wristwatch is the arrival of the digital watch in the 1970s. Research into micro-computer technology in the 60s resulted in LED timepieces such as the Commodore Time Master. The display put such a drain on the watch’s battery that users were forced to press a button on the side of the device when they wanted to check the time. Left-handed owners found it difficult to turn on the display without covering it with the palm of their hand, while anyone found it difficult to read unless they were looking straight at the face thanks to a display magnifier that wasn’t too keen on angles.
But while the early digital wristwatches had their issues, the mass production of cheap timepieces meant there were few people who couldn’t afford to own a basic watch. Diversification came in the form of specialist watches for divers – offering information on things like depth and air – while simpler innovations ensured children’s watches were splash proof and waterproof. Today the mobile phone has taken over the role of the wristwatch for some people, meaning the market for watches has turned back to more expensive models and demand is for luxury models that stand out and make a statement. Celebrity endorsement is a major feature in the industry today, with pop stars, Hollywood actors and actresses, and sports personalities all lending their name to specific brands and models.
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