Evolution of Watches

By: Kate Whittemore

Preview
• First Watch
• Balance Spring
• Timeline
• Spread of Watches
• Influence of Quartz
• Influence on Society
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)
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)
Timeline
(www.forbes.com)

First self-winding watches

First chronographs

Girard-Perregaux First waterproof watches

produced in quantity

1880 1899-1902 1909 1912 1915 1926 1932 1957

First electric
First date watches
watch, “Hamilton
Ventura”

Caught on with
military types in
Boer War Rolex patented first “Oyster” watch
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)
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)
Influence on Society

• Society is “on time”

• As watches became more accurate,
the people’s obsession with time
grew
• Reflex to look down at wristwatch
• Reflects personality and lifestyle
• Shows a person’s wealth

(www.forbes.com)
Summary
• First Watch
• Balance Spring
• Timeline
• Spread of Watches
• Influence of Quartz
Bibliography
• Dave West Clocks (2005). Electronic Reference:
Restoration of an Eureka Battery Clock. Retrieved
August 26, 2005 from
http://www.davewestclocks.co.uk/Eureka%20battery
%20clock.htm
• Forbes (1996). Electronic Reference: The World’s Best
Watches. Retrieved August 26, 2005 from
http://www.forbes.com/2003/12/03/cx_ns_1203guide.
html
• ISA Swiss Movement (1999). Electronic Reference:
Questions in Time. Retrieved August 26, 2005 from
http://www.europastar.com/europastar/watch_tech/ni
colet6.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