Watches

The watch has long been an integral part of everyday life for many people. Throughout the years of its development, the basic definition of the watch has remained the same—a portable timepiece, usually encased, and small enough to be carried or worn. The first watches appeared in the 15th century through the efforts of clock-making centers established in Italy, France, Germany, and England. By the late 16th century, Geneva had become an important center of watchmaking. Early American watches were produced mainly by mechanization, a process that achieved success by the middle of the 19th century.

Because clocks were weight-driven, they remained mainly stationary until the invention of the coiled mainspring made portable versions possible. Producing miniaturized versions was a natural development, also demanding greater accuracy in craftsmanship.

Early mechanical watches had only one hand and were inaccurate because they ran more slowly as they wound down. By 1700, improvements had been made so that watches normally lost only 5 to 10 minutes each day. A minute hand was also added.

The portability of the watch served as a symbol of progress and individualism. Early watches were generally worn hung from the neck or belt or carried in a pocket. Wristwatches did not become common until the 19th century and were worn mainly by women. World War I saw a major increase in their use by those engaged in the war effort. Wristwatches were eventually commonly worn by both sexes.

In 1891, the importance of accuracy was dramatized by a head-on collision of trains at Kipton, Ohio. That catastrophe led to a system organized to standardize and inspect railroad watches, which were expected to vary less than 30 seconds within a 2-week period.

The use of electricity in clocks had already occurred by the 19th century, and, by 1929, the use of the quartz crystal had improved the accuracy of clocks. with the development of high-energy batteries it became possible to apply both electricity and quartz vibrations to watches. The first commercial versions were introduced by Seiko in Japan in 1969 and by Hamilton in America in the early 1970s. While the Swiss, noted for their careful craftsmanship, used quartz crystal, they continued to produce mostly mechanical watches.

Efforts were made to further miniaturize the components of electric watches. Electric watches [Page 1419]now feature integrated circuits, or chips, so that time can be read digitally.

Anyone wanting to acquire a new watch today can find a wide variety of styles and price levels to choose from. Watchmakers naturally have some reason to be anxious about the future of the industry. Some people, particularly members of the younger generation, express the opinion that watches are no longer necessary because of the advent of cell phones and various electronic devices. Nevertheless, positive news about sales continues to be reported. Accuracy has always been a crucial measure of the worth of a watch, but its decorative value has not lagged far behind. Collectable watches are a big business, ranging from antique and uniquely designed watches to formerly mass-produced watches, such as Rolex sports watches.

...