Watches are such an integral part of our lives and we don’t even realise it. We loved toy watches as kids. Even today, a Barbie or Ben 10 watch is just as exciting. As we grow up, watches become an inseparable part of our school life, college life and professional life, always pushing us to get things together on time. But we hardly know the story behind this device that now seems like a second skin on our wrist. It is always fun to learn something new so today we will take you through the art and craft of watchmaking that spans centuries.
From Sundials to Clocks
The beginning of this story is ancient. Humans didn’t begin with watches. We began with nature and so we relied on sun, water, and even sand to tell time. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used early tools like sundials and water clocks. They weren’t quite accurate but they worked. But times changed and we progressed and with this progress, we got the first mechanical clocks in Europe in the 13th-14th centuries. These massive clocks were placed in public places like church towers or city walls. They weren’t portable but even having a clock was a huge deal back then so nobody could really complain.
Then in 16th century, the first portable timepieces emerged and we never looked back since then. While the early versions weren’t the best when it came to design and accuracy, they marked a huge moment in watchmaking history. Now people could wear the time on their wrist or carry it in their pocket. It became practical and convenient.
Watchmaking Gets Serious
It keeps getting better because in the 17th century, the Swiss watchmakers made some important advancements. They introduced two important things – the mainspring and the balance spring. These two innovations improved timekeeping like never before and watches became more precise. Abraham-Lois Breguet is one of the biggest watchmakers from 17th century who invented some of the things that we still use in watches today. His name should be remembered because he is one of the reasons why watches aren’t just tools today.
The Rise of Swiss Watches
In the 18th century, the rise of Swiss watches changed things for the watch industry forever. They were known for craftsmanship and precision. By the 19th century, Switzerland was the epicenter. This took the art of watchmaking to a whole new level because now the watches weren’t just accurate but also beautiful to look at.
20th century was a chaotic year for the world, especially with World Wars. And watches had a role to play. They became more practical. In World War 1, soldiers would wear wristwatches instead of carrying their pocket watches as they were more convenient and let’s be honest, you can’t check time on a pocket watch in the middle of a battle, right? As strange as it sounds, after the war, wristwatches became a huge hit for both men and women. They also became fashion statement too.
The Quartz Era
Post wars, in the 1960s, the quartz movement truly shook things now. Now watches didn’t rely on mechanical parts but rather started using battery-powered quartz crystal. These watches weren’t just highly accurate, they were way cheaper than mechanical watches. A win-win situation. They became a huge hit in the 70s-80s. People loved quartz watches and they had every reason to. They were precise and affordable. Seiko and Casio were the leading brands.
However, mechanical watches never went away. In fact, the luxury mechanical watch market grew with brands like Rolex and Omega as they were loved for their craftsmanship and design. They would be associated with status, style and artistry.
Watchmaking Today
Today, watchmaking has become too advanced. We have found a balance between tradition and cutting-edge technology. From luxury mechanical watches to smartwatches, the market is exciting for watch lovers today. It won’t be wrong to say that it is the most exciting time to exist in this watchmaking history because watches have truly become more than just a time-telling device. Centuries ago, who could have thought that you could track your health or even play music on a time-telling device? But today, it is possible. At the same time, there has been a revolution in material itself. Materials like titanium, ceramics, and even carbon fiber are becoming more common. We are also going sustainable today. And we’re sure it is only going to get better.
And as we look into the future, one thing is sure. Watches are here to stay. They have been always here. And at Just Watches, we are dedicated to bringing the best watches to you. Visit Just Watches online store today and don’t miss out on the chance to become a part of this fascinating history.