Many people spend time, chase time, and manage time. But many might not know about some cool facts about watches and how they evolved through time. You can know more about watches in this link here.
Some 3,500 years ago, in the land of Mesopotamia, a city named Babylon existed. It was believed that this city was where the first sundials and other primitive tools are used for time tracking. From sundials, the people were known to develop other helpful devices such as hourglasses, pendulums, and candle clocks to know the time.
Today, many people find watches as an invaluable accessory to help them with their day to day schedules. Watches are one of the most beautiful examples of accessory that combines fashion and function.
Watches will always be part of the past which means that there are several facts that are available during their creation. In the middle ages, time might not be a priority. But today, people’s lives are revolving around the clock. They rely on watches in order to get to their jobs on time and organize their to-do lists every single day.
If you are fascinated with watches, then here are some facts for you.
Facts about Watches
- In the 16th century, most men carry pocket watches instead of wristwatches. These pocket watches were traditionally worn on the neck or fastened to a piece of clothing so that men can carry them everywhere.
- King Henry VIII from the House of Tudor wore the very first pocket watch. His watch consists of markers that are in single hours. Read more about the life of King Henry VIII in this site: https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/henry-viii. Generally, watches made in the 16th century do not have minute marks on them. The minutes started to appear in the late 17th century on newly invented watches.
- Wristwatches were originally made for women. However, they became popular in World War I when men found it convenient to check the time without searching for watches in their coats or pockets. When it came to World War II, military men wore wristwatches instead of pocket watches. This way, they can focus both of their hands on their weapons instead of constantly using their other hand to search for their watches.
- The most common color of watches that men like to wear is black. Many people believe that black is a versatile color. It can match any outfit. It is ideal for casual and formal occasions. It is also the color used in dress watches as well as divers’ watches.
- The most complicated watch in existence is called the Patek Philippe Caliber 89. This watch has 24 hands. It is made up of 18-carat gold with 33 special features and more than 1,700 components. There is also a star chart included as well as a thermometer that comes with it. It took almost 4 years to manufacture and it was crafted in 1989.
- Most clockmaker shops display the “happy time” on their glass windows. This is the face of the clock at ten minutes past ten that resembles a “smiling face”. This projects a positive day to all the passersby that view the window shops from the street. It is a marketing strategy that many shops adopt.
- In Japanese, the term Seiko means “success”. The company was able to pioneer new innovation and technology. You can view some of the most popular Seiko brands on sites such as Creation Watches in order to know more about these environment-friendly watches.
- The very first watch that has an alarm function was produced in the 1900s. It was manufactured by a company called “Eterna”. This is a Swiss luxury company that first patented the wrist watch alarm in 1908.
- When it comes to space explorations, the first watch was worn by Buzz Aldrin. The brand was Omega Speedmaster. Neil Armstrong was also supposed to have a watch when he made the famous first steps on the moon. However, some say that he accidentally left it on his space lander.
When it comes to diving, Jacques Cousteau popularized the Rolex Submariner watch. This watch is waterproof and you can use it for diving on a depth of 330 feet. Since then, many companies copied the mechanisms of the Submariner to develop their own diving watch.
- The G-Shock Watch is close to being indestructible. These watches made their name through their indestructibility. They can withstand extreme water pressure of up to 300m. They are able to survive trauma and other incredible forces. The typical G-shock watch should be able to withstand the triple 10 tests. It means that it has to endure a minimum of 10 atmospheres water, has a battery that can last for 10 years, and it has to be working fine after a 10-meter drop.
Other Facts about Watches that You Might Want to Know
- In the middle ages, some of the watches had to be opened regularly for winding and maintenance. With this said, the wearer has to pay attention to the inner workings of the watch as much as its outer designs. Some of the most common decorations on the watches’ interiors are stars, animals, and flames.
- Louis Cartier invented the first modern wrist watches for pilots. This is because he wants the pilots to know the time without any hassles. It was very dangerous for the pilots to search for their watches and keeping their hands off the steering wheel of the plane. Pilots generally use the watches in order to keep track of the fuel that is left in their airships. With the invention of the wristwatch, pilots can take a quick glance at their wrists in order to know the time in seconds.
The Bottom Line
These are just some of the most interesting facts about watches for you. Since you already have an idea about the fun facts and trivia about watches, you can now have an idea on how to choose the right watch for you. If you are looking for fashionable and high-end luxury watches, you can check online or on your local stores for more information.
