History of Wrist Watches-Luxury Watches

A wristwatch has now become something of a necessity and is used by almost all of us. Its use is not limited to just functionality, but it has also become a status symbol. In spite of all this, the fact remains that wrist watches have an interesting history.

In the beginning, a wristwatch was sometimes questioned in terms of accuracy because of its compact size. Due to this reason, only a few companies had a good reputation for making quality wristwatches. The designs were limited and so was the number of people who used them.

This phenomenon changed when the soldiers started using wristwatches and discovered its usefulness. This was especially true during war times and similar situations. This change in the perception of soldiers as well as the people, about the wristwatch, started to occur in the nineteenth century. During combat, it was difficult to carry pocket watches and look at the time.

As it was difficult to deal with pocket watches during combat, the soldiers used to fit the watch in a leather strap and wrap it around the wrist, hence forming makeshift wristwatches. In the Boer war from 1899-1902, the British troops had success, partly made possible due to the coordination achieved by synchronizing these makeshift wristwatches, hence, being able to flank attacks against the Boer's formations successfully.

Later on in 1906, the evolution regarding wristwatches took place and the expandable bracelet and wire loops were invented that allowed better attachment of the leather straps. After this, the adaptation of wristwatches by the soldiers increased even further. It has been considered as an important turning point in the development of wristwatches.

Many changes were also made to watches for the ease of the soldiers during war times and to improve their functionality. Pierced metal covers were used to decrease the vulnerability of the glass or crystal during the combats. This, when placed on the dial of the watch, protected the glass from being damaged. The alternative used for the protection of glass before metal covers, was leather covers, which were less commonly used because they were rather cumbersome.

Until the World War I, wristwatches had not reached the mainstream market and their use was especially limited among women. During the First World War, the armies of Europe united and the significance of wristwatches in the combats was reinforced because of the strategic role played by the watches during the Boer War.

By this time, a wristwatch had become a wartime necessity instead of being considered a mere routine life necessity and many new companies emerged, taking advantage of the increasing popularity of wristwatches and began to fulfil the demand. By the end of the World War I, wristwatches had seen numerous improvements. New dimensions were introduced and revolutionary designs were created for wristwatches. By that time, water and dust resistant wristwatches were also introduced. Soldiers were the ones who initially started using wristwatches and it is evident that ever since, a wristwatch has undergone vast improvements in terms of design as well as technology. 

Source: ezinearticles.com

History of Wrist Watches

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