subject: Pocket Watch History [print this page] Pocket Watch History Pocket Watch History
Since they depended on gravity to work properly, they had to be firmly mounted on the wall or in a case. But by the 1400s, it had been discovered that a clockwork mechanism could be powered by a coiled spring instead. This led to the development of the first portable clock by Peter Henlein, a German metalworker, in the early 16th century (some sources credit Henlein with inventing spring-powered clocks, but this is disputed). Henlein's "Taschenuhr" was expensive, had only an hour hand, and was inaccurate -- it ran slower as the mainspring unwound -- but it quickly became popular and spawned many imitators.
The next major development in pocket watch technology came in 1657, when the famous Dutch scientist and inventor Christian Huygens designed the balance spring assembly, which made the watch run more accurately and enabled the addition of the minute hand. The first watch made according to Huygens's plans was given as a gift to King Louis XIV of France.
These early watches were worn on neck chains. But men's fashion changed in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the waistcoat became a necessary part of a well-dressed man's wardrobe, and it became more common to carry a watch in the waistcoat pocket instead. Around this time, the use of a crystal to cover the watch face and protect the hands from damage became common.
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries led to the mass production of pocket watches. This development was also driven by the increasing popularity of railroads. Railroad workers needed accurate timekeepers to do their jobs and avoid accidents, and this meant massive demand for cheap, tough, precise watches. Watch manufacturers learned to replace some of the metal components in their watches with jewels, which were less susceptible to wear and tear, and watches that could be wound without a key were developed. At the same time, simplified designs made watches cheaper to produce, so any worker could now afford one.
In the 20th century, the use of pocket watches hit a steep decline. While wristwatches were originally women's wear, they became more popular with men during World War I, where soldiers were issued wristwatches so they could keep their hands free. After the war, wristwatches became the standard, but pocket watches are still popular with those who enjoy their unique style.
Danny Hawkins is an expertpocket watch collector and an avid pocket watch hobbyist for over 15 years. His passion is to share his excitement about pocket watches with all interested people across the world.
