subject: Notable Innovations throughout the History of Swiss Watch Making [print this page] Timepieces are staples nowadaysTimepieces are staples nowadays. Whether they are seen as a fashion piece or functional gadget, there is no doubt that watches play an important role. Many luxurywatchescover a very colorful history of innovations. It is for this reason that many luxury and notable watch brands, such as Audemars Piguet and the well known Swiss Rolex brand haveprominent Swiss origins. Before pondering on the present innovations and beauty of Swiss watches, pause for a while and take yourself back in time.
The Swiss watch making industry started in Geneva in the 16th century. Historic, Jean Calvin had prohibited the people from wearing jewelry. As creative as people then were, they introduced a new kind of jewelry that is really not jewelrywatches.
After the influx of watch makers, Geneva became the capital of watch making. The number of watch makers in the place led other watch makers to seek new and bigger markets.
It was in 1770 that the "Montre a secousses" by Abraham-Louis Perrelet was established. It was the first self-winding watch. The year 1842 was also very important since it was the time when the founder of the now Patek Philippie watches, Adrien Philippe had invented and introduced the pendant winding watches. The pendant watches became a hit all throughout Europe. It was also in 1842 that the establishment of various classical innovations first came about. These include chronographs, fly-back hands and calendars.
That time became the starting point of little innovations while technology also upgraded itself. With this in mind, it was easy at the turn of the 20th century to increase the mass production of Swiss watches. The introduction of wristwatches was one of the products of these developments. It was close to the end of World War I when the fashionable wristwatches were introduced. After a couple of years, the first electronic wristwatch was introduced in 1952. This became popular given its effectiveness on the changing lifestyle of people around the world.
The Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH) introduced the beta 21 watch in 1967. It was a major development being the first quartz wristwatch in the world. The innovation soon became the stimuli for other technical improvements. Aside from the quartz wristwatch, there came a time when watches of Led and LCD displays became a hit. The quartz wristwatch was not left behind since it started the innovation of watches without the use of batteries.
After much technological innovations, Swiss watches also became fashion statements with its array of designs. The term Swiss watch has been synonymous to high quality timepieces that are the best in their line. Nowadays, there are Swiss-made watches that are considered jewelry pieces because of their diamond and other valuable stone encrusting.
Notable Innovations throughout the History of Swiss Watch Making
