Who Invented the Watch?

People have been tracking time since the realization that the sun climbed to the sky each day and set again at night. Watches have made it easy to monitor the time with a quick glance at your wrist. Learn about the history of watches and how to take care of your favorite one.

Long before watches, people used the sun to track the time. First by tracking its place in the sky, and later by creating sundials, which are still used to measure time. According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, Peter Henlein - a Nürnberg, Germany locksmith - invented the first "portable clocks", which were then known as "Nürnberg Eggs". Imitators followed suit, and the timepieces became known as pocket watches. In the late 1800's, Patek Phillippe & Co. began designing wristwatches.

There are several types of watches, and they function in different manners as well. An analog watch is a classic timepiece using two "hands" to relay the time. Analog watches may also feature a second hand, which rotates around the watch face once each minute. A digital watch uses LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light emitting diode) to display the time in digits. Chronograph watches feature stopwatch capability, and diving watches are water-resistant to depths of fifty or one hundred meters, and sometimes more.

Mechanical watches operate using gears. A small handle, called a crown, is attached to a spring. When the wearer winds the crown, the spring powers the inner gears. Quartz watches are the most common type of modern watch. These watches run on small batteries, which cause a small quartz crystal inside to vibrate. This stable vibration allows the piece to keep time. Automatic watches are similar to mechanical watches. However, the movement of the wearer's wrist, rather than winding a spring, powers the gears.

Moon watches include a second dial which rotates behind the normal dial. The regular dial features a cutout that allows the wearer to view the second dial, showing the moon's current phase. Some watches offer a calendar feature, showing the month and date, day of the week, or simply the date.

Moon watches include a second dial which rotates behind the normal dial. The regular dial features a cutout that allows the wearer to view the second dial, showing the moon's current phase. Some watches offer a calendar feature, showing the month and date, day of the week, or simply the date. Calculator watches feature a small numeric keypad, usually below the time display, that includes calculator functions such as addition, subtraction and multiplication.

When choosing a watch, your first consideration should be how and where you will wear it. There are casual, waterproof watches, ideal for a day at the pool or park. Stylish, dressy watches might be more appropriate for the office. Determine how much you want to spend, and whether you want a timeless potential heirloom or a fun, hip watch to add to your collection. If you are allergic to nickel, consider a watch made of synthetic materials.