Continued from page 1
1548 - Other watches appeared and were probably French or German in origin.
1575 - Swiss and English products began to appear. This was
period of most advancements and innovation. First watch movements were made of steel and then later brass. They were straight verge watches with no balance and were highly inaccurate. The use of spiral-leaf main spring began. This allowed power of a movement without hanging weights. These pieces were inconsistent in their accuracy.
1600 - 1675 - This was age of decoration. Watches became more of a decoration and jewelry piece rather than being functional. The shape of cases changed from tambour cylinder with a lid, to a circular case with hinged, domed covers on front and back. Champleve enamel and relieved case filled with colored enamel appeared.
1620 - The glass crystals were fitted to cases as a typical alternative to metal opaque covers. The glass is translucent and allowed owner to see time without taking off cover. In order to set watch and see time, cover had to be removed.
1625 - Plain watches came about as result of Puritan movement. After 1660 - Fancy shapes and adornments were seen mostly on ladies' watches.
1675 - The spiral balance spring is first used in watches. The accuracy now was measured in fractions of minutes as opposed to fractions of hours. This increased accuracy caused watchmakers to create a dial that had a minute hand and was divided by minutes.
1675 - Charles II introduced waistcoats with pockets. Men now carried their watches in their pockets rather than on a pendant.
1704 - Dullier and Debeaigre developed a method of using jewels as bearings.
1715 - Sully found out that creating a small sink around each hole would retain oil because of surface tension.
1725 - It was common to find a large diamond endstone in cock.
1750 - The names of watchmakers never appeared on dials of watches till now.
1761 - John Harrison made a clock that was so accurate it was used to measure longitude during sea voyages.
1775 - Champleve is now rare. Purrelet began production of self-winding watches.
1780 - Rareguel produced these watches.
1800 - The pocket chronometer was a readily available and accurate watch.
1814 - Massey was first who used a push or pump with a rack that operated by pushing pendant that turn on a ratchet basic or going bowl.
1850 - The United States were first to use mass production with mixed results
1900 - Advances were made in metallurgy. This was introduction of balance spring on first verge watch.
1952 - Battery powered watches became available.
1970 - Electronic watches were very successful.
Watches today use quartz crystals, batteries, and there are even atomic watches. Time tracking has never been more accurate and advances in field of Horolgy are being made all time.
About the Author Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Watches and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
