Men's Watches Through The Ages
The first of a long history of men's watches was credited to Patek Phillippe, who allegedly invented the wristwatch in 1868.
There have been historical claims of timepieces worn around the wrist prior to that time, though - and not just by men. Queen Elizabeth I, according to documented reports, occasionally wore a watch around her wrist. It seems that during the 1800's wristwatches were the genre of the royalty.
Men's watches developed far later than women's, as the males preferred pocket watches.
What increased the use of men's watches was the outbreak of war and the realization that knowing the time quickly was crucial. Fumbling in a pocket for a watch was not a good option for these soldiers. Officers fighting in South Africa during the Boer War of 1899-1902 started the military trend of men's watches. This became increasingly more common during World War One, as they became a necessity when aerial combat required time synchronization. At war's end the soldiers' were rewarded with the right to keep their watches. When they returned home civilians admired these men's watches and bought their own.
At the end of the First World War both women as well as men wore wristwatches. Men's watches were designed with a more rugged look that included chronograph models as well as sport models. Women bought decorative watches with slim bands. Rolex created the first of the watches that were waterproof in 1927. Renowned swimmer Mercedes Gleitze wore this Rolex as she successfully swam the entire width of the English Channel.
About the same time self-winding became popular on both women and men's watches. Though struggling with reliability issues early on, these watches improved in quality and became quite rampant in the 1940's.
While a number of watchmakers closed their doors during the depression years, men's watches again became all the more popular during World War II, although primarily for the military and not civilians. Switzerland was still the country turning out the military watches, including those especially designed for fighter pilots.
At the end of the war men's watches as well as women's again became available to the masses. In 1957 Hamilton Watch Company, a U.S. firm, produced the first watch to operate by batter. It was called the Ventura.
Then the competition for the men's watches and women's watches market drove watchmakers to fierce competition for the smallest watches. Neil Armstrong wore the ultimate in men's watches in 1969 when he donned the Omega Speedmaster chronograph, an automatic timepiece, to take humankind's first steps onto the lunar surface.