When Were Wristwatches Invented? A Timeline of Watch History
The invention of the wristwatch marked a major shift in how people experienced time. Long before wristwatches were created, ancient civilizations used sundials and water clocks. Mechanical clocks arrived in Europe in the 1200s, setting the foundation for portable timepieces — from ornate pocket watches to the world’s first wristwatches in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Early Timekeeping Devices and the Invention of Mechanical Clocks
In a brief history of clock making, the first mechanical clock was invented in 1275 England as a minute-repeater, with no dial, at the Salisbury Cathedral. Italy followed this development with three new clocks; an astronomical clock, an hourly chime, and a more robust version following the hours, sunrise, and days of the month.
These first clocks were created by blacksmiths who had the ability to bend and form iron in the 13 and 1400s. They created bells that would be able to be heard throughout a house and town, not requiring a dial to read the time. The first pocket watch was referenced in 1462 as a “pocket clock”.
The Rise of Swiss Watchmaking and the Pocket Watch Era
In the mid-1500s, the Swiss watch industry was born. New materials such as brass, bronze, and silver became favorable. One of the biggest factors in watchmaking was the ban on jewelry by reformer John Calvin. This led jewelers to learn a new trade: watchmaking.
Pocket watches became a staple in daily attire, first showing only the hour until minute hands were added around 1680. While typically worn on a chain or as a pendant, it wasn’t until the 19th century that smaller, wrist-worn versions emerged — eventually leading to the widespread adoption of wristwatches by the 1920s. Typically these portable clocks were worn around the neck as a pendant but Charles II of England popularized the waistcoat which allowed more protection for the portable clock, transitioning into being known as a pocket watch.
Originally, there was no glass protecting the dial. Hinged cases with intricate skeletonization were designed to protect the hands while still showing time until glass became common in the early 1600s.
During this evolution, the wristwatch as we know it today was not popular or regularly seen, in fact, it was women’s fashion that helped popularize the wrist wearing.
From Pocket to Wrist: The Birth of the Wristwatch
The first wristwatch can be credited to Abraham-Louis Breguet, designed for the Queen of Naples in 1810 as an ‘oblong shaped-repeater for wristlet’. This development has led to Breguet’s modern model, the Reine De Naples.
In 1868, Countess Koscowicz of Hungary also had a bracelet watch made, this time by well-known manufacturer, Patek Philippe.
Women were more prone to wearing these wristlet watches because being on the wrist made the watch more prone to the elements, another reason for men to wear the pocket watch.
Mass Production Benefiting Watchmaking
The 19th century also saw an upgrade in technology, with one of the most notable being mass production. While first seeing popularity in the United States by the Waltham Watch Company, the development allowed for cheaper materials and new mechanics in winding, opening up the watch industry to ordinary people.
Military Influence in Popularizing Wristwatches
While pocket watches dominated the 18th and 19th centuries, the first purpose-built wristwatch is often attributed to Patek Philippe in 1868. However, it was Louis Cartier’s design for Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904 that popularized the wristwatch. By World War I, soldiers adopted wristwatches for their practicality — solidifying their place in both military and civilian life.
The late 1880s saw Girard-Perregaux mass-producing wristwatches for German Naval Officers. Louis Cartier was also tasked to find an alternative to a pocket watch for Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont. The Cartier Santos model was developed in 1904 to fit the needs of having hands on the controls but also being able to time flights.
World War I popularized the wristwatch for the soldier. A pocket watch would not allow the soldier to carry equipment while keeping an eye on the time, an important factor in planning. As a result, trench watches were created, which were watches on a wrist strap made from pocket watch movements. Soldiers were required to purchase their own watches and became part of the Officers Kit for the war front. Watchmakers had the liberty to design how they wanted, with the requirements of having a luminous wristwatch and unbreakable crystal.
Watch companies created advertisements seen everywhere for the soldier to buy their model over a competitor. After the war, and being worn by soldiers, the public saw the utility of a wristwatch over a pocket watch.
The Future Development of Wristwatches
Over the years after World War I, the watch industry continued to boom and new inventions and patents were being released. It wasn’t until 1923 that the first automatic watch was designed. Before this, for trench watches, ladies wristlets, and mechanical clocks, either a key-wind or keyless hand-winding system was used. Learn more about the differences between automatic and manual wind watches.
Rolex was born in the early 1900s and developed the first waterproof watch in the 1920s. Breitling created one of the first wristwatch chronographs in 1915. In 1931, LeCoultre & Cie, now known as Jaeger-LeCoultre, developed the iconic Reverso which allowed the case to be slid sideways and flipped over protecting its crystal from a polo mallet. The 1970s brought around the quartz crisis which has also led to the development of the smartwatch industry. Today, brands continue to experiment with new materials to create thinner, light-weight watches in both traditional watch models and new smartwatch models.
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From Utility to Fashion: The Modern Legacy of the Wristwatch
Today, wristwatches serve both functional and stylistic roles. Mechanical and quartz innovations, automatic movements, and digital advancements have transformed watches from military tools into luxury accessories. The journey from early “hand clocks” to high-complication timepieces underscores the enduring appeal of wearable timekeeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When was the wristwatch invented?
A. The wristwatch as we know it was popularized in the early 20th century, though earlier prototypes existed in the 19th century.Q. Who made the first wristwatch?
A. Patek Philippe is credited with creating one of the first wristwatches in 1868 for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary.Q. Why did people switch from pocket watches to wristwatches?
A. Wristwatches became more practical during wartime and gained popularity for their convenience and design.