Did you know that Breguet was the most preferred watch of the Russian Tsars and it was also worn by Napoleon at Waterloo? Did you know that when Sir Edmund Hilary climbed Mt. Everest (the first human to conquer the mountain) in 1953 he wore Rolex Oyster? Watches were always linked with time, however time was not always connected to watches. Philosophers and scientists has been studying time for more than 2,500 years. “Veritum dies aperit” (Time discovers the truth) Seneca De Ira.
- Some historians say that the first to invent watches were people from Egypt and Mesopotamia. The period was 1500 BC. They developed a mechanical way of estimating time by the flow of running water.
- The first accurate clocks were created by Italian monks almost 3000 years later, i. e. around 1524 AD. They developed more or less precise clock to know when they have to pray. Clocks told time using acoustical indicators, there were no hands to show time.
- The first pocket watches were invented in Tudor, England, in the 16th century. These pocket watches were incredibly big, which is why people wore them around neck. There are rumors that in the famous painting of Henry VIII, the medallion on his neck is a big pocket watch, which he owned, and not a medalion how most people think.
- Leonardo da Vinci draw a sketch of a fusee for a clock. The system used in his sketch was later used in watch industry.
- In 1583 Galileo Galilei realized that how often does a pendulum swing depends on its length.
- Breguet was the most preferred watch of the Russian Tsars. Breguet was also worn by Napoleon at Waterloo.
- In 1795 Breguet was the one to invent the tourbillon which till nowadays represents a great horological achievement. It compensates watch errors caused by gravity. Even today tourbillon is one of the most sophisticated mechanisms to manufacture.
- The first wristwatch was invented by Patek Philippe. Until the First World War the wristwatch was considered to be a woman’s accessory. Till WW I men wore pocket watches.
- The first atomic clock that used ammonia was developed in 1949 by the National Bureau of Standards, which is now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- The first wristwatch for men was invented by Cartier. The famous jeweler created a watch for his friend Brazilian pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont.
- When Sir Edmund Hilary climbed Mt. Everest (the first human to conquer the mountain) in 1953 he wore Rolex Oyster.
- The first mass production of wristwatches was started by Girard-Perregaux. The company created its timepieces mainly for military use.
- The world’s first anti magnetic watch was created by the famous Swiss watchmaker Tissot.
- The first and the only watch, chosen by NASA, worn by astronauts in their mission to the moon remains Omega Speedmaster.
- The Russian and American astronauts wore Omega Speedmaster during the world’s first craft meeting of Apollo-Soyuz that took place in 1975.
- The Oxford Dictionary stated that the word “Time” is the most often used noun in the English language.