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100
Origin: The Sundial Clock
Invented 3,500 B.C. The shadow of the Sun would fall on the hour mark to tell time. -
200
The Water Clock/Clepsyrda
Invented 1400 B.C. in Egypt. Unlike Sundials, they were able to tell the time during the night. The invention is designed so that the water from the container above would flow into the lower container through a tube. The water in the lower container would continue to rise, bringing the float up with it. The float would be attached to a wooden stick, which would have notches that turned the gear and moved the hand to the correct hour. -
Jan 1, 1500
Peter Henlein: Spring-powered clock watch
Clockmaker Peter Heinlein is responsible for inventing the mainspring, which made portable time pieces possible. Heinlein inspired the invention of the watch, due to the following passage that states he invented timepieces that are to be worn on the body:
"He shapes many-wheeled clocks out of small bits of iron, which run and chime the hours without weights for forty hours, whether carried at the breast.."
-Johann Cochlau
There is no other specific evidence that proves him to be credible. -
1770: The Automatic pocket watch
The 'Father' of Automatic Watches, Perrelet, created the pocket watch that winded itself as the owner walked. The oscillating weight inside the watch moved up and down. It took 15 minutes of walking to power the watch for 8 hours. -
1904:Plato clock
Another clock known to influence the wrist watch. Introduced 1904 at the St. Louis World Fair. Inside the cylindrical glass diplay, were small cards with numbers printed on them, which flipped as time passed. These clocks were spring-wound. -
1957: First electronic Watch
Invented 1957 by the Hamilton Watch Co, the world's firat electric watch consisted of the traditional balance wheel mechanism. The use of the battery eliminated the need for the mainspring, which relied on winding. -
1967: the first wristwatch quartz movement
The Swiss CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) produced the wristwatch which was known for better accuracy. Thy were able to fit the integrated circuitry into the watch, which carried the electrical charge throught the quartz movement with more efficiency. The quartz movement uses a battery for its power source. -
1969:35SQ Astron Watch
The world's first quartz wristwatch, created by the Japanese. Although this watch had alot of technical difficulties, it's designs and ideas helped lead to slimmer, more efficient watches. -
1972: First Watch with Digital display
After pressing the red button on the side, the time would be displayed using a LED light. This was made possible by passing an electric charge thorugh 'inorganic' materials. In 1975, the watches started to switch to plastic cases, which drastically reduced the price. -
1960:Accutron
The company Bulova provided the next step by producing a watch that contained a U-shape piece of nickel alloy, which vibrated from the electric currents of the battery. Transistors were also introduced, which helped the watch's battery last longer.
