Luxury wrist watches are fascinating items that are both works of art and pieces of advanced technology. They also boast a long, interesting history spanning hundreds of years. Since Patek Philippe created the first mechanical wrist watches in 1868, luxury wrist watches have become a staple of any fashionable wardrobe.
Do you know all that there is to know about the history of the luxury wrist watches you adore?
To find out, take a look at these four facts about their history:
1. Before World War I, most men still chose to wear pocket-watches rather than luxury wrist watches. The popular wrist watches of the time, Wristlets, were almost exclusively considered to be womens watches. Male pocket watch enthusiasts of the time were quoted as saying they “would sooner wear a skirt as wear a wrist watch.” This changed after the war, as soldiers wore wristwatches to tell the time while their hands were full.
2. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first-ever transatlantic solo flight, flying from New York to Paris in 33 hours and 30 minutes. He wore a mens watch made by Longines, the official timekeeper of Lindbergh’s trip. Longines and Lindbergh would later work together to develop the Lindbergh Hour Angle watch.
3. In 1969, the first quartz-crystal analog luxury wrist watches were introduced, which boasted more accuracy than the mechanical wrist watch. Because quartz watches eliminated all moving parts, these watches were also shock-resistant and needed less cleaning than mechanical watches.
4. Today, luxury wrist watches are still popular as ever. About 62% of Americans say they still wear a watch regularly. Consumers have access to digital, tactile and analog varieties of luxury wrist watches that come with features like the date, time, day of the week — even the lunar phase.