The history of watches began in 16th-century Europe, where watches evolved from portable spring-driven clocks, which first appeared in the 15th century. pas cher Richard Mille rm 88 Some sources included in this module are from JustWatch. The first watches appeared shortly after 1500, early examples being made by Peter Henlein, a locksmith in Nürnberg, Ger. The escapement used in the early watches was the same as that used in the early clocks, the verge. Early watches were made notably in Germany and at Blois in France, among other countries, and were generally carried in the hand or worn on a chain around the neck. They usually had only one hand for the hours. verb The mainspring, the element that drives the watch, consists of a flat spring-steel band stressed in bending or coiling; when the watch, or other spring-driven mechanism, is wound, the curvature of the spring is increased, and energy is thus stored. This energy is transmitted to the oscillating section of the watch (called the balance) by the wheeltrain and escapement, the motion of the balance itself controlling the release of the escapement and consequently the timing of the watch. A friction drive permits the hand to be set. noun See full list on Powered by Oxford Languages Word Origin Old Englishwæcce ‘watchfulness’, wæccende ‘remaining awake’; related to wake1. The sense ‘small timepiece’ probably developed by way of a sense ‘alarm device attached to a clock’. Scrabble Points: 13 watch, portable timepiece that has a movement driven either by spring or by electricity and that is designed to be worn or carried in the pocket.

May 31, 2024 · Salisbury Cathedral in England was the first place to have a mechanical device to track time in 1275. The church was often the place of invention when it came to tracking time, as their lives revolved around prayer and song at intervals throughout the day. One of the main defects of the early watches was the variation in the torque exerted by the mainspring; that is, the force of the mainspring was greater when fully wound than when it was almost run down. Since the timekeeping of a watch fitted with a verge escapement was greatly influenced by the force driving it, this problem was quite serious. Solution of the problem was advanced almost as soon as the mainspring was invented (about 1450) by the application of the fusee, a cone-shaped, grooved pulley used together with a barrel containing the mainspring. With this arrangement, the mainspring was made to rotate a barrel in which it was housed; a length of catgut, later replaced by a chain, was wound on it, the other end being coiled around the fusee. When the mainspring was fully wound, the gut or chain pulled on the smallest radius of the cone-shaped fusee; as the mainspring ran down, the leverage was progressively increased as the gut or chain pulled on a larger radius. With correct proportioning of mainspring and fusee radii, an almost constant torque was maintained as the mainspring unwound. Nov 1, 2024 · Discover the fascinating history and evolution of watches, from ancient sundials and medieval pocket watches to modern wristwatches and smartwatches. Explore how each era’s innovations have shaped the art and technology of timekeeping. Did you know the first wristwatch was actually made for a queen over 200 years ago? Or that the Quartz Crisis nearly wiped out the Swiss watch industry? Stick around, because we’re about to unravel 10 pivotal moments that shaped how we keep time—and why watches remain timeless treasures. Up to about 1580, the mechanisms of German watches were made almost wholly of iron; about this time, brass was introduced. Author Isabel Wilkerson writes her seminal book "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" while coping with personal tragedy. Wikipedia Mar 12, 2025 · Discover the fascinating journey of wristwatches from women's jewelry to battlefield tools to modern status symbols. This comprehensive history covers key innovations, cultural impacts, and the evolution of these beloved timepieces. The going barrel, in which the mainspring barrel drives the wheeltrain directly, is fitted to all modern mechanical watches and has superseded the fusee. With better quality mainsprings, torque variations have been reduced to a minimum, and with a properly adjusted balance and balance spring, good timekeeping is ensured. The history of watches begins in 16th-century Europe, evolving from portable spring-driven clocks of the 15th century. Early timepieces, often called pocket watches, were initially worn as pendants and later carried in pockets. Special offer for students! Check out our special academic rate and excel this spring semester! Show more

The History of Watches - Timely Classic 1. a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist: "my watch had stopped" Similar timepiecechronometersmall clocktimerwristwatchpocket watchfob watchdigital watchstopwatch2. an act or instance of carefully observing someone or something over a period of time: "the security forces have been keeping a close watch on our activities" Similar guardvigillookoutan eyeobservanceobservationsurveillancevigilanceviewnotice▪ a period of vigil during which a person is stationed to look out for danger or trouble, typically during the night: "Murray took the last watch before dawn" ▪ a fixed period of duty on a ship, usually lasting four hours: "sea air, lots of exercise, and four-hour watches give everyone a healthy appetite" Similar shiftstintspellstretchturn▪ the officers and crew on duty during a watch. ▪ a watchman or group of watchmen who patrolled and guarded the streets of a town before the introduction of the police force: historical "the woman, with a piercing shriek, called the watch" ▪ a body of soldiers making up a guard. Watch | History, Design & Functionality | Britannica History of watches - Wikipedia The Invention of the Wristwatch - The Watch Club by ... 7.2/10 7.2/10 IMDb 82% 82% Rotten Tomatoes The History and Evolution of Watches: From Ancient Inventions ... The Fascinating History of Watches: 10 Milestones That ... 1. look at or observe attentively over a period of time: "Lucy watched him go" Similar observeviewlook ateyegaze atstare atgape atpeer atcontemplatesurveyfeast one's eyes onwatch like a hawkkeep a weather eye oninspectscrutinizescanexaminestudytake intake stock ofglance atseenoticespotglimpsespycatch sight oflay one's eyes onperceivewitnessogleleer atmake eyes atpay attention toregardattendtake note ofmarkinformal:check outget a load ofrecceeyeballnot take one's eyes offtake a dekko attake a butcher's atliterary:beholdOpposite ignoredisregard▪ keep under careful, protective, or secret observation: "there aren't enough staff to watch him properly" Similar spy onkeep watch onkeep an eye onkeep in sightkeep track oftrackmonitorsurveyfollowkeep under observationkeep under surveillanceinformal:keep tabs onkeep a beady eye onstake outrare:surveillook aftermindtake care ofcare forsupervisesuperintendtendattend tominister tofosternurseguardsafeguardprotectinformal:keep an eye onguardstand guard overkeep guard onprotectshieldpreservedefendsafeguardscreensheltercoverpatrolpolicepicketkeep a lookout atOpposite neglect▪ observe and guard in a protective way: "I guess I can rest a while, with you here to watch over me" ▪ follow closely or maintain an interest in: "the girls watched the development of this relationship with incredulity" 2. exercise care, caution, or restraint about: "most women watch their diet during pregnancy" Similar be careful about/ofexercise care/caution/restraint aboutbe aware ofpay attention toconsidertake into account/considerationbear in mindkeep in mindmindattend topay heed to▪ look out or be on the alert for: "in spring and summer, watch for kingfishers" ▪ be careful (used as a warning or threat): "credit card fraud is on the increase, so watch out" 3. remain awake for the purpose of religious observance: archaic "she watched whole nights in the church" The Fascinating History of Wristwatches: From Battlefield ...