Rumor has it that the first wristwatches came to being in the 19th century when women started tying pocket watches around their wrists for ease of use. Before long, many companies and jewelers began making wristwatches for women, but it wasn't until World War I, with Cartier's Santos model, that wristwatches for men became commonplace.

Originally seen as a piece of fine jewelry, early ladies' wristwatches were essentially just pocket watches or pendant watches with wire lugs attached, a sharp contrast to the highly ornamented ladies' watches of the 20th century.