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Wristwatches are a global phenomenon: highly collectible, varied, and intricate. As the successor to the pocket watch, wristwatches dominated portable timekeeping in the 20th century and were often handed down through generations within a family. In addition to these antique and vintage watches, many newer limited editions have been produced by watch makers, and are sought by collectors.
Originally designed as decorative bracelets for women, wristwatches became popular among men during World War I (they were easier for the military to use than pocket watches). The first wristwatch for men was created by Cartier and called the Santos, after Alberto Santos-Dumont, a pilot who asked Cartier to create a watch he could use on his flights...
The first waterproof watch, called the Oyster, was created by Rolex in 1927. They also created the first automatic wristwatch for commercial use, known as the Bubbleback.
After World War II, men’s watches became more elaborate, offering new features such as calendars and built-in radios. In 1972, the first LED watch was created by the Hamilton Watch Company, apparently inspired by the digital clock in the 1968 movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
Wristwatch collectors tend to focus on specific manufacturers, in addition to design, ornamentation, and rarity. Key collectible brands include Omega, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Hamilton and Illinois, Wittnauer, Elgin, Bulova, and Gruen.
See all 11 Wristwatches events
I got interested in pocket watches from working on mechanical things. I had an old car, and working on it gave me i… [more]
I started with pocket watches as a child, watching old movies on television, watching the cowboys occasionally pull… [more]
I grew up outside of Philadelphia. I didn’t have any particular interest in clocks or watches as a kid; that came a… [more]
Steve Waddington’s vintage Omega watch site, featuring in-depth pages on models like Omega’s Pilot Line, Chrono… [read review or visit site]
Jeffrey Stein's great reference site on Heuer chronographs and dashboard timepieces. This site offers everything yo… [read review or visit site]
Paul Schliesser's elegant site offers a comprehensive history of the Gruen Watch Company of Ohio. The easy-to-navig… [read review or visit site]
Rob Berkavicius' labor of love for Accutrons and Accutron technical information contains extraordinarily detailed d… [read review or visit site]
This website, from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, gives visitors a satisfying glimpse into the world of watch… [read review or visit site]
This virtual museum, created by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, lets you stroll through tim… [read review or visit site]
This gallery of hundreds of LCD and calculator watches from the 1980s includes nerd-friendly brands like Casio, Sei… [read review or visit site]
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