Watches are portable timepieces that are usually worn on the wrist. The main types are analog, which mechanically move and tells the time via two hands on a clock face, and digital, which electronically marks the passage of time on a digital screen. Some watches worn on the body are pocket watches, sometimes attached to clothes with a chain.
The watch was created in Germany in 1524 by Peter Heinlein.http://www.vex.net/~dq711/watch.htm The early models were bulky and heavy, but nevertheless a great advancement in technology. The first movements were made of steel and later brass. With no balance springs, they were quite inaccurate. And with only an hour hand, they had to be wound twice daily. Eventually the spiral leaf mainspring appeared, allowing long-term power without weights.
In 1957, The Hamilton Watch Co. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania produced the first electric watch. Instead of a mainspring, a battery was used to power the watch. Hamilton was also the driving force behind the first digital watch in 1972. The 18-carat gold Pulsar was produced with a pricetag of $2100. By pressing a button on the side, a red LED display showed the time digitally.http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1006534
Top Brands
Digital Watches
- Mahalo's Guide to the Digital Watch
- Howstuffworks: How Digital Clocks Work
- Casio: Digital Watches
- Fossil: Men's Digital and Women's Digital
- Timex: Digital Watches
- Suunto Watches
References
Fast Facts
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Price range
$5 for basic analog watch, thousands for high end fashion watches
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Fact:
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Watch face affixed to wrist on a band, made from
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Fact:
Usually powered by small battery
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Fact:
Many watches also tell the date
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Fact:
Prior to the wristwatch there was the pocket watch
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Fact:
First known watch was used in the 15th century
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Most Expensive Watch
Chopard 201-Carat
