Watch
A watch is a small clock carried or worn by a person. It makes it easy to see the time. It is also a fashion accessory for men and women, and expensive watches are designed for this purpose. A watch may be one of the few accessories worn by a person.
A wristwatch is designed to be worn on a wrist, attached by a strap or other type of bracelet. A pocket watch is to be carried in a pocket. There are other variations. Nurses often wear a watch attached to the front of their uniform. It hangs down from a short strap: when lifted by the user it is right side up.
A wrist watch has the advantage of being portable in comparison to traditional watches.
Watches evolved in the 17th century from spring-powered clocks, which appeared as early as the 14th century. In 1524, Peter Henlein created the first pocket watch. The first watches were strictly mechanical, driven by clockwork.
As technology developed, mechanical watches were largely replaced by vibrating quartz crystals, producing accurately timed electronic pulses.[1] Some watches use radio technology to correct the time and date.[2] The first digital electronic watch was developed in 1970[3]and the world's first radio-controlled wristwatch with hands was manufactured 1991 by the German watchmaker Junghans.
Electronic movements, also known as quartz movements, have few or no moving parts, except a quartz crystal which is made to vibrate by the piezoelectric effect. A varying electric voltage is applied to the crystal, which responds by changing its shape so it works as an oscillator. It resonates at a stable frequency, which paces a timekeeping mechanism. Most quartz movements are primarily electronic but are geared to drive mechanical hands on the face of the watch to give a traditional analog display of the time. Most consumers prefer this.
Some watches are smartwatches, mobile devices similar to smartphones but smaller.
Watch Media
A modern wristwatch featuring solar charging and Bluetooth capabilities
A 1983 Casio watch with touchscreen
A pomander watch from 1530, which once belonged to Philip Melanchthon and is now in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Founded in 1735, Blancpain is the oldest registered watch brand in the world.
A watch drawn in Acta Eruditorum, 1737
Early wristwatch by Waltham with a metal guard over the crystal, worn by soldiers in World War I (German Clock Museum)
Mappin & Webb's wristwatch, advertised as having been in production since 1898
A Vacheron Constantin patrimony wristwatch
Different kinds of movements move the hands differently as shown in this 2-second exposure. The left watch has a 24-hour analog dial with a mechanical 1/6s "sweep" movement, while the right one has a more common 12-hour dial and a "1s" quartz movement.
A Russian mechanical watch movement with exhibition case back, showing its movement.
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References
- ↑ "The History of Watches". SteelWatch.co. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07.
- ↑ Common with modern car clocks
- ↑ Pulsar LED Smithsonian Archived 2011-03-23 at the Wayback Machine