While jewelry has been a part of cultures around the world for thousands of years, the wristwatch didn’t make its first appearance until 1812. While watches were initially quite simple in design, they have since come to be intricate and highly personal. Each one is different and varies in materials, styles, and sizes, and you can easily tweak it with the help of a custom jewelry store to fit your wrist perfectly. 

What You Should Know About Watches

Europe

While simple clocks have been around since early times, the first personal watch was not introduced until the 1800s in Naples when it was presented to the queen as a gift of honor. In these times, it was designed for women as a piece of jewelry for the wrist.

In 1880, they became more popular as they were adopted for use in the military. Constant Girard, of Girard-Perregaux produced 2,000 watches and gave them to German naval officers. Eventually, they were used by military aviators since they made it convenient and safe to check the time while maintaining controls. 

World War I

At the start of the first World War, soldiers were prompted to use wristwatches so they could monitor the time without dropping or putting down their equipment. The early models were made from tough crystal to ensure they didn’t break in combat. As a result, they were quite expensive, prompting the first in jewelry advertisement. The watches were made with thick, sturdy leather straps and were highly valuable as they allowed military leaders to control the timing of their movement and attacks.

Late 1900’s Patents

After the war ended, watches continued to be a major accessory for soldiers and civilians. 1930 introduced the stopwatch, and in 1950, electric ones came to market. While these earlier models were powered by moving parts and a magnetic solenoid, the quartz watch used a battery, making them more accurate and reliable than ever before. 

Looking to add a new watch to your collection in Charles, MO? Let the team at Smith Coin & Jewelry walk you through their impressive inventory of gorgeous timepieces. Each knowledgeable staff member will gather your personal style, taste, and budget preferences to suggest a piece of jewelry that you’ll treasure for years. For more help, go online or call (636) 441-6789.