Watches of History
I mentioned in an earlier post that I prefer watches with a rich history than what they actually look like and I spent a little time making a timeline of watches(mostly still in production or reissues since I like new after all) I think have been playing a role in history. It is among these watches that I look to collect in the future and I have been collecting "extras" like old adverts and posters in order to make the future watch box seem more like a small museum.
I have put an asterix on watches that you can pick up from modern production.
1811 Breguet First wristwatch ever
1904 Cartier Santos* first Wristwatch for men
1914-1918 WW1 Trench watches
Roskopf*, Electa*
1915 Breitling first Chronograph watch
1923 Harwood First Automatic
1925 Patek Philippe First moonphase
1926 Rolex Oyster crosses English channel
1929 Longines Weems first rotatable bezel
1932 Omega Marine first diving watch
1936 Longines First Flyback Chronograph
1939-1945 WW2
“Dirty Dozen” Vertex* and Timor*, Bulova A11* and A15*, Kirova Type 1, Hanhart Chronograph*, Laco*, IWC*, Stowa*, Aeschbach*, Panorai*, Longines Majetek* and Heritage*, Seikosha
1947 Vulcain Cricket* first alarm watch
1948 Omega Seamaster*
1950-1953 Korean War Bulova A17*
1953 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms* first Modern dive watch, Tornek Reyville*, Bulova Mil Ship*, Zodiac Seawolf*
1953 Smiths Everest*, Rolex Oyster Perpetual* first watches on Mt. Everest
1954 Rolex Submariner*
1955-1975 Vietnam War
Benrus DTU-2A/P*, Hamilton Khaki Field*, Glycine Airman*, Seiko Willard*
1957 Hamilton Ventura* first Electric Watch
1960 Bulova Accutron* first Tuning fork watch
1960 Rolex Deepsea first watch on the bottom of Mariana Trench
1961 Sturmanskie Gagarin* first Watch in Space
1965 Strela Chronograph* first Watch on Space Walk
1969 Seiko Astro first Quartz watch
1969 Omega Speedmaster* First watch on the moon
1970 Pulsar First Digital Watch
1971 Bulova Lunar Pilot*
1972 Synchronar First Solar watch
1973 Seiko 06LC First 6 digit LCD watch
1976 Citizen First Analog Solar watch
1999 Seiko First Spring drive
Lol check these out
Please feel free to correct anything Ive missed and things to add onto this list. I like history and researching watches tied to historical events means I can learn about watches and history at the same time.
What would you add?
Strenght athlete. I fix things. I like heavy metal and watches. @urkraftwatch
Thank you!
As a Swede you could add Omega Suveran to your list? Only sold in Sweden during WWII. And/or the Officer version if you are into military watches.
As a Swede you could add Omega Suveran to your list? Only sold in Sweden during WWII. And/or the Officer version if you are into military watches.
Wow had no idea about it, now that you mention it Lemania Viggen is another Swedish military watch that I see that Nezumi nowadays make a homage to. Thank you for sharing!
1934 First use of Incabloc shock protection: West End Sowar Prima
1935 First automatic with shock protection, water tight case, and anti-magnetism: Mido Multifort
1942 First bi-directional rotor in an automatic movement: Anything with a Felsa 410 or 415 (Felsa Bidynator). Here is one:
1948 First automatic rotor with ball bearings to reduce friction: Eterna Eternamatic
1934 First use of Incabloc shock protection: West End Sowar Prima
1935 First automatic with shock protection, water tight case, and anti-magnetism: Mido Multifort
1942 First bi-directional rotor in an automatic movement: Anything with a Felsa 410 or 415 (Felsa Bidynator). Here is one:
1948 First automatic rotor with ball bearings to reduce friction: Eterna Eternamatic
Thank you for sharing! I feel almost as if I should compile all into something physical like a book or pamphlet or something.
What? No Kinetic auto relay in there? 😜
Seriously tho very cool list, well done
What? No Kinetic auto relay in there? 😜
Seriously tho very cool list, well done
Thank you! I forgot about kinetic 😄 Ill probably update this list many times until its a piece of finished work.
"In 1953, at the request of British pilot and commander, Chat Brown, Glycine pioneered the design for the first “Airman” watch. The Airman immediately garnered icon status as it was the first to introduce multiple time-zone watches".
I've always liked this one. ☻
Thank you for sharing! I feel almost as if I should compile all into something physical like a book or pamphlet or something.
It'd make an interesting book.
Lot of work but the results were impressive. Kudos!
Very nice work curating. Informative!
Impressive well researched article ! I will save this one …
Nice work!
Wonderful post. Took hard work and excellent research. Thanks!
how about first gmt with glycine and 1957 with omega speedmaster?
That's really handy. I'll add a couple more when I'm home from work.
Excellent work, thank you 👍🏻
That's really handy. I'll add a couple more when I'm home from work.
Excellent work, thank you 👍🏻
Thank you. I feel like every time I want to look for history of watches I have to browse 35 different ones to find the collected info I want, so I want to collect them all at one place. It might take some time to finish it but now its in the workings🙏
how about first gmt with glycine and 1957 with omega speedmaster?
The glycine airman is on the list I however forgot to add it as first GMT 😬
First automatic chronograph in 1969 was a race between various big brands & seemed a big thing. Looks like Seiko won
First Casio G-shock was also a game changer in 1983
The dirty dozen image you used is what I use for my lock screen 😂🍻
The dirty dozen image you used is what I use for my lock screen 😂🍻
Its pretty isnt it 🍻
First automatic chronograph in 1969 was a race between various big brands & seemed a big thing. Looks like Seiko won
Yeah I should def note it down!
1969 Doxa Conquistador 300T first helium escape valve
The dirty dozen image you used is what I use for my lock screen 😂🍻
My screensaver:) I like yours though .
1969 Doxa Conquistador 300T first helium escape valve
Thank you for adding onto the list!
What an impressive list - tak for sharing! 🤙
What an impressive list - tak for sharing! 🤙
Thank you. Stay tuned for v2 sometime in the future 😎