|
 The history
of watches has gone throughout many centuries where the structure and the
clockwork have been improved but the purpose of using watch is still the same –
keeping time. This is likely the only
invention of humans that will never lose its primary purpose. The watch is used
to assist and to decorate the hands of ladies and create the solid image for
businessmen. Throughout centuries humans strive for comprehending the time
conception as the matter. However, it is the time invisible that creates the
history, and history makes watches and watches do not allow missing something
interesting and vital in the world.
The first watches
similar to the ones we use today differed in appearance and the mechanism but
they also were accurate to keep the time. Nevertheless, the sundial – gnomon
that was created in Egypt
approximately 3000 years ago B.C. served in the daytime only. The point is that
the sundial was made using an ordinary stem inserted into the flat stone
athwart. The lines with numerical symbols were carved around the stem. The whole
structure was built in the way that on a sunny day shadow of the stem casting
to the «dial» signified the particular period of time that is served as the
unique watch hand. A thousand years later «round-the-clock» water watch was
created which were popular in China,
India, Greece and Egypt. The most complicated
structure of water watch is known as «Clepsydra», created by the ancient Greek
inventor Ktesibiy approximately in II - I century B.C. The vessel with the hour
gradation was filled in water. As the water leaks, the level is reduced compared
with the particular time symbol. The «fire» watch exists as well of various shapes
– from wax candles with the strokes made on candles to the oil lamps with wicks
which were very popular in China
up to 20th century.
The first
hourglass appeared in the 1st century A.D. with the principle based
on sand pouring through the trough of the particular section from a separate
section to another one. The hourglass existed when the sand poured within
thirty second and those designed to keep hours and hours. Hourglasses seem to be
accurate tool which, somehow, was designed to count the little period of time.
Recently the
most demanded are the mechanical watches. The first clockwork known is the pendulum
leveler invented around the first millennium by the German abbot Herbert. The watch
was installed on the tower and it was only designed to inform the church
members and the abbey residents on the regular pray time.
The
mechanical watch is deemed to be invented in 1500. Peter Henlein, the German metalworker
from Nuremberg
offered to replace the weightlift stroke principle for the flat spring that
crucially changed the working system of the watch. First pocket mechanical
watches were made by the same inventor, Peter Henlein. They were made egg-shaped
with the brass case. In spite of the high accuracy, the winding spring was a
little bit faulty. However, Peter Henlein gave an excellent startup to improve
and develop the clockwork. Additional fittings appeared to achieve high
accuracy of time keeping. Watches looked more like the lavish items with cases made
from precious metals shaped as animals or any other items. The dial plate was
decorated with the color enamel glazed with glass.
By the way,
in 1574 the history of the reputed Swiss accuracy and reliability was startup. The
first workshop was opened in Geneva
supervised by the French master Charles Cousin that became the place to unite
most watch-makers.
Mass
production of watches was noted in the late 19th century. Watches
for women were launched as the jewelry incrusted with precious stones with the
case from noble metals. The watches for men were austere and laconic, in
contrast, like the pocket watches. They were mainly fastened to the chain being
the decorative element to the vest, at the same time. Only in the early 20th century men
dared to wear wrist watches.
Yet, up to 1968
the watch has been the accessory for casual events, the attribute of the high
class and prestige but not the thing for everyday use. When the quartz clockwork wasinvented,
watches were put to mass production.
Soon, watches were offered with
many other features apart from time keeping, as the water-proof, shock-resistant
and anti-magnet watches, as well as the ones with the electronic generator and
atomic clock being the ultra accurate gadget.
The watch dated
back 1443 is kept at one of museums in Florence
created by the scientist of the Medieval Age Paolo Uccello. The wonder-watch distinguished
with the hands moving in retracting direction unlike the «left to right» we are
used to and the watch was quite accurate. The trick is that Paolo was working
on two watches for both direction run, and when he brought the watches to the Duke
to choose the watches at his discretion, the Duke opt foe the wrong one, for
whatever reason.
Jihun Yeom,
the modern watch-maker, created the watches of the same uniqueness and
accuracy. The watch is invisible, that is the watch named «Aurora» was made with completely transparent
dial plate without hands and digits, but with the solid case and wristlet of
metallic shade. It is not so difficult to know the accurate time when you touch
the case with a finger, the light laser hands appear with the hour hand of red
color and the minute hand is of the blue color, as well as the exceptionally
different symbols of hours and minutes.
Rolex was
the first Company to make the ultra-accurate watch with the water-proof case in
1926. Throughout the decades they improved the structure of the watch and to
the end of 70s the world was introduced to the new model of «Oyster Sea
Dweller» watch with the water-proof case able to prevent water going inside in
the depth of 1200 meters. And in 1988 the Rolex presented their futuristic
model of watch exclusively made from the meteorite stone. Rolex is watches most
would like to possess but less can afford, since the policy of the Company is «best
quality for good money» and that’s all. However, the demand for Rolex exceeds
the offer.
By the way,
there are no watches at casino and other entertaining places to keep the time.
Beyond such places, watch is the only tool to keep the time precisely, the item
of high status and accessory if wristlet watches. When it comes to wall clocks,
they are a good décor for interior design making the place comfy and cozy, and
solid at the same time.
|
