Who invented the clock?

Anyone who deals intensively with watches eventually asks the question: "Who invented the watch?" The question is not so easy to answer, after all, there was already the sundial early in history, various types of water and hourglasses, as well as many other options, which mainly took nature as a model. However, there is one person to whom, at least in Germany, the invention of the body-wearable watch is attributed.

Watches can serve different purposes. As classic timekeepers, they are found in almost every household, and even there, watches are usually associated with aesthetic demands. Wristwatches have a significantly higher value, whose use goes far beyond just telling time. Wristwatches and especially luxury watches are collector's and jewelry pieces that can experience a high increase in value. Those who have such a passion for watches certainly ask themselves the question: "Who invented the watch?"

A little time travel of the watch

In this context, of course, the question arises as to which form of watch is meant. More than 2,000 years ago, the so-called "shadow stick" was known in China, while the Babylonians applied the sexagesimal system with the base number 60. The Egyptians relied on obelisks as sundials or on water watches that were not dependent on the sun. The latter were technically improved by the Greeks and were even more advanced for use. In India, there were still stick watches, and in Europe, hourglasses were extremely popular for a long time. But was the invention of the watch meant by this?

Collector’s Piece Limited

Cartier

Tortue

Cartier Tortue 18 ct gold automatic men's watch CRW1548151, W1548151 LP: 173000EUR Limited [2505652] Sale price€79.950

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Audemars Piguet

Royal Oak

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak chronograph 18 ct gold automatic men's watch 26470OR LP: 53000EUR [2605559] Sale price€28.950

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Rolex

Day-Date

Rolex Day-Date 18 ct gold automatic men's watch 18038 Vintage [2605019] Sale price€24.650

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GMT-Master II

Rolex GMT-Master II steel automatic men's watch 126710BLRO-0001 [2603110] Sale price€23.150

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Patek Philippe

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Patek Philippe Gondolo 18 ct gold manual winding men's watch 3599/1 Vintage [2603164] Sale price€19.950 Regular price€21.450

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Vacheron & Constantin

weitere Modelle

Vacheron & Constantin 18 ct red gold automatic men's watch 7800S/000R-B140 [2604767] Sale price€19.550

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Rolex

Land-Dweller

Rolex Land-Dweller steel / white gold automatic men's watch 127234 [2604760] Sale price€17.950

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Lady Datejust

Rolex Lady Datejust steel / white gold automatic women's watch 279384RBR LP: 18000EUR [2602487] Sale price€15.840

Who invented the body-wearable watch?

The watch variants just described have one thing in common – they are all not wearable on the body and are generally rather inaccurate. After all, from the 13th century there were efforts to miniaturize watches to make them more portable. In 1510, it was probably Peter Henlein (1479-1542) who succeeded and to whom the invention of the body-wearable watch is attributed. The locksmith master and watchmaker from Nuremberg had a watch in the shape of a musk apple or an egg or can shape.

The watches we nowadays refer to as wristwatches had little to do with this back then. The first jewelry watches with great emphasis on appearance and aesthetics were made in the 19th century. These are the predecessors of today's Chronographs and Pilot watches, which enjoy great popularity.