What Is The History Of Which Arm To Wear A Wristwatch On?

While we look at wrist watches as a very commonplace accessory now, people usually do not know why it is that we wear the watch, or are supposed to wear it on the left hand. The reason for this can be traced by looking at the history of the wristwatch.

After the mainspring was invented in the 15th century, wrist watches were invented as it was not possible to make these before the invention of the mainspring. Patek Philippe in 1868 invented a portable watch that was intended to be a lady's bracelet watch. It was thought of as jewellery and was thus "unmanly," so males did not wear them.

However, in 1904 Cartier was asked by an aviator friend to make a watch that could be used during flights. He invented the Santos wristwatch which was the first wristwatch made for men, and was designed to be practical in use. These became very popular during World War I as officers could use them easily, unlike a pocket watch which was inconvenient.

Since watches were designed to be practical implements to be used while men were working, it made sense to design them to be worn on the left hand, as most people are right handed, so that it would be easy to both hold a weapon and look at the time at the same time.

Furthermore, since early wristwatches had to be wound, they were worn on the left hand with the winding knob facing outwards so that the person wearing it could easily wind it up using their right hand, and not have to face the inconvenience of having to use the wrong hand to wind it up.

Another reason for wearing wristwatches on the left hand is that the watch does not get damaged easily. Since we use our right hand for most actions, if we wore our watches on the right hand we would inevitably end up banging it into things a lot and thus breaking it sooner.

Finally, it is possible that the arm the watch was made for was based simply on the whim of the first inventors of the wristwatch.

Regardless of the reason, people nowadays wear the watch on whatever hand seems more convenient to them. Professionals such as construction workers, doctors' etc wear watches on left hand, while many other people choose to wear the watch on the right hand. Of course, left-handed people now wear watches on the right hand since it is more convenient for them.

Since, there is now "right" arm to wear the watch on; they are now made so that they can be worn on either warm. Modern wristwatches do not need to be wound, thus making it possible to wear them on whichever arm is more convenient for the owner of the watch, regardless of what history may have to say on the topic.

Before You Swipe Your Credit Card for a Wristwatch

There was a time when wristwatches used to be an insignia of status, power and authority of a person. Also, they were the only source for measuring the time. Now, wristwatches are essentially being treated as a fashion icon since there are many other gadgets such as cell phones that come with a clock among other features.

However, wristwatches will always retain their class. Buying a wristwatch can be extremely tricky as the market is flooded with numerous brands every month. However, if you are choosing to buy your wristwatch with a particular purpose in your mind, it becomes a lot easier. Then again, it also depends on the fact whether you are a regular buyer of wristwatches or buying it for the first time. In either case, the following tips can help you make buy the right wristwatch you are looking for.

If you are first-time buyer of wristwatches, consider the following aspects:

Needs: while you are thinking of buying the wristwatches, take into account about your specific needs. What are you buying a wristwatch for? Is it for outdoor activities or do you want to wear it to work? While a casual wristwatch will fit your outdoor activities, a dress wristwatch will add substance to your personality at work. Imagine a boardroom scene or meetings with your client, and you can never think of wearing a casual wristwatch there.

Budget: It always plays a lead role in deciding the wristwatch you want to buy. When you go to any leading store at any downtown area or surfing the net hoping to bump into your favorite wristwatch model at a discounted price, you will be spoilt for options. However, getting to know your budget will help you focus on your target brands only and take a lot of headache off you. Buy a Timex or Rolex as per your budget. Many Internet sites offer irresistible options for buyers with wide rage of budgets.

Features: Surely, you don`t want your wristwatch for timekeeping purpose only; just like cell phones are not meant for only talking anymore. This essentially means your wristwatches must have some additional features on them such as date, alarm or timer. Remember, wristwatches with some additional features may cost you a little more than usual. Hence, it is up to you to decide if you want any of these particular features on your wristwatch. Moreover, decide if you want to buy an analog or digital wristwatch. Again, this comes to your personal needs.

Waterproof and Scratchproof: Many wristwatch buyers consider this option seriously while buying wristwatches for them. Nobody buys wristwatches for a particular season only; your wristwatch must keep ticking through the rainy season as well. Hence, this is an important decision make. Moreover, if you are a person who is regularly exposed to water, you would do well to buy a waterproof wristwatch. Again, your wristwatch should have scratch-resistance surface as well.

Battery: Make sure you know what kind of battery your wristwatch runs on and how long it last. It is always a good idea to go for a timepiece that doesn`t make a hole in your wallet once in a while.

Fit: A wristwatch is only as good as it fits on your wrist. A wristwatch may have a load of features but if it doesn`t fit nicely on your wrist, you will feel very uncomfortable and in all probability, chuck it out soon. At times, some smart-looking and richly-featured wristwatches may feel heavier on your wrist. Hence, it is wise to go to an outlet yourself and try out different wristwatches on your wrist to decide on the most comfortable timepiece.

Buying a Man's Wristwatch Takes Consideration

If you want to buy a special man in your life a wristwatch as a gift, there are several things to keep in mind while doing so. A watch can be a fantastic gift that shows love, respect or even recognition of a milestone, but if the wrong watch is purchased, the gift won't be as appreciated as it could be. Careful consideration of the man and his habits, likes and dislikes can net a great purchase.

The number and style of watches are as many as the types of likes and dislikes of a man. They can be cool and sophisticated, rugged and handsome, functional, high-tech. You name it.

With this in mind, here are some of the top styles of watches and some personality traits that may match the styles:

* Classic. Classic watches in gold, silver and platinum are meant to function and look good doing so. These are perfect for businessmen and those who like to dress for success. Simple, yet elegant, this type of watch is a good choice for almost any man, but they're not always beneficial for use on a daily basis, depending on career and hobby choices. * Sport. Sports watches are not as handsome as classic watches. They tend to bigger and more bulky as well. They will include extra features, however, that may appeal to a sportsman. These can include stopwatch features, digital read outs, heart rate monitors and more. Mini computers to wear on the wrist, these are great for runners, outdoorsman and more. * High tech. Does the man in your life like gadgets? If so, a high tech watch may be the way to go. Offering a multitude of options similar to sports watches, plus other features including timekeeping for multiple time zones at once, calculator features and more, these watches are wearable gadgets that will draw oohs and ahhs from a techie. * Waterproof. If the man you want to buy for does a lot of fishing, swimming or even diving, a waterproof, underwater rated watch may be in order. These are fantastic purchases for outdoorsmen, sports nuts and more. * Antique. If the man you want to buy for is a history nut, an old fashion vintage watch or even a pocket watch may be the right choice. Whether replica or actual antiques, these are more than watches, they're conversation pieces.

If the man you want to buy for would actually like more than one of these styles, consider purchasing one he doesn't currently have. If, for example, he has a classic gold model wristwatch for work, a sports watch for the weekends might be a great way to go. If he wears a sports watch on a regular basis, but doesn't have one for dressing up and going out, a classic watch as a gift might be the ticket.

A man's wristwatch is a great gift for a friend, a special someone, a child or even an employee, but making the right choice in purchase is important. Spend a little time to consider what he may want and the watch chosen is likely to be worn and enjoyed for years to come.

The History of the Wristwatch

While today the wristwatch is widely worn throughout most of the world and presented to us in my styles and designs there is a great history of the wristwatch and how we came about wearing them. Here is a look at that history and how the wristwatch made its way to being one of the number one functional fashion accessories we wear today.

Originally many years ago, a sort of pocket watch was the common accessory. They were worn connected to pendant that was then tucked into either a corset or in a jacket lining. If one wanted to know what the time was they had to go about fishing it out and tucking back in. Many believe and say that at the end of the 19th century a nanny was actually the one responsible for coming up with the invention of the wristwatch by fastening a watch on a silk band to her wrist which of course made telling time much more convenient than having to reach into her corset. This style soon grew popularity and there were many watches worn on the wrists usually connected to simple leather bands.

As far as the kind of watch that we are accustomed to seeing today, Louis Cartier is to be credited for coming up with the original. He made this style for Santos Dumant a flying engineer. This style quickly became the trend and soon after 1910 it was a common item one could find at many different stores and shops. As the wristwatch became increasingly popular designers started to use different shapes shifting away from the traditional round shape that most were used to seeing. Some designers even became known for their specific shapes such as Patek Phillipe's tank version.

Once all of these new designs started hitting the market other watch designers started coming up with new features to put on wristwatch's such as watches that showed the month and day. In 1920 one of the most famous wristwatch designers came out with the Rolex Prince and it's famous duel time which actually went above and beyond by showing the seconds rather than just the minutes. Other designers followed increasing the quality and features of their watches. Many believe that the wristwatches that were designed and made in the years between 1910 and 1930's really set the path for the type of wristwatches we see today.

With so many unique styles and features designers have come up with it is no wonder how designer watches are now a fashion accessory we all cannot live without.

How Do Battery Free Wristwatches Work?

Since the earliest civilizations, mankind has been preoccupied by time measurement and how to organize their life accordingly.

From solar watches that used a shadow projected by the Sun on a surface, to high precision atomic clocks, time measuring devices have known endless improvements.

In fact, a very common material is used to accurately keep track of time: quartz.

Quartite ore is cheap to extract and present in many parts around the world, so quartz watches have become widely spread in modern days.

The way these watches work is based on a natural property of quartz that makes it vibrate under pressure. More precisely, it emits 32 000 vibrations each second, so each quartz based watch incorporates a tiny chip that is programmed to count the vibrations and move one hand of the watch each time a cycle of 32 000 vibrations is completed, and another mechanism links all three hands in a chain reaction, that triggers the movement of the second and the third according to the first.

But how are all these moving parts of the entire mechanism being propelled without a power source?

The answer is kinetic energy, because every time you move your arm, your wristwatch moves along with it, and so do some of its components.

Three of them, to be exact. On the back of the watch, and the same size as the actual device, a piece of metal shaped like the half of a disk is being attached in the center through a pin that allows it to spin according to the movement of your hand.

Three smaller cogs, the smallest being only 0.25 mm in diameter (0.009 inch) amplify that movement
over 100 times, so the final motion speed that is transmitted is10 times faster than that of an internal combustion engine.

The spin movement is then converted to a 1 Volt electrical current, enough to power all the other electric parts of the watch. If the internal parts are perfectly isolated, the watch could theoretically be worn 24/7 throughout a human lifetime, without stopping.

Are you wondering if a large scale device could be constructed to provide an entire house with enough energy? Well, you would need a large number of hamsters and their spinning wheels...

How a Mechanical Watch Works

The first watches did not wind automatically. They did not light up with digital numbers, nor did they tell the date or have alarms that could be set. These completely mechanical watches didn't need batteries either, but they did need to be "powered" somehow. In order to keep on going, a mechanical watch needs to be wound regularly -- usually once per day. So why would people today opt for a mechanical watch in this age of inexpensive quartz and digital watches? It's all about aesthetics and an appreciation for the art of watch making.

What Makes a Watch Mechanical?

For a watch to be completely mechanical it must not only run by means of a wound spring and set of gears, but these must be powered by mechanical means. This is different from a quartz watch which also ticks off time by the movement of gears, but keeps those gears moving through the energy of a quartz crystal. With a mechanical watch the energy to move the gears is powered by the winding of the mainspring. When the spring is fully wound on a typical mechanical watch the watch will keep accurate time for about 40 hours. There are more complex mechanical watches that can keep time for much longer with a full wind of the mainspring. Automatic watches are also considered mechanical watches, but the movement of the wearer's wrist is able to activate the winding, hence the name automatic watches.

The same basic design of a mechanical watch is not all that different today than it was half a century ago. The intricate workings of a mechanical watch involves more than a dozen types of screws and about 40 more wheels, springs, plates, balances, and jewels -- and that doesn't even include the case, face or strap! All of these tiny parts go into making the precise movement of a mechanical watch. However, at the heart of the finer watch movement are the jewels.

The Hidden Jewels in Every Mechanical Watch

The jewels are named as such because they are literally jewels -- specifically rubies. Genuine rubies were once used because they are made of crystallized aluminum oxide. This is a very hard material with a smooth, slippery surface that allows the wheel pivots to move in a consistent, constant manner as powered by a wound mainspring. This also keeps the steel wheel pivots from wearing down from the friction of the movement. Today, synthetic rubies are used in numbers ranging from 5 to 35 jewels depending on the complexity of the movement. At one time, manufacturers believed more jewels were better, but have settled in with about 4-8 jewels being the most efficient way to power the mainspring.

How All of the Components Work Together

If you were to open the back of a mechanical watch you would see the ticking off of the mainspring. This is wound using the stem winder that sticks out from the watch's encasement, also know as the crown. The first mechanical watches used an oscillating balance wheel and spring as the time base. This was then replaced with a tuning fork that acts as the resonator to move the gears at the appropriate rate. These in turn move the hands on the face of the watch at right increments.

Caring For Your Mechanical Watch

A finely crafted mechanical watch can last a lifetime and even be the type of heirloom that gets passed from one generation to the next. In order to keep your mechanical watch functioning well it is important to take it to a watchmaker every 3 to 5 years to have it lubricated and cleaned of dust and debris. You want to keep a mechanical watch completely dry. When you take it in for its routine service, be sure to have the case checked for any cracks where water might get in. Water can be especially damaging to the steel parts of the watch including the escape wheel and anchor escapement.

A mechanical watch never needs batteries and a good one can keep time accurately to within 2-3 seconds per day (not as accurate as a cheaper quartz watch which is accurate to 0.5 seconds per day). Mechanical watches are typically purchased because of their appearance and the timeless craftsmanship that goes into them. Most people today have several types of watches in their wardrobe of accessories, so adding a mechanical watch is one way to balance yours out with a truly classic style.

Watches That Don't Require Batteries

As the technological advances for watches increases the demand for watches without batteries is increasing also. When the quartz technology and batteries first appeared on the seen people rushed to them to get away from wind-up watches, now we are seeing the same thing with the introduction in recent years of watches that do not require batteries such as solar powered watches like the Citizen Eco Drive and the Seiko Kinetic line.

Citizen is one of the watchmakers that has now gone high-tech with a new line of solar powered wristwatches. These new Eco-Drive watches will never need to have the battery replaced. And they come in a wide variety of styles for both men and women.

The Eco-Drive watches will run on any light source whether natural or artificial and the watch takes the light and transforms it into electricity instead of using a conventional battery. The Eco-Drive line is available in many different styles for men and women and also available in aviation and diving models.

There are other companies such as Pulsar who have forayed into this technology but none of the quality of the Citizen.

Another "batteries not required" type of watch is the Kinetic line of watches introduced by Seiko in Germany in the late 1980's and now a very popular line of watch all over the world. Seiko was first to introduce the technology of a quartz watch powered by human movement which is an innovation so significant that it has resulted in over fifty patents. The cool thing about a kinetic watch that most guys love is that it is very low maintenance. It never needs winding, never needs a battery and it is environmentally friendly.

The Kinetic watch features many technological advancements such as the Kinetic Auto Relay which sends the watch into a sort of suspended animation if it is stationary for more than 72 hours. It also features the Kinetic Perpetual combining Kinetic technology, auto relay, and a calendar that remains accurate to the year 2100.

The Kinetic watch builds power through the use of a rotating pendulum connected to a large gear which is then meshed to a smaller pinion. The movement of the wearer makes the pendulum turn causing the pinion to spin very fast which gives the mini generator power to charge the capacitors which store the energy for up to six months.

There is no doubt that in today's society with more and more emphasis placed on conservation and environmentally friendly products we will continue to see new innovations in watches.

How The Wristwatch Has Evolved Over The Years

Today the wrist watch is a very popular piece of jewelry. The wrist watch can be seen on many wrists where ever you go. Many people wear watches not only for its practical use to see the time, but as a symbol of their status. Men and women alike wear wrist watches on a daily basis, this however was not always the case.

You never used to see men with a wrist watch, instead they used pocket watches. Wrist watches were only made for women, and that is how they liked it. These wrist watches were referred to as wristlets, and most men would not even think about wearing one. These wrist watches were also deemed not very accurate due to their size. There have obviously been some changes to the watch since.

War times is what marked the first change in the wrist watch. When the soldiers were in battle it was very difficult for them to reach in their pockets to see what time it was. This was not easy to do when you are in battle trying to carry your gun and everything else. In order to free up their hands some soldiers made leather bands for their wrists that their watches fit in. This made the watch easier to access while in battle.

The wrist watch made it easier for the troops to plan their attacks and synchronize them. If everyone had their watch set to the same time you all knew exactly when you needed to attack. This was a great help in battle. The wrist watch along with the development of new weapons helped in winning battle.

Since the watch was growing in popularity the watch makers started making them for men. The problem with these wrist watches was that the face was still easily damaged. The solution to this problem was to make a grid usually out of silver that went on the face to protect it, but still allowed you to read the time. The band itself on the watch also went through some changes. You could now get wrist watches that had expandable and flexible bands.

Even with the wrist watches success with the troops, it took two decades for it to gain the rest of the public's vote. People were still not very fond of the design. As changes were made more people started liking the wrist watch and wearing it. People began to realize that a wrist watch really was more convenient, and was more accurate than they used to be. Watch makers started making styles for both men and women to enjoy. These early wrist watches did use the same type of face guard seen on the military watches to protect the face of the watch.

Dive Watches

Diving is all about timing. Divers, therefore, need some way of keeping track of their timing during their dive. They can’t watch the clock on the wall, nor can they use a typical watch. That is why they use dive watches also known as diving watches or divers watches.

How do divers watches work?

First of all it is able to go deep under water. In other words, it can withstand tons of pressure. The dive watches have easy to read dials so that divers can figure out how much time they have remaining for their dive. Rather than having the typical push/pull crown that most watches have, the dive watches have a screw down crown, which gives it more of a water tight seal. Also, the band is made of rubber or a similar type of material so that salt water will not cause it to deteriorate.

What to look for when shopping for divers watches?

Diving watches vary in how deep they say they can go. You will find that they will go from a hundred meters to three hundred meters, some specialty watches even go more than 500 meters. The depth that you look for will depend on what type of diving you plan to do. If you plan to do normal diving in the pool, then hundred meters may be sufficient, however, if you plan to do some scuba diving you will want to find a watch that will go two hundred meters. Also, the higher the depth, the more that the watch will be able to withstand bumps.

You also need to pay attention to the bezel. Divers have to be able to see how much time they have been under the water, so it is important that the diving watches have a unidirectional elapsed timing bezel.

A clear face on divers watches is important also. The clear face allows you to quickly glance at the face of the watch and see your time. If you can not quickly look at your time, you may overstay at the bottom. You will want to pay attention to the durability of the dive watches. Another thing to pay attention to is the accuracy. You will also want to take the strength of the divers watches into consideration.

Where can you buy divers watches?

Divers watches can be found in various places. Most stores that carry watches will have diving watches. There are specialty swim shops that have diving watches. You can also find divers watches on the internet. If you shop for diving watches on the internet, you might be able to find them at lower prices than you would in the stores. In order to shop for divers watches online all you have to do is go to a search engine. In the key word box type in “divers watches,” “diving watches,” or “dive watches.” That should yield many results. From there you can search through the results for a reputable dealer and the best prices.

Do people other than divers like diving watches?

Many people like diving watches because they are rugged and durable. People like to own them just to have them, even if they don’t ever use them. And many people buy diving watches to wear as everyday watches and not necessarily for diving.

6 Tips to Evaluate a Watch

The world of watches is exciting and fascinating. Watches are like perfumes objects of desire and it is hard to say whether the asking price is right or exorbitant. This problem of price occurs only when you want to buy a rare, antique, or limited edition watch. If you are just buying a model mass manufactured by wrist watch giants then the maximum retail price is always given in catalogue and on company web sites.

How does one know the worth of a watch? It is hard to value a watch from pictures placed online. What is important is to check the condition of the watch including its movement. It is hard to judge a valuable watch from pictures on the World Wide Web. Sadly people randomly label things as antiques or valuable but in actuality the watch is one of thousands. Just because it is “old” does not mean it has a high value.

Today people all over the world collect watches for functionality, aesthetic value, and vintage value. Evaluating a watch must include aspects like: quality, craftsmanship, availability, history, reputation, uniqueness, and more.

1. Consider carefully the “quality” of the watch. Find out about the design and construction. Examine the case, dial, and movement. Important factors are functionality, accuracy in keeping time, reliability of manufacture, and longevity. To become a “collectible” a watch must bring with it a piece of history.

2. Find out the minute details of construction. Aspects that play a role are innovativeness, complexity of movements, and the mechanical functions. Sometimes a watch gains value as it represent a change in way watches work say for example the first digital or automatic watch.

3. Determine its value based on how many are flooding the market. The fewer the numbers the more “collectible” a watch is. Or if it belonged to a great personality like “Einstein” or if it participated in “making history,” was worn when someone climbed the highest mountain for the first time or flew around the world.

4. Consider the demand for the watch. Some watches are popular among collectors not because they are rare but because they are funky or “different,” they have great curiosity value. A watch may gain import because of their brand name for example many like to posses a “gold Rolex.”

5. Weigh the pros and cons of reputation. Many watches sell just because x,y, or z made them. Very often a manufacturer sourced watches from others and sold them with his “label.” And these watches are renowned because of a “brand name.”

6. Know what the watch will fetch in the market by doing a survey. Ask whether the owner will furnish an independent evaluation by a watch expert.

Brands that are popular are: Rolex, Breitling, Heuer, Omega, Patek Phillippe, IWC, and Girard Perregaux among others.

World over collectors and connoisseurs consider: the age of a watch, uniqueness, the manufacturer, date of issue, rarity, mechanics, movement, and repair. Another possibly important factor is ownership.

Learn about watches through the World Wide Web, from auctions, and watch exhibits. If you get a chance view famed collections. Make notes and weigh the pros and cons of collecting. Decide do I want to collect by mechanics or use. Or am I interested in who wore the watch when. Find your own niche and level and “keep a watch on the watches.”

History of Orient Watch

"Orient Watch has always focused on mechanical watches, primarily automatic watches with its own in-house automatic movements Orient was once part of the "Big Three" watch companies in Japan along with Citizen and Seiko. In the 70s, when mechanical watch companies faced hardship from the mass introduction of inexpensive quartz watches, Citizen and Seiko took the path of mass producing quartz watches, Orient stuck with what it did best, making mechanical watches."
- Discount Watch Store web site, July 2006

Orient Watch was founded in Tokyo by Shogoro Yoshida, more than a century ago in 1901. And though the world was a very different place back then, everyone still needed to know what time it was - much like today's world.

In those early watch making days, Orient Watch had some competition in the watch industry at home. Seiko and Citizen were big names in the watch making industry, and for many years Orient was ranked number three when it came to watch companies.

Mechanical Watches

"What sets Orient apart from other watch companies is really the fact that Orient has always been focusing on making its mechanical movements better and more reliable. It is unusual today to find a watch company that makes its own movement selling watches at prices offered by Orient."
- Discount Watch Store web site, July 2006

From the early beginnings to today, Orient Watch has been focused on making the best mechanical watches that money can buy. The history of Orient Watch is interesting because Orient Watch is a company that started out with a good idea, and never once veered onto a different course. The long years have helped Orient Watch to produce high-quality, long-lasting watches that anyone can afford.

The History of Orient Watch, Today

"In 1985 Orient and Seiko established a joint factory. Orient produces a range of automatic and quartz watches ranging in price from reasonably inexpensive (about 50USD / 50Euro) to very expensive (7000USD). Orient Star and Orient Star Royal are the middle and high-end brands, with the Royal Orient being their flagship line."
- Orient Watch Company, Wikipedia, July 2006

Today, Orient Watch is known all over the globe. With manufacturing facilities in Singapore, Brazil, and Japan, Orient Watch today offers more styles and types of watches than ever. Today, Orient Watch offers watches in many designs including quartz, light powered, and of course mechanical.

"In the Japanese market, we supply high-quality watches, such as "Orient Star Royal," our prestigious mechanical watch series, which our customers want to carry with them for many years. In overseas markets, our strategy is to develop new outlets for our products mainly in countries and areas with high potential economic growth, and increase our sales of budget-price watches."
- Mitsuo Mimura, President Orient Watch, Orient Watch web site, July 2006

Orient Watch

For more than a hundred years, Orient Watch has been a well-known and respected name in the watch making industry. Today, many other companies try to reach the success and the high standards that Orient Watch has set. When it comes to mechanical watches, Orient Watch is the first name in the business. For high quality at an affordable price, Orient Watch is one of the better choices in watches. But don't just take my word for it. Let the history of Orient Watch speak for itself.