Watch Firsts: Part One

Have you ever wondered when the first pilot watch was invented? Or, what about the story behind the first chronograph? Most of the watches we see today come with fascinating backstories. For example, wristwatches in general were born during World War I when soldiers needed comfortable and wearable timepieces to time the artillery (because pocket watches weren’t quite cutting it at that point). But here’s a look at some more fascinating firsts in the watch world: 

1868: The First Patek Philippe Wristwatch

It was rumored that Patek Philippe, a Swiss horology master, had crafted the world's first wristwatch for the 19th-century watch collector extraordinaire Countess Koscowicz of Hungary in 1868. Gilded with glittering diamonds and driven by a manual-wound mechanism, this pioneering timepiece was a revelation. And it was Patek who led the charge in creating watches exclusively for women to wear on their wrists, breaking away from the traditional pendant watch attached to a bracelet.

1889: The First Vacheron Constantin Wristwatch

When Vacheron Constantin released its first wristwatch in 1889, it caused quite a commotion in the world of timepieces. At that time, pocket watches were all the rage. However, ever the horological innovator, Vacheron Constantin offered a fascinating peek into the future. This ladies' watch boasts a diamond-studded bracelet with two winged goddesses adorning it. To maintain perfect symmetry, Vacheron developed a special mechanism where the time could be adjusted by rotating the bezel, rather than using a winding crown like most watches at the time.

1892: The First Audemars Piguet Wristwatch

In 1889, Audemars Piguet revolutionized the watchmaking industry with their groundbreaking creation of the first wristwatch movement with a minute repeater complication. The movement was commissioned by Louis Brandt, the founder of Omega, who later encased the delicate mechanism in a dazzling 35mm 18k gold casing. Finally, in 1892, the world witnessed the historic unveiling of the first minute repeater wristwatch, setting the tone for future innovations in timekeeping technology.

1899: The First IWC Schaffhausen Wristwatch

In 1884, IWC Schaffhausen's inaugural timepieces were pocket watches showcasing digital hour and minute displays. A decade and a half later, their initial wristwatch for women was introduced – a petite version of their 64-caliber ladies' pocket watch movement housed in a lugged case for straps. These became available for purchase in 1899, marking a significant milestone for the brand.

1904: The First Cartier Wristwatch

In the early 1900s, aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont grew frustrated with the inconvenience of carrying pocket watches while flying. His close companion Louis Cartier came to the rescue with a revolutionary solution – a timepiece designed specifically to be worn on the wrist. Named after its recipient, the "Santos" watch broke away from tradition with its bold geometric square shape, perfectly tailored for a masculine aesthetic.

1926: The First Rolex Wristwatch

The inception of the inaugural Rolex wristwatch still sparks debate amongst horological enthusiasts. While some attribute it to the Oyster model created in 1926, others contend that the true pioneer was the 11-ligne Rebberg from 1910, citing the involvement of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf (despite all watch components being manufactured by Aegler.) The Oyster, renowned for its water and dust-resistant design, marked a significant breakthrough for Rolex. Its triumph was cemented in 1927 when a Rolex Oyster accompanied swimmer Mercedes Gleitze on her arduous journey across the English Channel, enduring over 10 hours of rigorous conditions.

1974: The First Casio Wristwatch

In the midst of the Quartz Crisis in the early 1970s, Casio made a bold move by releasing its first watch, the Casiotron QW02. With expertise in calculators, the brand leaped into the digital watch market. Along with displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, this revolutionary timepiece boasted the world's initial automatic calendar adjustment for varying month lengths, eliminating the tedious task of manually resetting every month.

1980: The First Hublot Wristwatch

In 1980, creator Carlo Crocco revealed Hublot's Classic Original timepiece, a groundbreaking fusion of a gold body and a natural rubber wristband. This pioneering combination birthed the iconic Hublot brand, taking inspiration from its signature porthole-shaped design adorned with titanium screws and a sleek black face. The brand was aptly named after the French word for "porthole," solidifying its unique identity among luxury watch brands.

2001: The First Richard Mille Wristwatch

It took three long years of careful development before Richard Mille unveiled their first masterpiece, the hand-wound RM 001 Tourbillon, at Baselworld in 2001. Limited to a mere 17 pieces, this watch boasted a revolutionary design with its sleek tonneau case and trademark torque screws. And with a jaw-dropping six-figure price tag, Richard Mille instantly established themselves as a dominant force in the high-end watch industry.