Women have been wearing watches for many generations. As is the case with much of women's fashion, watches have changed over the years, with a variety of trends that have come and gone, then come and gone again, and so on. However, it was only in the 20th Century that women wearing watches became mainstream, unlike men who developed the habit of wearing a pocket watch a few centuries ago.
Now, you'll find that many fashion experts consider modern watches an essential part of the female's wardrobe. Want to know more? Do you have a passion for watches? Keep reading for everything you need to know about women's watches and their historical origins.
Early Watches (15th century, 16th century, 17th century and 18th century)
Famous, powerful women influenced the development of watches for women. For centuries, while it was commonplace for men of means to wear pocket watches, watches for women were quite rare. It is recorded however that Queen Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) and Marie Antionette (1755 - 1793) both took an interest in horology and wore watch-like devices.
In those times, watches weren't worn as commonly on the wrist as they are today, though there were some that were. Watches appeared on brooches or necklaces that were worn around the neck. They might also have been on a chatelaine, which was worn around the waist as a practical item but also a fashion accessory. Some women during the 13th century to 16th centuries wore a watch on a finger, much like the modern rings you see today.
In the 1500s, the mechanical design of women's watches became smaller, which allowed for daintier time-telling devices. It was during these years that time telling evolved from the use of sundials and tower clocks (though they also continued to be used by many) to the personal portable timepieces that evolved into what we are more familiar with today.
The first recorded wristwatch is attributed to Abraham Louis Breguet, founder of Breguet which still exists today as the luxury arm of the Swiss Swatch Group. In 1810, Breguet was commissioned to design and make a watch for Caroline Murat Bonaparte, Queen of Naples.
As a supremely important example of an origin of wristwatches dates, it appeared in Breguet's accounts as Watch 2639 described as an "Oblong-shaped repeater for wristlet sold to the Queen of Naples on 5th December 1811". It featured a miniature repeater, a perpetual calendar, an indicator of power reserve, a thermometer and a time-telling device. Sadly, the watch disappeared without trace sometime after repairs were made in 1855.
Time continued on and women's watches became "trinkets" that set them apart from what men were wearing to tell time. That's when they began to feature various metals and precious stones as they followed the fashion trends of the time.
As you can likely tell, early watches were restricted to nobility as they were expensive and weren't accessible to the average woman. For example, Queen Victoria was well known for owning, not one, but two Patek Philippe watches and Countess Koscowicz of Hungary also owned a timepiece custom-made for her by Patek Phillipe.
As we make our way toward the 19th century, we begin to see female watches becoming mainstream and suppliers of watches becoming more prolific. It really should be noted that the development of the wristwatch during the latter part of the 19th century/early 20th century was purely aimed at women. They were, at this time, most commonly called wristlets to earmark them as jewelry rather than the practical timekeeping items associated with male pocketwatches.
Watches in the 1900s (20th century)
In this time period, we can break down watch evolution by a couple of decades, rather than centuries.
A major phase of evolution was caused by World War I. By 1914, the pocket watch was a male staple at all levels of society. They weren't however very practical for men fighting in the trenches.
There had been previous instances where wristwatches were worn in warfare. Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered 2,000 wristwatches for the German navy in 1880 and wristwatches were also worn by troops in the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Second Boer War (1899 - 1902).
It was, however, during the trench warfare of World War I that the real practicality of the wristwatch was realized and by 1916, it was estimated that nearly a quarter of all soldiers wore a wristwatch. When the USA entered the war in 1917, there was even greater impetus and legacy Swiss watchmakers like Omega and Longines began producing wristwatches in great numbers.
This stimulated the development post-war in both male and female wristwatches. The Art Deco trend of the 1920s heavily influenced watch design and for women, they became decorative and intricate. Smaller-sized timepieces, including dials became more common, which allowed space for decorative and bejeweled aspects. In the 1930s, bold wristwatches became the style.
World War II put a hold on technological and design advancement as people and resources were dedicated to the war effort and rationing came into effect. During this time, functional watches became much more valuable than the elaborate ones of the Art Deco period. Simpler and more practical timepieces ruled the market during the 1940s.
As the war ended and the 1950s dawned, watchmaking took a turn back toward the earlier generation watches that were more elaborate. Here, we saw a return to the beautiful watches from the early 1900s that were quite obviously made only for women.
At the same time, the practical nature of watches created during the 1940s continued to be desired as they helped women arrive on time for important events. That is when we start to see more details on women's watches, including world times and alarms.
After World War II, the tiny watch trend took off, with mechanical movement being very small. In fact, when Queen Elizabeth II attended her coronation, she wore a watch with a very tiny 101 caliber. This was 1953 and watch design evolved and changed in the following decades as accurate watches, as well as fashionable watches, continued to gain popularity. Also following the end of the war, women began to feel hopeful and that meant they wanted luxury watches that matched this new era.
During the 1960s, the world of women's watches saw timepieces that were also worn as jewelry, combining the practicality of an accurate wristwatch with the playfulness of the decade. It was the birth of the fashion watch. This was a time when you were as likely to see a bracelet used as a watch, as well as chunky cuffs that doubled as a way to get the correct time, no matter where you happened to be.
The 1970s are an important time in the history of women's watches. Seiko, the Japanese watchmaker first sold a quartz wristwatch in December 1969 but it was the impetus for the Quartz Crisis. The quartz movement was detrimental to many watchmakers as their heritage watch brands took a backseat and the quartz watch market took off. Despite the prevalence of quartz watches and the desire by many to own a quartz wristwatch, the 1970s allowed for an adaptation of watch design, with new looks that were considered futuristic.
Even luxury watchmakers were a part of this trend, giving women plenty of options from cheap watches to luxury watches, even if they weren't the traditional quartz timepieces women were becoming used to. For example, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch spoke to a different demographic of women, those who were emancipated and didn't mind wearing a watch that may have been considered masculine by many.
With the rise in career women in the 1980s, the evolution of women's watches looked toward the functional and practical. At the same time, watches of this time period featured elegant designs that paired well with the business attire of the decade.
In the 1990s, the popularity of women's watches waned a bit, as modern technology meant we didn't always require a portable clock, as the time was available on microwaves, inside cars and on computers. This gave watchmakers the opportunity to revert to mechanical watches that were also made with luxury features.
Because the practical need for a watch was no longer ruling the market, a mechanical wristwatch could be more than just functional - that is, it could be luxurious and opulent. As the mechanical watch industry continued plugging along, new innovations were also coming as we moved into modern generation watches.
Modern Watches
Nowadays, it's not hard to find modern wristwatches that offer both highly accurate timekeeping and a touch of style and fashion to coordinate with any look. The modern era combines electric-powered watches with the look of old-world-style timepieces.
You might find a fashion watch that does fitness tracking for you, using enough MB of flash memory to watch your progress over time. Or you could find a Mickey Mouse watch that aligns with your personality, but also tracks the hours per day, the temperature and more.
21st Century watches can be an accessory to complement an outfit, or a smartwatch that tells time, but also aligns with your passion for watches at the same time that they make life easier.
If you have a passion for watches, you will likely continue to follow trends and build your collection based on what you love. While there are loads of great brands out there, the best way to choose a watch is to go with what you like best. Check out the great deals on great watches at watchesandwatches.com.
