Bench Watches

The first ever mechanical time-keeping devices that could be worn by a person instead of mounted to a wall were called clock-watches. They possessed only a single hour hand, and had to be wound twice each day. And of course, they were notoriously inaccurate, with poor quality movement and heavy, unwieldy pieces.

The next stage of advancement was the ever-so-adorable pocket watch. In the 1600’s, the upper crust was extraordinarily concerned with fashion, and apparently the pocket watch was crafted after King Charles II of England brought the fashion of the waistcoat to hip gentlemen in Europe. Pocket watches still exist (in a sort of meta, anachronistic kind of way), but the originals were quite inaccurate. It wasn’t until 1657 and the invention of the balance spring that minute and even second hands were used. In 1765, chronometers started being used, and pretty delicate temperature compensations further whittled down the margin of error on fine pocket watches.

In the early 1800’s, what’s known as a lever escapement was created by a watch worker Thomas Mudge, and suddenly pocket watches were much more viable and popular, and not only for the rich. In 1850 with the onset of the industrial revolution, humanity suddenly realized the potential of mass production, and something of a ‘pop culture’ obsession grew around pocket watches and later, wristwatches.

Wristwatches has actually been in use for quite sometime by women, who were thought not to possess the correct garb (or enough masculinity) to successfully carry a pocket watch everywhere, and thus were reduced to strapping timepieces to their wrists. It wasn’t until about the 20th century that wristwatches became a man’s item, as well.

The original wristwatches were called ‘trench’ watches, and they were much larger than today’s wristwatches. In 1923, John Harwood revolutionized the watch-making world when he invented a watch that could wind itself, and pocket watches were history.

In the 1950’s, electric watches came onto the scene, and in 1969 quartz watches graced the world stage. As accuracy was pinpointed to the perfectly predictable oscillations of these fine new instruments, wrist watches became more about performance and less about fashion, though of course they still remain a staple accessory and beautiful pieces of technology.

Today, many fear that with the onset of cell phones, iStuff, and hand held computing devices, watches will go the way of the dinosaurs. Why bother strapping and antiquated technology to your wrist when you can access a multitude of information with your electronics?

Because there is something timeless about the timekeeping of a watch- the slow, inexorable ticking of our passage through the 4th dimension that can’t be captured on the glowing screen of an iPhone. There will always be a place for beautiful, functional wristwatches in the world.

You will probably agree that a watch is a very important thing in defining anyone’s style. No fancy suit can be complete without a trendy watch, so if you don’t have at least one by now, you must absolutely add it on your to-do list.

The latest in men’s fashion brings up a very large range of watches to choose from. Whether it is a watch with white face and a black leather or a stainless steel band, it will most surely brighten up your life. It can change your image for the better and you will feel more comfortable with yourself.

For the ones seeking attention and envious looks, a funky watchstrap will be more than enough to achieve your goals.

Bright, multicolored, nylon straps are popping up on watches everywhere, and make for a great sporty look to add to your jeans or track pants and sweatshirt. The strap can be made of nylon, for instance. Nothing will look nicer than a multicolored strap to add charm to your timepiece, not to mention the colors in the watch face! The only thing you must think about when buying such a watch is that you can never wear it to a business suit!

Should you choose leather for your watch, you can be certain that you have made the right decision. Leather seems to be the king of the fashion world, whether it is in the form of jackets or pants and of course, as a watchstrap. You may also combine a leather watchstrap with a leather wristband!

If you want to be misterious and interesting touch to your evening outfit, you can choose to conceal the time with a popular watch that features a face covered by a steel flap. Not to speak about adding an element of originality to your timepiece! The main point is that no matter if you decide upon a stainless steel or leather strap, this style is a very good way to hide your true intentions.

Not sure whether to choose a classical or a modern watch? You can have them both! The modern watches are not a bit like the ones we are used to. Their face shape and time display can be very strange at first glance, but what does it matter when your only purpose is standing out from the crowd?

For your business casual look, a tan strap gives a watch a more casual appearance, while the shape and style of the face will lend it a modern and minimalist appeal.

So, no matter how much money you want to spend for a new watch, you will always have a lot to choose from! Don’t be afraid to try something new for a change!