Vintage watches have become very desirable to collectors.
The interest in collecting vintage watches goes hand-in-hand with a revived interest in vintage clothing and household items. However, antique watches tend to be expensive and require careful handling and regular servicing and cleaning. Watches of the past were not generally as robust as the modern versions so should not be worn when gardening or carrying out rough tasks. The oldest wristwatches are ladies' watches and go back to the close of the 19th century.
Popularity of the Wristwatch
Fob watches were worn by men
Initially wristwatches were worn by ladies. Men wore pocket or fob watches. For instance, the Hamilton Watch Co., which opened in 1892, began producing ladies watches in 1894. The idea of wristwatches for men was not considered appropriate until the 1920s because they were seen as feminine. Indeed, for much of the next few decades there was a marketing focus on making a link between sport, adventure and watches, possibly to make the wristwatch more popular among men.
Men's Strap Watches
Watch design in the 1930s was stylish.
Men's wristwatches were originally known as strap watches. To increase their appeal,
advertising focused on war, explorers and the rugged outdoor life. The late 1920s saw an emphasis on style, and companies like Hamilton were also influenced by the art deco movement. Developments of the watch largely stopped during World War II. Companies like Hamilton concentrated on military clocks and watches. Hamilton's fortunes declined to some extent in the post-war period, but the production of the world's first electric watch "The Ventura," revived its image
Rolex
One of the best-known brands of watch is the Rolex. Again, the company engaged in some clever marketing, with an association with James Bond. Their Rolex Submariner model later became known as the James Bond. Rolex also made a GMT Master watch especially for Pan Am pilots. Its Rolex Explorer watches were made famous by the Mount Everest expedition team. The Rolex name is still associated with style and the high cost of its products.
Bulova
Joseph Bulova opened a jewelry shop in New York in 1875. The firm began manufacturing and selling boudoir and small watches in 1911. The Bulova watches had parts made to high precision that were interchangeable with the parts of other Bulova watches. Bulova produced the Lone Eagle watch in response to Charles Lindbergh's solo flight from New York to Paris in 1927. They were packaged with a picture of the pilot and were very popular.
Elgin Watches
Another watch-making firm that thrived in the U.S. was Elgin. The first watch was delivered from the factory in 1867 and was named after the company's president, Benjamin W. Raymond. The company produced its first wristwatch in 1910, leading the way for other American companies. Its highly crafted watches took six months to manufacture and sold for $117, a considerable sum at the time. One of these watches sold some years ago for $15,000.
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