Any one ever wondered how wristwatches came about.

[River Rat]

Before wristwatches most men carried one of these.

In early 1900's women started wearing wristwatches. Men thought it was a women thing to wear a wristwatch and you were a sissy if you wore one. But then WW1 started. The military thought that wristwatches were a good thing left your hands free to shoot a weapon and look at the time at the same time for synchronizing your watch for an upcoming battle. They started calling them trench watches and they were the first wristwatches. And since soldiers used them, they became manly to wear. And why we have this hobby today all because of these below.

This one above was used by Mr. Cooper in WW1 he is in the photo.


This one has a shrapnel guard to protect the crystal when crawling through the trenches.

This was called the Pershing dial name after the US general. Was issued to the US Army.

This one was issued to the US signal corps in WW1.
So, you can thank these watches for getting you into this watch habit. Just think if the military did not catch on to trench watches, we could still be using pocket watches.

[r.palace]

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing RR.

[River Rat]

The the boer war was the first time the miltary started using wristwatches.

[River Rat]

Here is one of the better articles about how the wristwatch started.
https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/trenchwatches.php

[aikiman44]

Thank you.

[AranaWhite]

Another interesting read, thank You. Luminous wrist watch with unbreakable glass, at the head, they must have been rugged.

[KENNSON]

Interesting.
I am always intrigued with human ingenuity. fascinating stuff. Thank you.