Vintage WRISTWATCHES
Dec 16, 2021
4 minutes
FEATURE EMMA LONGSTAFF
The time is everywhere – on our smartphones, computer screens, car dashboards, TVs, even microwaves. But despite becoming technologically outdated, wristwatches haven’t fallen out of fashion. Patek Philippe laid claim to designing the first ever wristwatch in 1868, but it wasn’t until the First World War that most watches transitioned from the pocket to the wrist – the physical demands of trench warfare made the cumbersome pocket watch obsolete.
‘Until the 1990s, wristwatches sold less well than pocket watches at auction,’ says Penny Andrews, a senior watch specialist at Bonhams. ‘But pocket watches are much less versatile, and those who collect them
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days