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History of watches

Watches evolved from portable spring driven clocks, which initial in the 15th century. Portable timepieces were made feasible by the invention from the mainspring. Although some sources erroneously credit Nuremberg clockmaker Peter Henlein (or Henle or Hele) with inventing the mainspring about 1511, numerous references to 'clocks with out weights' and two surviving examples show that spring powered clocks appeared within the 15th century. Henlein is also frequently credited with constructing the very first pocketwatches, mostly because of a passage by Johann Cochlaus in 1511.

Peter Hele, nonetheless a young man, fashions works which even probably the most learned mathematicians admire. He shapes many-wheeled clocks out of little bits of iron, which run and chime the hours with out weights for forty hours, whether or not carried at the breast or inside a handbag

and simply because he was popularized in a 19th century novel. Nevertheless, numerous German clockmakers had been making miniature timepieces during this period, and there is no evidence Henlein was the first. Also, watches weren't widely worn in pockets till the 17th century.

The first timepieces to become worn, produced in 16th century Europe, were transitional in size in between clocks and watches. These 'clock-watches' had been fastened to clothing or worn on a chain around the neck. They had been heavy drum shaped cylindrical brass boxes several inches in diameter, engraved and ornamented. They had only an hour hand. The face was not covered with glass, but generally had a hinged brass cover, often decoratively pierced with grillwork so the time might be read without opening. The movement was made of iron or steel and held together with tapered pins and wedges, until screws began to be used after 1550. Many from the movements included striking or alarm mechanisms. They generally had to become wound twice each day. How psychic!