The History of Horology

 

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As you know, Central Watch was founded in 1952 - over 2,000 years after the science of timekeeping began. Around the year 1400 BC, civilizations across the globe began observing the natural rhythm of daylight and dark, looking for ways to measure time with the sun. We have a come a long way since then and the innovations aren’t stopping anytime soon. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and dive deeper into mankind’s relationship with time:

1400 B.C- The first recorded time measurement tool was actually the Mayan calendar, invented some 600 years earlier. But in the year 1400 B.C a more precise device started popping up all over Europe, the sundial. 

1364- Giovanni de Dondi of Padua invented the Astrarium (a marvel of its day), an astronomical clock that was significantly more accurate than the sundial. The original astronomical clock has disappeared but a replica still exists based off of detailed descriptions. 

1410- Came the development of the mainspring. This innovation made portable domestic clocks a reality and truly paved the way for the production of watches. 

1490- The mechanical watch began popping up all over Europe. The basic principles of this watch lasted for over 500 years until the electronic watch was invented in the late 1960’s!

1914- The wristwatch was tested on consumers against the classic pendant watch for the 11th time. Focus groups began preferring the wristwatch over the pendant watch and this led to a 100 store roll out across the globe.

1921- A pilot’s watch was created that had the ability to judge latitude and longitude. Many watches today have navigation components that help travelers, hikers and everyone in between. 

1952- A new watch company emerged in one of the most popular train terminals in the world, Grand Central Station. They called themselves Central Watch.

1960- A special Rolex Oyster was submerged almost 11,000 metres in the Mariana Trench. The rest is history. 

1969- The OMEGA Speedmaster was worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the first manned lunar landing in July of 1969 and has been included in every one of NASA’s piloted missions since March of 1965.

Present- An estimated 1.2 billion watches were sold last year by hundreds of different manufacturers. Certainly a long history, but the future is bright for this classic accessory. 

As you can see, Central Watch is only a small part of the history of watches but we have made our mark. From vintage timepieces to watch repair and watch straps, we are here to provide exceptional service for all of your watch needs. To view our selection of timepieces or learn more about our services, visit us online or give us a call at (212) 685-1689.