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ABOUT US
KNOWLEDGE CENTER
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TIMELINE
This Section presents a history of
inventions, acquisitions, patents and world events which had a huge impact
in the field of horology. If any interested horologist believes that a
significant horological event has been overlooked, please email us the
event's name and why you believe it should be included in this time line.
Ashland's intention is to provide an accurate time reference for its
clients and guests. We welcome any information which will make this time
line more beneficial to all watch and clock enthusiasts.
1430
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Mainspring in a barrel with a chain
and fusee was developed. |
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1480
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The first watches appeared in
Italy. |
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1485
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Leonard da Vinci sketches a fusee
design for a clock. |
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1500
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First use of spiral spring was
first used for the mainspring. |
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1510
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Peter Henlein of Nuremberg invented
the spring powered clocks. |
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1550
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Watches started to have more
geometric forms. |
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1565
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In Germany, the first guild was
founded in Nuremberg. |
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1601
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The foundation of the Watchmaker’s
Guild in Geneva. |
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1620
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Glass crystal started to be fitted
to the watch case. |
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1625
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In England, unornamented watches
became popular. |
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1635
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The fusee was adapted to watches.
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1640
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Chain-and-fusee design replaces gut
cord. |
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1650
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Christian Huygens discovered the
laws of the pendulum. |
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1656
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Christian Huygens builds the first
accurate pendulum clock. |
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1675
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Huygens introduces the balance
wheel and spring assembly. |
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Spiral balance spring was used.
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1687
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Daniel Quare patents the repeating
mechanism. |
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1690
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English watchmaker Daniel Quare
starts to use a minute hand (because accuracy has advanced).
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1700
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Horizontal cylinder escapement is
invented by Tompion or George Graham. |
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1704
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Watch makers N. F. de Duiller and
Peterland Jacob a method of piercing jewels. Debaufre developed.
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1710
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Development and perfection of
cylinder escapement by Graham |
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1715
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Sully discovered that forming
a small sink around each hole would retain the oil, due to its surface
tension. |
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Repouse and enhancement of outcases
was desired. |
1720
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Dutertre invented the duplex
escapement. |
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Abbe’de Hautefeuille invented the
rack lever. |
1725
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Introduction of enamel dials that
are smooth and polished. |
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1726
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George Graham develops the
horizontal, or cylinder escapement. |
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1730
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Baptiste Dutertre developed the
duplex escapement. |
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1740
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Frenchman LeRoy introduced a screw
adjusted sliding plates, so the escape wheel could be positioned.
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1750
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Jean Antoine Lepine invented the
virgule escapement. |
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Second hands starting to be used on
watches. |
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Maker's name appeared on the dials.
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1755
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Jean-Marc Vacheron opened his
workshop in Geneva. |
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1759
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Thomas Mudge invents the detached
lever escapement. |
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1761
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John Harrison invented the first
sea chronometer. |
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1770
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Abraham Louis Perrelet invents
automatic winding. |
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1775
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Abraham Louis Breguet starts
his own watch making shop in Paris France. |
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1780
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Breguet started production in
France. |
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Breguet produced the first
self-winding watch; it did not work reliably. |
1783
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Abraham Louis Breguet invents the
gong spring for repeaters. |
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1786
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Breguet first to use guilloche on
watch dials. |
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1787
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Breguet makes lever watches.
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1790
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Breguet introduces the "parachute"
shock protection syste, the cylinder escapement with a ruby cylinder.
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1791
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J.F. Bautte founded the watch
company that later became Girard-Perregaux. |
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1795
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Abraham-Louis Breguet invents the
tourbillion. |
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Breguet invents the "Breguet" over
coil balance spring. |
1799
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Brequet invents the "Tact" watch
that was a watch for the blind. |
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1800
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The pocket chronometer was an
accurate and obtainable watch. |
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Multi color gold dials were the
norm. |
1801
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Breguet patents the
tourbillion. |
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1807
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Thomas Young invents a chronograph.
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1809
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Luther Goddard is the first watch
manufacturer in America. |
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1810
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Breguet makes their first wrist
watch. |
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1814
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Massey uses push/pump winder in a
watch. |
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1821
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Nicholas Mathieu
Rieussec develops A chronograph and receives a patend for the design.
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1823
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The table roller lever escapement
was being introduced. |
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1825
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Georges Auguste Leschot's invented
the Swiss lever escapement. |
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1830
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Cole's elastic lever escapement
developed. |
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1833
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LeCoultre & Cie. founded in Le
Sentier. |
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1838
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Louis Audemars invents stem winding
and setting mechanism. |
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1839
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Patek & Czapek founded in Geneva.
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1840
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All watches were hand-finished to
this point and interchangeabillity was nill. |
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Watches starting to be produced
with interchangeable parts. |
1841
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Vacheron Constantin installed
machines to produce strictly identical mechanisms. |
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1843
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Adrien Phillippe designs a watch
with winding and setting through the crown. |
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1844
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Patek Phillippe produces its first
pocket watch. |
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Nicole designs the first true
chronograph. |
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Antoine LeCoultre invents the
millonometre. |
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1845
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Adrien Philippe unites with Patek &
Cie. |
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1846
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Ulysse Nardin founded in LeLocle.
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1847
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Charles-Antoine LeCoultre invents
his system that would wind/set a watch by the crown. |
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Cartier was established. |
1848
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Louis Brandt opens his own workshop
that later becomes the Omega Watch Company. |
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1850
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Ansonia Clock Co. in Ansonia
Conecticut, starts making clocks. |
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1851
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The "Warren Manufacturing Company"
established. |
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1852
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Royal observatory in
Greenwich began transmitting time telegraphically. |
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1853
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Tissot develops dual time zone
watch. |
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Warren Manufacturing markets their
first watches. |
1856
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Eterna founded in Grenchen.
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1858
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Minerva founded in Villeret.
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Edward Howard produces his first
watch. |
1859
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Waltham Improvement Co. and
Appleton, Tracy & Co. merge to become American Watch Co. |
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1860
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Chopard founded in Geneva.
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Panerai was established.
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Heuer is founded. |
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1861
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Charles Fasoldt sets up a factory
to produce clocks and watches in New York. |
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1862
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Contemporary three push chronograph
system introduced. |
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1864
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Heuer founded in Biel. |
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