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Timekeeping has been important to the human race for thousands of years, from the sundials of Ancient Egypt in 3000 BC to the intricate precision workings of Swiss watches in modern times. The way people have measured time reflects the technology available in their era, beginning with shadows cast by the sun onto a stone dial, through to the latest advances in digital tech in the 21st century.
A hallmark of human progress, timekeeping went through its most revolutionary transformation when it shifted from mechanical to digital watches – a change driven in large part by advances in printed circuit boards.
Wristwatches history
There’s a historical disagreement about who invented the first wristwatch in the 19th century, with different sources citing two watchmakers. Prior to this, pocket watches hanging from a chain, invented during the 16th century, had become popular over the years.
Some historians insist famous Swiss-French horologist Abraham Louis Breguet was way ahead of his time when he invented a wristwatch for Queen Caroline Murat of Naples (Napoleon Bonaparte’s younger sister) in June 1810. Described as an “oblong repeater for a bracelet”, it was a one-off design especially commissioned for the queen: it never went into mass production. The bracelet was reportedly fashioned from gold thread, but it disappeared off the historical radar in 1855, when it apparently went for repair.
Another school of thought claims the first wristwatch was created by famous Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe in 1868 as a piece of jewellery for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary. The fact that a member of the royal family had worn it meant the watch became a sought after accessory that was both ornamental and functional. According to Guinness World Records, therefore, Patek Philippe officially invented the wristwatch.
When were wristwatches first widely adopted?
The trend for large timepieces began to decline in the 19th century, largely due to their inconvenience. According to records, between 40% and 50% of all pawned items were pocket watches, as owners viewed them more as an investment. During the mid to late 19th century, the opening of factories and mass manufacturing of watches in Europe and the US meant they could cope with an increased demand.
Ironically, it was warfare that led to a call for more wristwatches. It was reported that during the Boer War, from 1899 to 1902, in South Africa, soldiers began strapping pocket watches to their wrists to precisely synchronise military strategies. Advertising campaigns in England drew inspiration from this, claiming that “desert experience is the toughest test a watch can have”.
Meanwhile, women began wearing the “wristlet watch” as a fashion accessory, with a report from Paris in 1912 describing it as the “most useful piece of jewellery for many decades”.
During World War I, soldiers wore wristwatches for convenience to coordinate attacks precisely. Ad campaigns suggested a “watch could make a man more soldier-like and masculine”. By the 1920s, wristwatches for aviators and motor racing drivers ensured their success, with pocket watches more like “something your dad wore”, according to historians.
Wristwatches were widely adopted and continued to increase in popularity for the next 40 years.
From springs to PCBs
A number of key innovations defined the transition from mechanical to electronic watches, including the introduction of the quartz crystal oscillator in the 1969 Seiko Astron, which revolutionised accuracy and affordability, marking the start of the electronic era.
A quartz watch works by using a battery powered electrical circuit to control the hands’ movement, with the precise vibrations of the quartz crystal keeping accurate time. The battery power causes the quartz crystal to vibrate at a specific frequency of 32,768 Hz, functioning as a timekeeper. This vibration converts into a regular electrical pulse to power the stepping motor and move the watch hands.
Quartz watches proved to be a disruptive innovation in the watch industry due to their significant advantages over mechanical timepieces. Their accuracy and low maintenance made them a popular alternative and ultimately led to a major shift in the market.
The first digital watch was the Hamilton Pulsar P1, launched in 1972. Viewed by the public as luxurious and futuristic, the LED watch retailed at more than £1,500, which equates to around £22,000 today, taking inflation into account. Just 400 were made, and at the same price as a family car, only the wealthy could afford one, such as rock legend Elvis Presley, who purchased one of the first models.
The growth of the quartz watch market throughout the 1970s and ‘80s led to the so-called quartz crisis, when Swiss watchmakers suffered a significant decline in demand for traditional mechanical watches. Japanese companies such as Seiko and Casio, which embraced the new electronic tech powered by printed circuit boards, took over much of the world’s production.
How has technology evolved in the 21st century?
Early digital watches from the 1970s and ‘80s replaced analogue mechanisms with revolutionary LED or LCD displays. They also provided exciting new features including alarms, stopwatches and backlighting. More advanced models had calculators and some basic games, giving a glimpse of what a watch could do, although their main function remained telling the time.
In contrast, today’s smartwatches are sophisticated, wearable mini computers that can integrate seamlessly with smartphones. They have a wide range of features including sat nav, heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking, message notifications and the ability to stream music and take calls.
Powered by advanced operating systems, they are able to support third party apps, have voice assistants, and handle real-time data synchronisation. Far more than “just a watch”, they have transformed into multi-functional devices for communication, health and more.
How do PCBs benefit smartwatches?
This amazing revolution is made possible by contract electronics manufacturing, enabling the creation of smaller PCBs with even greater functionality. Modern PCB assembly services can create state-of-the-art smartwatches with components that enable multiple advanced functions.
The components of a smartwatch PCB include the CPU (central processing unit); memory; Bluetooth/Wi-Fi modules; battery management ICs; and sensor interfaces. Each enables processing, connectivity and user interaction, making PCBs the unsung heroes of the digital revolution.
They have replaced the complex system of springs and gears with conductive pathways connected with tiny components, such as capacitors, microcontrollers, resistors and LEDs in compact, durable configurations. PCBs have made miniaturisation a reality, enabling incredibly compact component layouts – the key to fitting complex electronics into a wrist sized formation.
An experienced contract electronics manufacturer, such as Sellectronics, can work with clients to achieve almost any bespoke project, creating PCBs that can offer better resistance to shock and wear than the delicate mechanical parts in watches of years gone by.
The digital watch was the world’s first true “wearable computer” in many ways. Now, with future wearables likely to shrink further, PCB design continually faces new challenges, as they must be even smaller, yet more powerful.
Although today’s consumers may not realise it, society owes a great deal to the PCB, which is working quietly behind the scenes to enhance modern life as we know it.