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Saturday, March 14, 2009

What Is The History Of Which Arm To Wear A Wristwatch On?

By Debra Brian Hunt

While we look at wrist watches as a very usual fashion accessory at the present, people frequently do not know why it is that we wear the watch, or are thought to carry it on the left hand. The basis for this can be traced by looking at the olden times of it.

After the mainspring was created in the 15th century, wrist watches were invented because it was impossible to make these before the creation of the mainspring. Patek Philippe in 1868 invented a handy watch that was meant to be a woman's bracelet watch. It was perceived as jewellery and was hence "not manly," consequently men did not use them.

However, in 1904 Cartier was asked by an aviator friend to make a watch that could be used during flights. He invented the Santos wristwatch which was the first wristwatch made for men, and was designed to be practical in use. These became very popular during World War I as officers could use them easily, unlike a pocket watch which was inconvenient.

Since watches were made to be practical implements to be used as men were working, it was logical to devise them to be worn on the left hand, since most persons are right handed, thus it would be painless to both hold a weapon and see the time all at once.

Furthermore, since early wristwatches had to be wound, they were worn on the left hand with the winding knob facing outwards so that the person wearing it could easily wind it up using their right hand, and not have to face the inconvenience of having to use the wrong hand to wind it up.

Another rationale for wearing wristwatches on the left hand is that the watch does not get broken simply. While we apply our right hand for most actions, in case we wore our watches on the right hand we would predictably end up banging it into belongings a lot and in consequence damaging more quickly.

Finally, it is feasible that the arm the watch was prepared for was based only on the impulse of the former inventors of the wristwatch.

Apart from the reason, individuals in this day and age wear the watch on whatever hand seems easier to them. Specialists including construction workers, doctors' etc wear watches on left hand, whilst many other folks opt to wear the watch on the other one. Obviously, left-handed individuals at the moment wear watches on the right hand given that it is well-situated for them.

Because, there is now "right" arm to wear the watch on; they are at the moment prepared so that they can be worn on each warm. Contemporary wristwatches need not be wound, hence making it likely to wear them on any arm is more suitable for the owner of the watch, and despite of what times past may have to articulate on the subject.

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