Notable Historical Facts

There are rumors that in the famous painting of Henry VIII, the medallion on his neck is a big pocket watch, which he owned, and not a medalion how most people think.Leonardo da Vinci draw a sketch of a fusee for a clock. The system used in his sketch was later used in watch industry.In 1583 Galileo Galilei realized that how often does a pendulum swing depends on its length.Breguet was the most preferred watch of the Russian Tsars. Breguet was also worn by Napoleon at Waterloo.In 1795 Breguet was the one to invent the tourbillon – which till nowadays represents a great horological achievement.It compensates watch errors caused by gravity. Even today tourbillon is one of the most sophisticated mechanisms to manufacture.The first wristwatch was invented by Patek Philippe. Until the First World War the wristwatch was considered to be a woman's accessory. Till WW I men wore pocket watches.The first atomic clock that used ammonia was developed in 1949 by the National Bureau of Standards, which is now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology.The first wristwatch for men was invented by Cartier. The famous jeweler created a watch for his friend – Brazilian pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont.When Sir Edmund Hilary climbed Mt. Everest (the first human to conquer the mountain) in 1953 he wore Rolex Oyster.