What Is the First Watch Ever Made and Who Invented It? ⏳

Imagine stumbling upon a tiny gilded orb at a flea market, only to discover it’s the world’s oldest working watch, crafted over 500 years ago! That’s exactly what happened with the legendary Pomander Watch of 1505, invented by the ingenious German locksmith Peter Henlein. This isn’t just a story about a timepiece—it’s the origin of wearable technology, a revolution that forever changed how humans perceive and carry time.

In this article, we unravel the fascinating history behind the first watch ever made, explore Henlein’s groundbreaking invention, and separate myth from fact. Curious about how this early marvel worked, why it looked like a perfume ball, or how it influenced modern watches? We’ve got all that and more, including surprising tales of rediscovery and the evolution from pendants to wristwatches. Ready to travel back in time and discover the roots of your favorite accessory? Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

  • Peter Henlein of Nuremberg is credited with inventing the first portable watch in 1505, known as the Pomander Watch—a small, spherical timepiece worn as a pendant.
  • The first watch was more a status symbol than an accurate timekeeper, running about 12 hours and featuring only an hour hand.
  • Early watches evolved from bulky tower clocks thanks to the invention of the mainspring, enabling miniaturization and portability.
  • The first wristwatch came centuries later, with Abraham-Louis Breguet’s creation for Queen Caroline Murat in 1810.
  • The Pomander Watch is priceless and still functional, symbolizing the dawn of personal timekeeping and wearable tech.

Thinking about exploring vintage or luxury watches inspired by this rich history? Check out our guides on Vintage Watch Collections and Luxury Watch Brands to find your perfect timepiece!

Table of Contents

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⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts About the First Watch Ever Made

Alright, let’s cut to the chase. You want to know about the granddaddy of all watches, the OG timepiece that started it all. Before we dive deep into the fascinating, and slightly murky, waters of horological history, here are the key facts you need to know. This isn’t just trivia; it’s the foundation of every single watch that has ever graced a wrist, pocket, or dashboard. The history of watches is a wild ride, and it all starts here!

  • The First Watch: The title of “first watch ever made” is most often awarded to the Pomander Watch of 1505. 🏆
  • The Inventor: The genius credited with this invention is Peter Henlein, a locksmith and clockmaker from Nuremberg, Germany.
  • Not a Wristwatch: Forget everything you think you know! The first watch wasn’t worn on the wrist. It was a small, spherical clock designed to be worn as a pendant or carried in a purse. Think of it as the world’s first piece of wearable tech.
  • A Status Symbol: Initially, these devices were wildly inaccurate. We’re talking errors of several hours a day. Their primary purpose was to be an extravagant piece of jewelry for the nobility, a way to show off immense wealth and sophistication.
  • The Name’s Origin: The word “watch” likely comes from the Old English word woecce, meaning “watchman,” as they used early portable clocks to time their shifts.
  • It Still Ticks! Incredibly, the Pomander Watch of 1505 is not just a static museum piece. It is the oldest known watch that is still in working condition. Talk about built to last!

⏳ The Dawn of Timekeeping: Early History and Evolution of Watches

a boat's steering wheel and other items are seen through a window

Humanity has been obsessed with measuring time since we first noticed the sun’s journey across the sky. From sundials to water clocks, we’ve always sought to master the fleeting moments. But how did we get from a giant stone circle to a device that fits in our pocket? The journey is one of incredible innovation, shrinking massive technology into something personal.

From Tower Clocks to Pocket Clocks

For centuries, time was a public affair. You’d hear the clang of the town’s clock tower and know the hour. These massive, weight-driven clocks were marvels of engineering, but they weren’t exactly portable. The game-changer? The invention of the mainspring in the 15th century.

This simple-looking coil of metal ribbon replaced the need for bulky weights, allowing clockmakers to store energy in a much smaller space. As Wikipedia’s history of watches notes, this innovation was the catalyst that “made portable clocks and watches possible.” Suddenly, the race was on to miniaturize. The German cities of Nuremberg and Augsburg became the Silicon Valley of their day, bustling with craftsmen creating these newfangled “clock-watches.”

What’s in a Name? The Origin of the Word “Watch”

Ever wonder why we call it a “watch”? The Oxford English Dictionary traces the word back to at least 1542 in connection with a timepiece. The most popular theory, as mentioned earlier, is that it evolved from the term used by town watchmen who carried early portable clocks to time their shifts, or watches. It’s a humble origin story for what would become an icon of luxury and technology.

For a fantastic visual journey through the evolution of timekeeping, from ancient methods to the mechanical marvels we’re discussing, the video below is a must-see. It provides great context for how monumental Henlein’s invention truly was.


(A video embed for “The Invention of the Clock – Historical Curiosities – See U in History” would be placed here.)

🕰️ Who Invented the First Watch? The Story of Peter Henlein and His Pomander Watch


Video: First Watch Ever Made – History of Wristwatches.








So, who is the man we can thank for this revolution in timekeeping? Let’s turn the spotlight on the master craftsman himself, Peter Henlein.

Meet Peter Henlein: The Man, The Myth, The Locksmith

Peter Henlein (c. 1485–1542) was a master locksmith in Nuremberg, Germany. In an era when metalworking skills were akin to high-tech coding today, locksmiths were at the forefront of intricate mechanical work. His genius was in taking the large-scale mechanics of the new spring-driven clocks and shrinking them down to an unprecedented size.

His work was so admired that the scholar Johann Cochläus wrote of him in 1511:

“Peter Hele, still a young man, fashions works which even the most learned mathematicians admire. He shapes many-wheeled clocks out of small bits of iron, which run and chime the hours without weights for forty hours, whether carried at the breast or in a handbag.”

Now, we have to be fair. ✅ Henlein is widely celebrated as the inventor, but ❌ it’s unlikely he was working in a total vacuum. Other German clockmakers were experimenting with similar ideas. However, Henlein is the one who gets the credit, much like Steve Jobs gets credit for the iPhone, even though many of its components were developed by others. Henlein’s creation was the one that captured the imagination and made history.

The Pomander Watch of 1505: The World’s First Wearable Tech?

This wasn’t just a clock; it was a masterpiece of form and function. The Watch 1505, as it’s formally known, is a small sphere crafted from gilded copper. It was designed as a pomander, a popular accessory among the wealthy in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. These orbs were filled with fragrant herbs and spices, like ambergris or musk, to ward off bad smells and, it was believed, disease.

Henlein’s brilliant idea was to combine this status symbol with a miniaturized clock movement. The result was a device that was both beautiful and (somewhat) useful. It was the ultimate conversation starter for a 16th-century aristocrat. In a truly incredible twist of fate, this priceless artifact was reportedly rediscovered at a London flea market in 1987, a story that makes every vintage hunter’s heart skip a beat.

The “Nuremberg Egg”: Fact or Fiction?

You’ll often hear early watches called “Nuremberg eggs.” While Henlein’s pomander watch is spherical, the term more accurately refers to the oval, drum-shaped watches that became popular shortly after. The name itself is likely a historical misunderstanding. It probably evolved from a mistranslation of “Aeurlein” (a diminutive of Uhr, the German word for clock), which sounds a bit like Eierlein (little egg). So, while catchy, the “egg” moniker is more of a nickname than a precise historical term.

🔍 Examining the First Watch: Design, Mechanics, and Innovations


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Let’s pop the hood on this 500-year-old marvel. What exactly made the Pomander Watch of 1505 tick? The beauty of this piece is more than skin deep; its internal mechanics were revolutionary.

Here’s a look at the specs, based on extensive examinations detailed in the Wikipedia entry for the Watch 1505.

Feature Specification
Manufacturer Peter Henlein
Year Introduced 1505
Casing Copper, fire-gilded on the outside, fire-silvered on the inside.
Movement Primarily iron with some brass components.
Casing Diameter 4.15 cm x 4.25 cm
Movement Diameter 3.60 cm x 3.55 cm
Winding Key-wound.
Running Time Approximately 12 hours.
Dial Single hour hand. Top half shows Roman numerals (I-XII), bottom half shows Arabic numerals (13-24).

The Guts of the Machine: Inside the 1505 Movement

The real magic was the miniaturization. Henlein managed to shrink a torsion pendulum and coil spring mechanism into a case barely larger than a golf ball. The movement was made mostly of iron, a testament to his skill as a smith.

However, let’s be honest about its performance. With a running time of only 12 hours, it needed constant winding. And its accuracy? Abysmal by today’s standards. Without a balance spring (an invention that would come over a century later), temperature changes and movement would cause it to gain or lose hours each day. It was a novelty, not a chronometer.

Decoding the Engravings and Symbolism

The exterior of the watch is a work of art, covered in intricate engravings that tell a story.

  • Cityscape: You can see tiny depictions of Nuremberg from the early 16th century.
  • Symbolism: It’s rich with allegorical imagery. A serpent biting its tail represents infinity and eternal life. Laurel wreaths symbolize victory and immortality. A sun engraving connects the mechanical device to the ultimate source of time.
  • Hidden Signatures: The most compelling evidence for its origin lies in the nearly invisible initials. Tiny “PH” letters are hidden in the engravings. Even more convincing, under the silver plating on the inside, an inscription reads “MDV PHN”, which experts believe stands for 1505 Peter Henlein Nuremberg.

🎨 Aesthetic and Functional Features of Early Watches


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The Pomander Watch wasn’t a one-off oddity; it was the prototype for a whole new class of objects. Early “clock-watches” shared several characteristics that set them apart from the timepieces we know today.

More Than Just a Timepiece: A Status Symbol

First and foremost, these were items of conspicuous consumption. Only the wealthiest nobles and merchants could afford them. They were the Luxury Watch Brands of their time, worn on a chain around the neck to be seen and admired. They were heavy, ornate, and screamed “I have more money than I know what to do with!”

Functionality (or Lack Thereof)

If you actually needed to know the precise time, you’d still look to the sun or a public clock. Early watches were notoriously poor timekeepers.

  • One Hand Only: They featured only a single hour hand. Minute hands wouldn’t become common until the late 17th century after the balance spring made them practical.
  • No Glass: The faces weren’t protected by glass. Instead, they had hinged metal covers, often with beautiful pierced grillwork that allowed the owner to see the approximate position of the hand without opening it.
  • Fragile and Finicky: The iron movements were susceptible to rust and damage. They were delicate instruments in a rough-and-tumble world.

The Transition to the Pocket Watch

Over the next century, the design evolved. The spherical and drum shapes gave way to a flatter, rounded form—the classic pocket watch—that was more comfortable to carry. This evolution was driven by practicality, a theme we see throughout watchmaking history, leading eventually to the watch being strapped to the wrist.

💰 The Financial Worth and Collectability of the First Watches


Video: Story of Pocket/Wrist Watches | From Pocket Watches to Smartwatches: A Journey Through History | 1.1.








This is the question everyone asks: what is a piece of history like this actually worth? The answer is… complicated.

The Million-Dollar Question: What is the Pomander Watch Worth?

In 2014, the Pomander Watch of 1505 was appraised with an estimated value between 50 and 80 million dollars. But let’s be clear: this is a hypothetical number. The watch is a unique historical artifact, and its true value is immeasurable. It’s not for sale, and it belongs in a museum (though it remains in private ownership). It’s, for all intents and purposes, priceless.

Collecting Early Timepieces: A Niche for the Dedicated

So you can’t buy the first watch. What about other early timepieces? Venturing into the world of 16th and 17th-century horology is not for the faint of heart. These pieces are incredibly rare, fragile, and expensive. For most enthusiasts, exploring Vintage Watch Collections from the 18th and 19th centuries is a more realistic goal.

If you’re considering buying any historical timepiece, our Guide to Buying Watches is essential reading. The number one rule is provenance. You need irrefutable proof of the watch’s origin and authenticity, as forgeries and “Frankenwatches” (watches built from parts of others) are common.

📜 Historical Influences and Cultural Impact of Early Timepieces


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No invention happens in a bubble, and the watch is no exception. It was the product of centuries of accumulated knowledge and a changing world.

A Confluence of Knowledge: The Silk Road and the Renaissance

The creation of the watch in Nuremberg was possible because the city was a crossroads of trade and ideas. As the Wikipedia article on the watch notes, knowledge flowed along routes like the Silk Road.

  • Islamic Golden Age: European clockmakers benefited from the advanced mechanical knowledge of Arab engineers like Ismail al-Jazari, whose work on automata and water clocks was centuries ahead of its time.
  • Renaissance Spirit: The intellectual curiosity of the Renaissance fueled a desire to understand and master the world. Astronomers and mathematicians like Regiomontanus, who worked in Nuremberg, created an environment where a craftsman like Henlein could thrive.

How the Watch Changed Everything

The cultural impact of the portable clock was profound. For the first time, time was no longer just public and communal; it became personal and private.

  • From Town Bell to Personal Beat: Owning a watch meant you carried time with you. You could manage your own schedule, your own day, without relying on an external source.
  • A New Consciousness: This shift fostered a new awareness of time’s passage, leading to concepts of efficiency and punctuality that would become the engine of the Industrial Revolution. The simple act of being able to check the time whenever you wanted changed human consciousness forever.

🕵️‍♂️ Other Pomander Watches by Peter Henlein and His Contemporaries


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While the 1505 watch is the star of the show, it wasn’t Henlein’s only pomander. And he wasn’t the only one making them.

The Melanchthon Pomander Watch of 1530

There is one other known pomander watch attributed to Peter Henlein: the Pomander Watch of Melanchthon. Dated to 1530, it was likely commissioned by the City of Nuremberg as a gift for the Protestant Reformer Philipp Melanchthon. This beautiful piece is now housed at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and you can view it in their collection. It serves as crucial evidence that the 1505 watch was not an anomaly but part of Henlein’s specialized production.

The Unsung Heroes of Early Horology

It’s vital to remember that history is written by the victors (and the well-documented). While Henlein is immortalized, he was part of a thriving community of clockmakers in Germany. Craftsmen in Augsburg were producing their own miniature timepieces. The existence of an empty pomander watch housing in the Wuppertal Watch Museum further suggests that this was a known form factor. Henlein may have perfected it or been the best at marketing it, but he stood on the shoulders of a community of innovators.

📚 Literature and Records Documenting the First Watch and Its Inventor


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How can we be so sure about a story from over 500 years ago? The claims about Henlein aren’t just modern speculation; they are backed by historical documents and confirmed by modern science.

The Words That Made a Legend: Cochläus and Neudörfers

Two key contemporary sources cement Henlein’s legacy.

  1. Johann Cochläus (1511): As we mentioned, his praise of the “many-wheeled clocks out of small bits of iron” that could be carried in a purse is the earliest and most famous reference.
  2. Johann Neudörfers (1547): In a later text, Neudörfers wrote that Henlein had “invented the pomander watches (bisam-kopf-ührlein).” This specific mention of the pomander form is a critical link in the chain of evidence.

Modern Verification: Science Confirms History

Historical texts are one thing, but physical proof is another. The Watch 1505 has undergone rigorous scientific testing.

  • Metallurgical Analysis: Tests on the brass and copper confirmed that the materials and fire-gilding techniques are consistent with those used in the early 16th century.
  • 3D CT Scans: High-resolution scans have allowed experts to examine the movement in incredible detail without taking it apart, confirming its construction methods and age.
  • Official Recognition: The historical and scientific evidence is so strong that Henlein was officially honored as the inventor of the watch at the 400th anniversary of the German Watchmakers’ Association in 1905, where a monument was dedicated to him in his home city of Nuremberg.

If this has whetted your appetite for horological history, here are a few places to continue your journey:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the First Watch Ever Made


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Still have questions? You’re not alone! This is a complex topic with a lot of nuances. Here are answers to some of the most common queries we get.

So, was Peter Henlein definitely the first?

He is the person most widely credited and with the best historical documentation. However, it’s more accurate to call him a key pioneer rather than the sole, undisputed inventor. Other clockmakers were working on similar portable clocks at the same time. Henlein’s pomander watch is simply the earliest, most famous, and best-preserved example we have.

What’s the difference between the first watch and the first wristwatch?

This is a crucial distinction!

  • The First Watch (Pendant Watch): Peter Henlein’s 1505 Pomander Watch, worn on a chain.
  • The First Wristwatch: This title is debated, but as Teddy Baldassarre’s excellent article on the topic points out, most historians give the nod to Breguet. In 1810, Abraham-Louis Breguet created a timepiece specifically designed for the wrist of Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples.
  • The First Men’s Wristwatch: The first purpose-built wristwatch for a man was the Cartier Santos-Dumont in 1904, designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. This is the watch that truly kicked off the trend for Men’s Watches.

Can I buy a watch like the Pomander Watch?

Unfortunately, no. The original is a one-of-a-kind historical artifact. You won’t find anything from that specific era on the market, but you can explore beautiful and historically significant timepieces in our section on Vintage Watch Collections. You might even find an affordable pocket watch from the 19th or 20th century that carries on the legacy! Check out our guide to Affordable Watches for some ideas.

How accurate was the first watch?

Not accurate at all! It was a beautiful piece of mechanical art, but a terrible timekeeper. It only had an hour hand and could easily be off by several hours per day. Its value was in its novelty, craftsmanship, and status, not its precision.

We stand on the shoulders of giants, and our research is built upon the excellent work of historians and journalists. For a deeper dive, we highly recommend these sources:

  1. Wikipedia – “Watch 1505”: The most comprehensive single source on the Pomander Watch itself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch_1505
  2. Wikipedia – “History of watches”: A broader overview of the evolution of timepieces from the 15th century to today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_watches
  3. Teddy Baldassarre – “The Very First Wristwatch”: An excellent and clear explanation of the origins of the wristwatch, distinguishing it from the first portable watch. https://teddybaldassarre.com/blogs/watches/first-wristwatch

🏁 Conclusion: Why the First Watch Still Ticks in Our Hearts

brown and gray bag near couch

So, what have we learned on this journey back to the dawn of personal timekeeping? The Pomander Watch of 1505, crafted by the ingenious Peter Henlein, wasn’t just a mechanical curiosity — it was a revolution wrapped in gilded copper. It marked the birth of the watch as a portable, wearable device, forever changing how humans relate to time.

While it wasn’t the precise, reliable instrument we expect today, its blend of art, engineering, and symbolism made it a status symbol and a marvel of its age. Henlein’s watch was the seed from which all modern watches grew, from the elegant wristwatches of Breguet to the rugged pilot watches of Cartier.

We also resolved some lingering mysteries:

  • Henlein wasn’t the sole inventor but the best-documented pioneer of wearable watches.
  • The first wristwatch came centuries later, thanks to Abraham-Louis Breguet and others.
  • The Pomander Watch’s rediscovery at a flea market in 1987 is a horological fairy tale that reminds us that history can be hidden in plain sight.

For collectors and enthusiasts, the Pomander Watch is a holy grail — priceless, rare, and a testament to human ingenuity. For everyone else, it’s a fascinating story that enriches our appreciation of every tick and tock on our wrists today.

If you’re inspired to explore more, dive into vintage collections, or even start your own watch journey, remember: every watch has a story, and it all began with that tiny gilded sphere in 1505.

Ready to explore or gift a piece of horological history? Here are some curated shopping and reading links to fuel your passion:

Watches and Brands Mentioned

Books on Watch History and Horology

  • “A Man and His Watch” by Matt Hranek: Amazon
  • “The Watch, Thoroughly Revised” by Gene Stone and Stephen Pulvirent: Amazon
  • “Wristwatch Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Mechanical Wristwatches” by Ryan Schmidt: Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the First Watch Ever Made


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What was the first wristwatch and when was it invented?

The first wristwatch is generally credited to Abraham-Louis Breguet, who created a wristwatch in 1810 for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. This watch was oval-shaped, featured a chiming repeater, and was attached to a delicate wristlet. It was designed specifically for the wrist, differentiating it from earlier pendant or pocket watches. While Patek Philippe claims to have made the first Swiss wristwatch in 1868, most historians give Breguet the nod due to earlier documented evidence.

How did the first pocket watch come into existence and who created it?

The pocket watch evolved from the early portable “clock-watches” of the 16th century. These were initially heavy, drum-shaped brass boxes worn as pendants or carried in pockets. The invention of the mainspring enabled miniaturization, and German clockmakers like Peter Henlein were pioneers in this field. Over time, the design flattened and became more practical for pocket carrying, leading to the classic pocket watch form by the 17th century.

Who are the most influential watchmakers in history and what were their contributions?

  • Peter Henlein (1485–1542): Credited with inventing the first portable watch, the Pomander Watch of 1505.
  • Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747–1823): Innovator of the wristwatch and many watchmaking technologies including the tourbillon.
  • Louis Cartier (1875–1942): Created the first men’s wristwatch, the Cartier Santos-Dumont, designed for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.
  • John Harwood: Invented the first successful automatic (self-winding) watch in 1923.
  • Seiko (1969): Introduced the first quartz wristwatch, revolutionizing accuracy and affordability.

What are the key components of a mechanical watch and how do they work together?

A mechanical watch consists of several essential parts working in harmony:

  • Mainspring: Stores energy when wound.
  • Gear Train: Transfers energy from the mainspring to the escapement.
  • Escapement: Regulates the release of energy in precise intervals.
  • Balance Wheel: Oscillates back and forth, controlling the timing.
  • Dial and Hands: Display the time.
    Together, these components convert stored energy into the steady, rhythmic ticking that keeps time.

What is the history behind the development of quartz watches and their impact on the industry?

Quartz watches were introduced in 1969 by Seiko with the Astron model. Quartz technology uses a vibrating quartz crystal regulated by an electronic oscillator, providing unprecedented accuracy (often within seconds per year) and affordability. This innovation led to the “quartz crisis,” where many traditional mechanical watchmakers struggled or went out of business, but it also democratized timekeeping worldwide.

How have watchmaking techniques evolved over time and what innovations have been made?

Watchmaking has evolved from heavy, imprecise mechanical clocks to highly accurate, miniature marvels. Key innovations include:

  • The mainspring enabling portability.
  • The balance spring improving accuracy in the 17th century.
  • The automatic winding mechanism in the 20th century.
  • The quartz movement revolutionizing precision and cost.
  • The rise of smartwatches, integrating computing and connectivity.
    Each innovation has pushed the boundaries of what a watch can do.

What are some of the oldest watch brands still in operation today and what makes them significant?

  • Breguet (Founded 1775): Known for pioneering many watchmaking technologies and elegant designs.
  • Patek Philippe (Founded 1839): Renowned for craftsmanship, innovation, and producing some of the most collectible watches.
  • Cartier (Founded 1847): Famous for luxury watches and jewelry, including the iconic Santos-Dumont.
  • Blancpain (Founded 1735): The oldest surviving watch brand, known for traditional mechanical watches.
    These brands are significant because they have preserved centuries of craftsmanship, innovation, and luxury, influencing the entire industry.

We hope this deep dive into the origins of the watch has inspired you to appreciate every tick on your wrist a little more. After all, you’re carrying a piece of history every time you check the time! ⌚️

Review Team
Review Team

The Popular Brands Review Team is a collective of seasoned professionals boasting an extensive and varied portfolio in the field of product evaluation. Composed of experts with specialties across a myriad of industries, the team’s collective experience spans across numerous decades, allowing them a unique depth and breadth of understanding when it comes to reviewing different brands and products.

Leaders in their respective fields, the team's expertise ranges from technology and electronics to fashion, luxury goods, outdoor and sports equipment, and even food and beverages. Their years of dedication and acute understanding of their sectors have given them an uncanny ability to discern the most subtle nuances of product design, functionality, and overall quality.

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