|
|
|
The Watch Is A Lot Older Than You May Think
by Gregg Hall As early as the 1300s, timepieces became all the rage. These crude early models required the wearer to wind up the spring mechanism that kept the watch hands moving. While this technology was relatively accurate, there was plenty of room for improvement.
In this wind up watch, spinning the watch's wind up mechanism caused a spring to tighten. As it loosened, an object called an oscillator began turning the gears that attached to the post that made the watch hands move. Gears prevented the watch hands from moving too rapidly.
Oddly enough, this technology would last for more than six centuries. With all the advancements in technology, it would not be until the 1960s that battery operated watches replaced wind up watches.
In the 1960s, quartz crystals were being used in computers, radio transmitters, and radio receivers. Quartz crystals had tremendous electrical properties that were emitted when the quartz crystal heated up. Scientists began to question if these electrical properties could be used to operate a watch. Early models proved to be highly successful, and better at keeping accurate time than older, wind up watches.
A new problem existed, however. How could watch makers fit a shard of quartz crystal into the average watch and still have room for the necessary battery?
To make the new style of watch work, a battery would create heat that caused the quartz crystal to vibrate. The vibrations of the quartz crystal transferred to the other components. This caused the gears to slowly turn which operated the watch hands. To fit a battery, the crystal had to be carefully designed.
The quartz crystal was trimmed down so that it represented a fork. The fork shaped quartz crystal was then placed underneath the compartment that housed the battery. This allowed the quartz crystal to heat up and begin the watch's operations.
From that day on, the watches people wear are commonly powered by a tiny shard of quartz crystal. The crystal will continue working as long as the shard is not allowed to come into contact with dirt or body oils. This can cause a quartz crystal to fail gaining the appropriate charge of energy.
Watches have come a long way from their early beginnings. Who knows, in fifty to one hundred years, watches may be powered by wind, water, or even a person's natural movements.
People from all walks of life wear watches. Wrist watches help a person to keep time so that he or she is on time for meetings, appointments, games, concerts, and a slew of other events that require prompt attendance. Without a few technological advancements, we would still be stuck winding up our watches on a daily basis. It makes one glad they live in today's society! Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as Fossil watches online at http://www.worldofwatchesonline.com
|
|
How Advances In Technology Have Affected Watches Over The Years
by Gregg Hall Without a watch faithfully telling people the exact time, many men and women feel naked. While walking down any street, count how many people are wearing watches compared to those without. A watch is the one thing that guarantees you are always on time for any meeting, appointment, or other event.
Technology is forever changing. With the advancements in technology, you will discover that watches also come with many interesting new features. While you can select your watch on appearance alone, it might be nice to select a watch that also offers a unique function that can help you with your daily routine. Despite the advancements in technology, you may be surprised to learn the history of watches. Battery operated watches are not as current as one might think.
In the fourteenth century, watches involved winding the motorized mechanism every day. Batteries were not used. Forgetting to wind the clock meant you would have to reset the time. Watches in the fourteenth century worked off a spring, oscillator, dial, watch hands, and gears.
The watch battery was not used until the 1960s. The popular watchmaker, Bulova, came up with a transistor oscillator that ran off the juice of a battery. Many found this new design to be easier to use, though it still posed many troublesome issues.
To run off battery power, the timing element on a watch had to be redesigned in order to fit in the necessary battery. Quartz crystals had been used in computers and radio equipment for years, so they were tested in watches and found to be excellent at keeping accurate time. With this troublesome issue resolved, manufacturers could produce watches with quartz timing.
When heated, quartz produces an electric charge. This charge creates the movement needed to turn the mechanisms that help keep proper time.
The quartz is carved into the shape of a tuning fork. The fork shaped crystal gives off a mild frequency that vibrates the other components causing them to move. One problem with quartz tuning is that no dust, dirt, or oils from hands can get on the crystal or it will fail to work effectively. It is essential that you not touch the inner mechanisms of your watch to keep it running efficiently.
The frequency emitted by the crystal can also power the circuits on a digital watch. Digital watches are increasingly popular due to their range of styles and colors. The watches appeal to young and old alike.
With ever changing advancements in watch technology, who knows what may be powering watches in years to come. Water, solar, even air could become potential power options for your wrist timepiece. The limits are endless. Therefore, be on the look out for new forms of time keeping in the near future! Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as Fossil Watches at http://www.worldofwatchesonline.com
|
|
