The history of watches is fascinating. The first replica watches can be traced back to a watchmaker from Geneva, named Jean-Francois Bautte who began making watches in 1791.  He became a famous watchmaker and was popular at court!  He created the first thin wristwatchs and replica timepieces.  Today we think of vintage wristwatches as being from the 1960’s or earlier.  It is great to give a vintage wrist watch to someone who could appreciate it’s history knowing that the watch had served someone else for years.   Replica and vintage watches make great gifts for the watch collector.
 

The first Rolex watch was invented by Hans Wilsdorf in the early 1900’s.  He made up the name Rolex.  He felt that wrist watches and timepieces were a great growing market and that if he could make a quality watch it would do well.   He was right! He set up his own company and today Rolex watches are some of the finest in the world.  Rolex watches however only account for about 1% of the Swiss watch production.
 

About the same time, the first pocket watches were being made by a company called the Western Clock Manufacturing Company.  These pocket watches were very popular in the early 1900’s and each watch usually had a matching chain or fob that was attached to the inside of the man’s pocket.   Pocket watches continue to be a popular collector’s item.
 

Swiss Army Brand Watches are also a popular type of watch for some watch lovers.  Authentic Swiss Army watches are made in Switzerland.  Like the classic Swiss Army knife, these watches are well known for their performance and design.  Swiss craftsmanship is very exacting and these are also popular gifts for watch lovers.