Sports wristwatches are probably the most successful category of timepieces in recent years, but their history is extremely more articulated than what is understood by looking at the more recent past. In fact, wristwatches and sports are a pairing with ancient roots, and we need to go deeper in order to better understand it.
What is really a sports watch? Is it the technical features of sturdiness and water resistance that define it as such or the functions for which it is used?
Initially, watches that were defined as sports were all those that had some connection with sports, that is, chronographs and all instruments that served for measurement of some kind in the sporting environment. The definition with the passage of time has changed partially, and now all timepieces capable of withstanding the stresses of sporting activities and outdoor adventures are defined as such.
Birth of sports watches
The birth of the sports wristwatch coincides with the birth of the men’s wristwatch and can be traced back to Alberto Santos-Dumont’s request to Louis Cartier in 1904 for a watch that was more convenient to consult. The former in fact, a famous aviator, needed an instrument he could consult more easily during his flights and asked his friend for a timepiece that would help him.
Later, with the advent of World War I, even soldiers at the front found the wristwatch more practical, and thus the functional (or sports) watch instead of the pocket watch increased in popularity among men as well.
One of the earliest examples of a sports watch in the modern sense of the word is the Reverso by Jaeger LeCoultre, introduced in the 1930s. The Reverso is known for its unique flip case design, which allows the wearer to turn the watch face to the back of the case to protect it from scratches and other damage during sporting activities. Born from the request of a polo player who wanted to continue wearing his watch during sports but prevent the glass from being broken by accidental bumps, it is now seen as one of the quintessential elegant watches.
Brief history of waterproof watches
When talking about sports models, one of the first features that are considered is water resistance. The history of diver watches is quite recent, dating back to the early 20th century, when the Rolex Oyster, introduced in 1926, became the first waterproof wristwatch. In the 1930s the Omega Marine, a dedicated diver watch, was introduced.
However, it was not until the 1950s that divers became more popular, with the introduction of the Rolex Submariner and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. These watches were designed for use by professional divers and military personnel and boasted water resistance to a depth of at least 100 meters.
Modern sports watches
In the 1970s, a luxury sports watch was first introduced: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Made of steel, it immediately caused a stir because of its even higher price than gold models and its disruptive design.
It was followed shortly thereafter by the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the brainchild of Gerald Genta himself, who certainly needs no introduction, and other luxury sportsmen with integrated bracelets that followed in its wake of success.
Now we come to the maison that everyone identifies as the sports brand par excellence, namely Rolex. Unfortunately, nowadays the products of this brand are only partially extolled for their superlative technical features, which make them perfect sports watches, for all kinds of activities, thus robust, accurate and waterproof. On the contrary, they are mostly remembered for the prestige they give to the wearer, making them status symbols that are little used for the function for which they were designed.
Over the years, however, sports watches have become more and more extreme, with the use of innovative materials and technologies that enable them to withstand shocks, acceleration, and all the stresses that a watch must endure to be suitable for wearing during sports.
Indeed, high-end brands such as Richard Mille and Urwerk are known for their innovative and unique sports wristwatches, which often feature advanced technical features and unusual materials. Richard Mille, founded in 1999, is known for producing watches with negligible weight and resistant to extreme acceleration, making them perfect companions for the great champions of tennis, golf, and racing.
Urwerk, on the other hand, founded in 1997, is known for satellite time indication and futuristic case shapes. However, the feature that makes it by far the most interesting is the winding mode, which allows you to choose between full, reduced and manual automatic modes. This thus allows you to avoid over-winding the movement and preserve it in case you have it on during intense activities, limiting the problems that a violently moving oscillating mass can give.
In addition, the Geneva-based company has introduced a complication that indicates charging efficiency in the past two hours, allowing us to choose the most suitable charging mode based on our activities.
Our opinion
In recent years, smartwatches have also become popular as an alternative to traditional sports wristwatches. Smartwatches come with a number of features that make them suitable for sports activities, including GPS, heart rate monitoring, and fitness tracking. Many smartwatches are also water-resistant, making them suitable for swimming and other water sports.
In general, sports wristwatches have evolved over the years to meet the needs of athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, with a wide range of brands offering various styles and features to suit different preferences and activities.
Of course, it often depends on what kind of sport one is doing, as all team and contact sports do not allow the use of a watch because of the real risk of being dangerous to oneself and others in the event of confrontations.
Whether you are looking for a classic mechanical watch, a modern smartwatch or a high-end luxury watch, there is a sports wristwatch for you, and we invite you to write to us in the comments what your idea of a sports watch is, and whether you actually use it during your activities!
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