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watchmaker · 3 March 2009, 03:37 AM

I have noticed in a few posts that people give Rolex credit, and indeed Rolex profess to have invented the selfwinding watch.

Just thought I would point out it was old technology when Rolex got their hands on it.

Abraham-Louis Perrelet invented a self-winding mechanism in 1770 which was then improved upon by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1780. While these were for pocket watches, am man called John Harwood desiged a bumper mechanism for wristwatches in 1923.

It wasnt until 1930 that Rolex got their hands on it and made a prototype that became the commonly used automatic work.

3 March 2009, 03:37 AM	#1
watchmaker TechXpert Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Scott Location: London Posts: 2,240	Automatic Work (Selfwinding Wristwatch) I have noticed in a few posts that people give Rolex credit, and indeed Rolex profess to have invented the selfwinding watch. Just thought I would point out it was old technology when Rolex got their hands on it. Abraham-Louis Perrelet invented a self-winding mechanism in 1770 which was then improved upon by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1780. While these were for pocket watches, am man called John Harwood desiged a bumper mechanism for wristwatches in 1923. It wasnt until 1930 that Rolex got their hands on it and made a prototype that became the commonly used automatic work.