American watch factories went dark for decades, though their legacy lives on through the family heirloom watches crafted a century ago that continue to tick faithfully today. The fall of legendary watchmakers like Elgin, Illinois, Hamilton, and Waltham signaled the end of an era. Only one company managed to survive the collapse of the American pocket watch market - the Waterbury Clock Company, which you now know as Timex. In time, a number of American innovations found their way into Swiss watchmaking factories, widening the global footprint of American watchmaking techniques.Īmerican watchmakers fell on tough times during World Wars I and II, and most American brands failed to shift when the market demanded wristwatches instead of pocket watches. While many in the global timepiece industry turned their nose up at the Yankees shaking up the watch market, the Swiss wisely took notice. Harnessing this technology, Aaron Dennison launched the Waltham Watch Company in 1854 and built the first 100% American-made watch. Thanks to American engineers who pioneered advanced machinery capable of cutting metal parts, American factories were able to manufacture premium watches on a mass-production scale. The first large-scale watch factories emerged in Waltham, Massachusetts - a natural birthplace as the area was the hotbed of the industrial revolution. A Brief History of American Watchmakingĭisappointed with the poor quality of European watches that made their way across the Atlantic, demand for well-built pocket watches launched the American watchmaking revolution in the 1850s. The United States manufactured millions of these heirloom-quality pocket watches during the golden age of American watchmaking, and the movements were built so well they’re still ticking today. In fact, there was a time when American watches gave the Swiss a run for their money.ĭon’t believe us? Check the dial on your great-grandfather’s pocket watch and you’ll likely find the name of an American watchmaker. This may come as a surprise, but Swiss and Japanese watches aren’t the only names in the game. We’ve entered the renaissance of American watchmaking. We may earn a commission when you book or purchase through our links. We research, evaluate and select travel destinations based on a number of factors, including our writers’ experience, user reviews and more.
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