Origin of the Wristwatch
During the nineteenth century and early, men used pocket watches. Pocket watches had covers and required opening to read the time. These were usually adorned with a watch fob or chain and placed in fold of clothing. An early form of the wristwatch appeared in womens fashion. However, it was deemed a short term fancy and never truly caught on.
1914 saw the start of World War I. The military required synchronization of infantry and artillery attacks, timed naval movement and other rigid schedule keeping. The pocket watch became problematic to carry, withdraw, open and read during the stress of combat. Leather straps were used to lash the watch to the wrist, becoming improvised wristwatches. The wristwatch was so successful it gain rapid and wide accept in the military. Men returning from war continued the practice. Thus the wristwatch supplanted the pocket watch.