The watch was invented to tell time. However, many people today take this gadget for granted. As we move deeper into the digital age, less of the younger generation wear watches. In a recent survey, only 37.2% of young people aged 16 to 34 used their watches to tell the time. Over 30% of the respondents in the survey saw watches as either fashion statements or pieces of jewelry.
This is understandable considering that more than two thirds of the adults in the US own a smartphone and many of them depend on their phones to carry out many tasks. However, if you’re in the 70% that understands the importance of having a high-quality time piece, then you’re probably trying to decide which watch to purchase.
There are various types of watches in the market. You can get great deals on watches of different kinds online from DailySale. However, the LED Watch stands out for being the watch that set the ball rolling for modern smart watches. LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode. The term refers to the slabs of silica that are used for the watch display. The technology was the result of several years of research into semiconductors in the 1960s.
The First of Its Kind
The first watch that used LED technology was developed and launched by the Hamilton Company. This was the first watch that did not feature any moving parts. It was fully electronic. The time was displayed by pushing on the crown of the watch. This resulted in the production of a small electrical current which would flow through a semiconductor diode.
This watch, known as the Pulsar, came with an 18 carat gold case and was sold at $2,100 apiece. This was the price that a Chevrolet Vega sold for during the same period.
The development of the Pulsar was inspired by a request to Hamilton Company by Stanley Kubrick. He wanted the company to develop a digital clock for his film 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was released in 1968.
The Pulsar was an instant hit. The first 400 hundred watches that were produced in 1972 were sold almost immediately. However, because the circuitry was found unreliable, many of the watches were later withdrawn.
However, with a few corrections, the watch was back in the market. It became one of the biggest watch successes in the US with over 10,000 watches selling every month. The likes of Henry Ford and US President Nixon were seen sporting the watch. Even the Shah of Iran and celebrities like Jerry Lewis and Roger Moore couldn’t resist the pull of the fully electronic time piece.
The Rise of Competition
Following the success of the Pulsar, foreign companies begun developing and distributing different types of LED watches. By 1975, there were more than 80 different models and types available in the market. The competition meant that the price of the watches was driven down. 1977 saw the introduction of the first LCD watch and even greater competition for LED watches.
LED watches remain one of the most convenient ways to tell time. Modern designs make the watch even more cutting-edge. If you’re looking for a convenient and affordable time piece that will also help you make a fashion statement, LED watches are the best option.
