Toolwatch, a watch built for adventure

While researching watches, you may have heard or seen timepieces called "Toolwatches", but do you know the history of this type of watch? The "Toolwatch" is a special type of timepiece. In this article, Team Charlie Paris explains what is meant by "Toolwatch" and gives you its characteristics.

Toolwatch, serve without fail

A toolwatch is a watch that is designed to last, to withstand many trials and to be easily repaired. In the history of watchmaking, the Toolwatch was designed for military men, explorers and adventurers. In these conditions, the Toolwatch must serve without fail. Nowadays, the Toolwatch is an everyday tool, a type of watch that aims to accompany you everywhere and every day. With the advent of digital technology in recent years, the Toolwatch has been accompanied by electronics and connected watches are appearing more and more. However, for the big luxury houses, the Toolwatch with automatic mechanical movement has become a true authentic jewel that shows a certain spirit of adventure that is highly prized by connoisseurs.  At Charlie Paris, we share this vision of the Toolwatch: a sport watch with vintage style and impeccable technical features that conveys an imaginary sense of adventure.

Focus on the origins of the toolwatch:

• The tool watch is an ancient concept that began with women in the 16th and 17th centuries. Queen Elizabeth I of England and Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples were both given a tool wristwatch designed to tell the time. At that time, the most common watches were pocket watches and were worn in the pocket. It is with the arrival of the war that the wristwatches spread among the people and ceased to be the privilege of royalty. This marks the beginning of the wristwatch tool and the military are the first to adopt this type of watch, at the end of the nineteenth century, which is more functional than a fob watch.
  

• It was not until 1904 that the first modern wristwatch was designed by Louis Cartier and laid the foundations of the tool wristwatch. This watch was intended for pilots and was designed to be read at a glance. Following Cartier's innovation, other manufacturers such as Omega or Rolex create new iconic models that can be worn on the wrist and be adapted to marine navigation, divers or polo match.

• Following these innovations, the tool watch experiences a second period, until the late 1960s. At this time, the mechanical watch reigns and the concept of the toolwatch matures. Many watch brands developed new watch models, but it was the technological advances that would shape the toolwatch we know today. From then on, the toolwatch was no longer content to simply tell the time, but added numerous functionalities designed to satisfy the needs of its customers. The heart of the tool watch at that time was a mechanical movement.

• In 1969, Seiko introduced the first quartz watch for men. This novelty offers a more resistant, precise and cheap watch, which will come to cause the famous quartz crisis. The toolwatch is then influenced and transformed by this crisis. The emergence of quartz in the 80's favored the emergence of resistant and very precise watches, which is why toolwatches are generally quartz watches. Other technological advances such as the emergence of light-emitting diode or liquid crystal display, allow the tool watch to become electronic. As you can see, the toolwatch today is a digital multifunction wristwatch. However, there is another form of toolwatch, the one that relies on tradition and on the nostalgia of past expeditions.

The characteristics of a Toolwatch

A Toolwatch must be solid, time-proof and nature-proof. Most often, it is a watch with three hands and not necessarily with date. Indeed, a Toolwatch is often simple in its functions in order to be easily readable and especially resistant. The more complications there are on a watch, the more fragile it will be. The Toolwatch is therefore known to be solid and that is why it most often uses materials such as steel or titanium. The glass of the watch must also be solid, sapphire glass is often used. Water, air and earth are the three elements that put the performance and reliability of a tool watch to the test. The Toolwatch must withstand water, pressure, and temperature changes, both sudden and extreme. The Toolwatch must also be readable in the dark, which is why on analog watches you will find Luminova on the hands and indexes.

Concordia, the adventurer's watch according to Charlie Paris 

With its chic yet rugged look, our Concordia toolwatch is a watch made for men looking for adventure in their daily lives. Our Toolwatch Concordia accompanied Matthieu Tordeur, who became the first Frenchman and the youngest explorer to ski from the coast of the Antarctic continent (Hercules Inlet) to the South Pole. That's 1150 km alone, without assistance and in total autonomy. The Concordia is therefore intended for watchmaking and adventure enthusiasts. The Concordia has been designed and assembled in France as a tool to be worn every day and for ever. It is non-magnetic, waterproof to a depth of 300 meters and can withstand extreme temperatures. The Concordia is Charlie Paris' vision of Toolwatch!

The Concordia is a solid tool watch with quality components.

• We use 316L steel for its case, an alloy known for its durability and also its high resistance to corrosion.
• The Concordia's glass is a curved sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating of 3mm thickness. This type of glass is very difficult to break and scratch.
• Finally, the hands and indexes are luminescent in Super-LumiNova.

This watch exists with a quartz or automatic movement. The automatic Concordia also has a unidirectional rotating bezel. This waterproof, robust, precise and dark-readable watch is suitable for all situations. The design of the Concordia has been thought to be both sporty and elegant. For a Concordia with a sporty look, opt for a blue, black, green, grey or beige nylon strap. This tough, waterproof strap is ideal for a ToolWatch. However, our interchangeable strap system allows you to adapt your Concordia to any situation. For an evening out or a dressier outfit, opt for a leather strap to add a touch of elegance to your watch.