Who invented the first automatic (self-winding) watch?
A. For decades, it has been stated, that in 1756 Swiss watchmaker Abraham Louis Perrelet invented a pedometer type watch that wound itself. Just recently, a French historian has contacted me and pointed out his book, where he attributes this mechanical discovery in 1778 to a 30 year old French watchmaker from Lige, Hubert Sarton. I’m not a historical expert, so I’m presenting two sides.
