National Watch Day is observed worldwide every June 19 to celebrate the art and craft of watchmaking, recognizing the transformation of watches from utilitarian timepieces to fashion statements and prestige gifts. Established in 2017 by the American luxury department store Nordstrom, the day acknowledges the long history of watches, which dates back to the 15th century with the invention of the mainspring and the creation of portable timepieces by German clockmaker Peter Henlein. Initially, watches were worn as pendants and later evolved into pocket watches, popularized in the late 17th century. Wristwatches, originally worn by women, gained popularity among men after World War I. The introduction of quartz watches in 1969 revolutionized the industry, and despite the rise of mobile phones, watches have maintained their status as accessories and symbols of prestige, further enhanced by the emergence of smartwatches in the 2010s.