MARITIME TRIVIA ON WATCH

1. What is older - the first Rolex or the first Mickey Mouse watch?
Your Answer: rolex
In 1908, German businessman Hans Wilsdorf created the Rolex Watch Company. Contrary to popular belief, Herr Wilsdorf was neither Swiss nor a watchmaker, and the name of his company is meaningless. In 1933, the Ingersoll Watch Company issued the first Mickey Mouse watch.



2. Men seldom wore wristwatches until this historical event made them more acceptable as a masculine item of jewelry. What was it?
The correct answer was World War One.
Soldiers going off to war could not very well carry pocket watches on a fob in their uniforms. British men began wearing wristwatches for convenience during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) and one company began to advertise their particular timepiece as "The most reliable timekeeper in the world for Gentlemen going on active service or for rough wear."



3. The 'doohickey' inside of a watch that holds the crystal in place is known as a ________________?
The correct answer was Bezel.
'Bezel' comes from the Old French word 'biseau' meaning 'border.' Contemporary watches have very decorative bezels, often made of gold and precious gems.



4. The Casio 'Pathfinder' watch was the first one to feature what remarkable function?
The correct answer was A built-in Global Positioning System.
In 1999, Casio introduced the $500 'Pathfinder' watch. The GPS function was rather primitive, but workable. GPS watches have evolved over the years and are now very useful to explorers, sailors, and other wandering types.



5. Which of the following is NOT a style of Rolex?
The correct answer was Peregrine.
Other Rolex styles include the "President", the "Oyster Perpetual Sea Dweller", the "Datejust", and the "Daytona." The latter bauble could set you back $15,000 or more.



6. What is the origin of the word "watch"?
The correct answer was It refers to the length of time that a sentry stands guard or a ship's crew is on duty.
Derived from the Old English 'woeccan' (alternatively, the Old German word 'wakojan'), the term 'watch' means to 'stay awake." A 'watchman' reminded people of the time in order for them to maintain a schedule.



7. In what James Bond film did his Rolex Submariner feature a rotating bezel that served as a cutting saw and helped him escape from a pool of man-eating sharks...with Jane Seymour?
The correct answer was Live And Let Die.
Roger Moore played 007 for the first time and 'Q' gave him a tricked-out Rolex which he used to good effect. In one scene, he used the electromagnet in the watch to unzip Solitaire Caruso's dress, and, later on, the built-in buzzsaw bezel helped them both escape from Katanga's shark pool.



8. In 1979, Swiss watchmakers Vacheron Constantin produced the 'Kallista.' What is unique about this watch?

The correct answer was Its initial price was $5 million, making it the most expensive watch available to the (very rich) public.
This jewel-encrusted geegaw featured 118 emerald-cut diamonds, all of them top quality gems. Today, if one is unlikely to be offered for sale, the asking price would be well over $11 million.



9. People who collect watches and clocks are known as what?
The correct answer was Horologists.
'Chronology' is the listing of historical time periods; 'Chronometry' is the science of timekeeping. 'Horology' is derived from the Latin word 'hora' meaning 'hour.' 'Timeology' springs from my fertile imagination.



10. "Say, kids, what time is it?" asked Buffalo Bob. What would the kids would yell back?
The correct answer was It's Howdy Doody time.
The popularity of "The Howdy Doody Show" (1947-1960) made it a hit in many countries, including Canada, where a young actor would occasionally fill in as Ranger Bob (the Canadian version of Buffalo Bob). His name? William Shatner.