Peter Henlein

Germany, 1485 – 1542

Peter Henlein was a horologist and locksmith who worked in Nuremberg. Around the year 1510, he invented the mainspring, which improved the accuracy of his clocks. Henlein is widely credited as the inventor of the portable timepiece. His pocket clocks, which were shaped like small boxes and could be hung from a belt, are considered the forerunners of the pocket watch. However, it is debatable whether Henlein’s clocks were the first of their kind, as there is no evidence to support this claim. Despite this, Henlein is widely regarded as the inventor.