Hobbies And Interests
Digital History
A digital watch displays the time in an LED (light-emitting diode) display. This timepiece first appeared in 1972, and became more common the 1980s, according to bbc.co.uk.
Wind Watch History
Wind-up, or manual, watches have been produced since the 16th century, first as pocket watches and by the 20th century as wristwatches.
Digital Function
Digital watches contain an electronic quartz movement, which requires power from a battery that must be replaced every 3 to 4 years.
Manual Function
Manual watches are mechanical timepieces that must be wound daily to operate over a 24-hour period. It needs no battery as a power source, according to Timezone.com.
Digital Versus Wind
Digital watches are more accurate than wind models by virtue of the digital's electronic movement. Wind-up analog watches are generally vintage watches produced before 1980.
Bottom Line
Digital watches were popular in the 1970s, but have since fallen behind analogs in popularity. Many watches now feature combined analog and digital functions. Wind watches need no batteries, but must be serviced every 5 years.