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Story: Timekeeping

Miss Ryan and her wristwatch

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Miss Ryan and her wristwatch

By the early 1900s wristwatches, often imported from the United States, were becoming increasingly common in New Zealand. This stylish Auckland woman, posing for the photographer in 1909, made sure the watch on her wrist would impress.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau

Reference: 31-56125

by Herman John Schmidt

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Timekeeping – Time and society, 1870s–1930s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6699/miss-ryan-and-her-wristwatch (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.