Peter Henlein ( or Henle or Hele ) ( 1479\/1480 -- August 1542 ) , was a locksmith and watchmaker from Nuremberg . He is often said to be the inventor of the watch . Peter Henlein ( or Heinlein or Henle or Hele ) ( 1479\/1480 -- August 1542 ) , a locksmith and watchmaker from Nuremberg , is often considered the inventor of the portable timekeeper , making him the inventor of the watch , but this claim is disputed .