Clocks come in various forms, such as sand clocks, wristwatches, wall clocks, and they come in different shapes and colors. But they all share one important feature – they show us time, which is indispensable to our daily lives. However, do you know everything there is to know about clocks beyond their timekeeping function?
1. The first clocks were created by the Egyptians around 1500 BC.
2. The Egyptians divided the day into two 12-hour periods and used large obelisks to track the movement of the sun.
3. The earliest known clocks with water-driven mechanisms, which converted rotational energy into intermittent movements, date back to the 3rd century BC in Ancient Greece.
4. Chinese engineers later invented clocks that incorporated mercury-driven mechanisms in the 10th century, and then Arab engineers invented water clocks powered by gears and weights in the 11th century.
5. The first mechanical clocks, which used a verge escapement mechanism with a foliot or balance wheel, were invented in Europe around the early 14th century.
6. Mechanical clocks became widespread in the 14th century when they were used in medieval monasteries to maintain a regulated schedule of prayers.
7. Astronomical clocks began to be made in the 14th century. Astronomical clocks are clocks with special mechanisms and dials for displaying astronomical information, such as the relative position of the Sun, Moon, zodiac constellations, and sometimes major planets. The Prague Astronomical Clock is located on the Old Town Hall in Prague and is the oldest still-working intact example of its kind. The astronomical dial and mechanical clock were constructed and installed in 1410.
8. The invention of the mainspring in the early 15th century allowed for the construction of portable clocks, evolving into the first pocket watches by the 17th century. However, they were not very accurate until the balance spring was added to the balance wheel in the mid-17th century.
9. Pendulum clocks were invented in 1656 by Dutch scientist and inventor Christiaan Huygens and patented the following year. Huygens contracted clockmaker Salomon Coster to actually build the clocks.
10. Electric clocks were patented in 1840. The development of electronics in the 20th century led to the creation of clocks that operate without any winding parts.
11. Atomic clocks were invented after World War II in 1955. These are clocks that use the resonant frequencies of atoms as their resonator.
12. Clocks without a striking mechanism are traditionally known as silent clocks, a term sometimes used by clockmakers and other specialists to describe devices such as ordinary wristwatches.
13. Clocks used for highly accurate timekeeping are usually called chronometers.
14. The world’s oldest surviving working clock is the faceless clock dating back to 1386.
15. The Duc d’Orleans Breguet Symapthique Clock is the most expensive clock ever sold at an auction for $6.8 million.
16. The tallest clock in the world is located at the height of 229 meters on the top of the Federation Tower “West“, Moscow, Russia. The clocks were activated on April 24, 2008.
17. The largest collection of clocks belongs to Jack Schoff, who has collected 1,509 different working clocks since 2003 as of February 8, 2010. All the clocks are displayed in his house.
18. In the 18th century, the first store of the well-known brand Breguet was opened.
19. During World War I, people started wearing wristwatches for convenience. It was much more practical and easier to wear them on the wrist.
20. In the
