30 Interesting Facts About Clocks

A commonplace object like a clock rarely attracts much attention unless it’s something exceptionally expensive or unique. However, the first clock mechanisms were invented in ancient times. Today, much more advanced models have been created to help track time, but classic models operating on mechanical principles remain relevant.

Whether on the wall, on the wrist, or anywhere else, clocks are literally everywhere because time marches on relentlessly, and we try to keep it under control.

Facts About Clocks

1. One of the rarest professions in the world is that of a master who services ancient tower clocks. There are only a few dozen true experts in this field worldwide.
2. A minute is divided into 60 seconds, while a second is divided into a full 1,000 milliseconds.
3. The first clocks were most likely sundials. The oldest examples found by archaeologists in Ancient Egypt are over 3,500 years old.
4. The most accurate clocks in the world are atomic clocks. Their theoretical error is no more than 1 second in 6 million years.
5. A sidereal day is 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.091 seconds. This difference is why we have a leap year to compensate.
6. The direction of the clock hands was chosen because that’s how the shadow of a sundial moves—from left to right.
7. The first wristwatch in the world was made in 1812. Before that, only pocket watches were used for personal needs.
8. Before World War I, wristwatches were considered mainly a women’s accessory.
9. No Las Vegas casino has clocks, and employees are also forbidden from wearing wristwatches. This is done so that customers don’t think about how long they’ve been playing.
10. LED watches were first designed in 1971.
11. The North and South Poles, where all meridians converge, do not belong to any time zone.
12. In Ancient China, around 3,000 years ago, “fire clocks” were invented. These were special sticks soaked in aromatic substances, like candles. They burned at a specific rate, and by the number of divisions remaining, one could determine how much time had passed.
13. The first commercial video advertisement in the world promoted wristwatches.
14. The sand in hourglasses flows faster in cold weather than in hot.
15. The results of the Olympic Games and Formula 1 races are timed using “Tag Heuer” brand watches.
16. Water clocks work on the same principle as hourglasses.
17. The first tower clocks were constructed in Europe in the 14th century.
18. The first clock installed on the tower of the Moscow Kremlin in the 17th century had a rotating dial with a stationary hour hand. There was no minute hand at all.
19. Over 1 billion clocks, including wristwatches, wall clocks, and alarms, are produced worldwide each year.
20. The first alarm clock capable of ringing was invented in 1787. It rang exactly at 4 AM, and the ringing time could not be adjusted.
21. Due to the widespread use of multifunctional smartphones, clocks are increasingly used mainly as stylish accessories or interior items.
22. The most expensive wristwatches are entirely assembled by hand.
23. More than 60% of all clocks in the world are produced in Japan.
24. The cost of the most expensive wristwatches in the world is measured in tens of millions of dollars. Such a high price is primarily due to the exclusivity of the watches themselves and the inlay of precious stones.
25. Perhaps the most interesting are flower clocks. These are created by planting certain types of flowers in flowerbeds, which open and close at the same time of day.
26. If you bite ticking wristwatches and plug your ears, the ticking turns into loud, heavy beats.
27. Digital wristwatches owe their existence to cinema. The popular film “2001: A Space Odyssey” by Stanley Kubrick, often recognized as the best space-themed film of the 20th century, played a key role in popularizing digital watches. The director requested a futuristic watch for the film, which didn’t necessarily need to work, as long as it fit the movie’s theme. The result was a digital watch featured on one of the characters. Following the film’s success, the watch company decided to release the first-ever digital watch model.
28. During the moon landing, American astronauts wore “Omega” brand watches. This company was one of the sponsors of the lunar expedition.
29. The first quartz watch was designed by the Japanese company “Seiko” in 1969.
30. In 1797 in Great Britain, clocks were considered a luxury item, and their owners were subject to an additional tax, which greatly reduced the number of people willing to own personal clocks.