Timepieces

The term timepiece can refer to any device used for measuring time, including watches, clocks, and earlier devices such as the hourglass and the sundial. An amazing variety of timepieces have been produced throughout the ages, reflecting the ever-increasing importance of time and its measurement to humans in many different cultures.

Timepieces have long been recognized for their practical application. They have also been prized for their historical and artistic value, as can be noted by the preservation of antique timepieces in museums and their appeal as collectables. Early clocks—mosdy affordable only by the wealthy—were often constructed of valuable materials and sometimes had unusual features such as animation.

But the concept of time, as well as the need to measure it, was likely not recognized by prehistoric humans. They relied on natural changes that they could observe—daylight and dark and seasonal changes—adjusting to them to ensure their survival. In that sense the celestial clock can be described as the initial natural timekeeper.

The first commonly used artificial timepiece was the sundial, which enabled the measurement of time by the sun's movements. Its use began as early as 3500 BCE, with the invention of the gnomon, angled so that a shadow would be cast on a base marked with the hours.

An increased emphasis on accurate time measurement can be traced to the Renaissance period, and that emphasis appears to be tied very closely to the social, business, and scientific advancements seen during that time. The earliest known clocks were turret clocks in towers, striking only the hour. An example can still be seen in Britain's Salisbury Cathedral clock. In the 15th century, clocks driven by springs were developed, enabling more portability. The mid-17th century marked the first use of the pendulum, the concept of which has been attributed to Galileo Galilei.

In 1840, the spring and pendulum were still in use when the first battery electric clock was invented. A completely battery-driven clock was developed in 1906, and domestic use became common. The first use of the quartz crystal in 1929 allowed for even greater accuracy, and it is still used in most clocks and watches today.

[Page 1350]Eventually it was commonly agreed that there needed to be some standardization of time so that it could be accurately measured over all the parts of the globe. The system of Greenwich mean time, dividing the world into 24 time zones, was agreed upon as an international standard in 1884. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) has been used for scientific purpose since 1972. The most accurate clocks in existence today are the atomic clocks used by the United States Naval Observatory.

For most of mankind's existence, time has been the main measurement that people make on a regular basis. The ability to keep track of time accurately in today's fast-paced world with its increasingly international connections has become even more important. As new timepieces continue to be invented, human beings will continue to acquire them. At the same time, it's not surprising that historical timepieces generate considerable interest.