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A brief History of Clocks
By Charles Wilkinson

Clocks have been with men for centuries, producing different varieties, shapes and sizes. The production of clocks, which is an integral part of history, is enhanced through time to improve performance and to meet different needs. Although each kind of clocks invented have similar functions, each brings its own unique construction and new features.

The different types of clocks invented each gave way to today's clock making industry. Although nothing is known about the certainty of the clocks' origin, several clocks were used during the modern civilization, which had a huge impact on the history of clock making.

Discover the Different Kinds of Clocks through the Ages

When the ancient civilization disappeared, many believed that the Egyptians were about to invent a system to divide a day into parts, which is similar to hours. During this time, sun clocks were used to know the time of day.

Around 3500 BC, obelisks were constructed geographically and worked by giving people information about the two halves of each day. This kind of clocks worked when the sun moves across the obelisks, casting a shadow to determine night and day.

Water clocks are the first time-keeping device ever documented, which did not use the concept of observing celestial bodies. It was used by ancient Egyptians to determine the hours of the day and night. However, a problem with water clocks was that these devices are not able to give accurate information because their measurement system were based on water flow out of (or into) a specially designed container that had indicators around its sides.

The first Pendulum (mechanical) clock was made by Christian Huygens around late 1650s. Compared to water clocks, the pendulum clock was more accurate, but still had a minor error – it was delayed for less than a minute per day. Although Huygens' invention was still inaccurate, it was defined as a great leap in developing the accuracy of time keeping. This design is still being used on today's wristwatches, but with more accuracy and extra features.

Around 1960s, the quartz clock was developed and was made up of an electronic oscillator and quartz crystal, which is responsible for a more accurate time. Quartz clocks are still being used today because they provide information including number display of time, in units of seconds, minutes and hours.

Other clocks are still being developed today to provide time-keeping accuracy and various features.

Author Details:
Charles Wilkinson, copywriter for various web sites about clocks & watches including The A to Z of and information junkies.

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See also: Watches