History of Clocks =} =} =}

By Salina Gomez
  • Sundial
    3500 BCE

    Sundial

    First sundials built in Ancient Egypt after they were imported from Babylon, with many ancient structures were built to mark the passage of time and determine arrival of planting season and harvest times.
  • Stonehenge
    2000 BCE

    Stonehenge

    Creation of Stonehenge
  • Burning of oils and candles created
    1400 BCE

    Burning of oils and candles created

    Some cultures mark the passage of time by measuring the time it takes to burn oil, incense and candles.
  • First real proof of sundial existence
    742 BCE

    First real proof of sundial existence

  • sand clocks invented
    300

    sand clocks invented

    Introdution of sand glass clocks
  • Candles with time markings invented
    Jan 1, 885

    Candles with time markings invented

    Candles with time markings introduced to the medieval Europe.
  • Water Clocks (Clepsydra) invented
    Jan 1, 1092

    Water Clocks (Clepsydra) invented

    First mechanical water clock created by Chinese innovator Su Sung.
  • Mechanical Clocks invented
    Jan 1, 1368

    Mechanical Clocks invented

    First mechanical clock makers appeared in England.
  • Mainsprings invented
    Jan 1, 1490

    Mainsprings invented

    •Locksmith Peter Hele invented first mainspring in Nurnburg.
  • Small clocks appeared
    Jan 1, 1500

    Small clocks appeared

    Appearance of first small domestic (table) clocks.
  • Mechanical watches invented
    Jan 1, 1510

    Mechanical watches invented

    First mechanical watch created in German cities of Nuremberg by Peter Henlein. These models were either fastened to belts or carried around the neck and they measured only hours.
  • Jost Burgi invented minutes
    Jan 1, 1577

    Jost Burgi invented minutes

    Jost Burgi invented the minute hand, even though 16th century clocks were very inaccurate
  • Watch protection started

    Watch protection started

    Introduction of protection glass on watches. This finally enabled reliable protection of time dials on the portable small watches
  • Pendulum clocks invented

    Pendulum clocks invented

    Famous Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens created first pendulum controlled clock
  • William Clemet changes the pendulum clock

    William Clemet changes the pendulum clock

    Pendulum clocks received important upgrade with the introduction of pendulum suspension spring introduced by William Clement
  • Electric clocks invented

    Electric clocks invented

    First electric clock was created by Edinburgh clockmaker Alexander Bain.
  • World time zones invented

    World time zones invented

    Standardization of time zones. England received GMT time zone with Greenwich becoming prime meridian for measuring longitude in entire world
  • Modern electric clock invented

    Modern electric clock invented

    First modern electric clock created by Frank Hope-Jones. This clock became base of all modern clocks that are created today
  • People start using radio transmitters

    People start using radio transmitters

    Radio time signals became transmitted from Washington DC to help ships find longitude on open seas
  • Atomic clocks invented

    Atomic clocks invented

    First atomic clock created by United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NITS)
  • Digital watches invented

    Digital watches invented

    The first digital watch, which was made in 1972, was the Pulsar. Manufactured by Hamilton Watch Company. "Pulsar" became a brand name which later became known as Seiko in 1978.
  • Watches start becoming popular

    Watches start becoming popular

    Over half a billion watches are sold every year