#Unique clocks portable#

During Renaissance times, turret-form or table clocks were considered scientific marvels that were reserved for only the wealthiest. This not only allowed timekeeping to be brought in the home, but it also gave artisans the chance to showcase their technical and artistic talents in these increasingly luxurious mechanisms.

#Unique clocks portable#

Soon, the desire to make clocks smaller, more portable and user-friendly spurred the creation of the spring-driven clock in the 1400s. German Renaissance Turret Clock, circa 1620 They lacked faces or hands and simply struck the hours for all to hear. Known as a turret clock, these mechanisms were large, cumbersome, weight-driven devices that were placed in tall building towers, or turrets, in the center of town. The first known example that resembles what we think of as a clock set was built by a clockmaker in the town of Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, England in 1283. The era experienced a renewed interest in science and the arts which led to the eventual development of more practical, precise and beautiful timekeeping devices.

The mechanical clock is perhaps one of the most important inventions to emerge from the Renaissance. By aligning the cane open at true north, the user can approximate the local time in relation to the sun’s position. While this exciting walking stick dates to the early 20th century, the technology used by its system is ancient.

Read on to learn more about a few unique clocks across the history of timekeeping. Even the word clock emerged in the 1300s based on the French word cloche, meaning bell. Though accurate, these elaborate timepiece mechanisms were often very cumbersome and required that an individual constantly monitor the timekeeping device day and night.īut it wasn’t until the 14th century that clocks, as we know them today, became popular. These early clocks eventually found their way to Europe, where they were used until the end of the 13th century. In the Mid- and Far East, water clocks were quite popular, and they worked on a concept of water displacement, with a particular amount of displaced water indicating a specific amount of time. Obelisks found much earlier than the first sundials could have also been used as sundials. Of course, the use of sundials was dependent upon the sun shining, making it impossible to tell time on overcast days or at night. The oldest known sundial dates to 1500 BC in Ancient Egypt. Incredibly, today’s base-60 time system, 60-seconds and 60-minutes, dates back to ancient Sumeria in 2000 B.C. From there, inventions and revelations continued - sundials, water clocks and candle clocks formed the earliest versions of time telling. The people of ancient civilizations closely studied celestial bodies to understand the passage of time. Since the dawn of the first humans, man’s fascination with time has been undeniable.