CHIP
WWF Founder
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Posts: 37,794 
Name: Chip
Location: Dallas
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Post by CHIP on Feb 5, 2013 9:49:45 GMT -6
Here is a question that has bugged me for a while... Given that we have 24 hours in a day, do we know why and when the watch started to have a 12 hours dial? Furthermore, do we know who designed the dial we all use today? Twelve markers, short hand at hour, long hand at minutes? If this is a dumb question please call me out. I can take it!  |
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Baco Noir
WWF Advisor 
WWF Admin
Posts: 31,338
Name: Roger
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Post by Baco Noir on Feb 5, 2013 10:26:36 GMT -6
Good questions, but that's out of my league! Adam, Stan, Buehler, anyone???
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GLADIATOR
WWF Veteran
Owning a vintage watch is great, understanding its place in Horology is MAGNIFICENT!
Posts: 1,849
Since: Jan 22, 2013 17:30:47 GMT -6
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Post by GLADIATOR on Feb 5, 2013 15:25:07 GMT -6
A LONG, LONG time ago
in 45 BC Julius Caesar made the first calendar withLeap Years
BUT
Long before this the Egyptians monitored the suns movements
24 Hrs = 1 day
BUT
Split day and night
And the 'sundial' set the 12 hour day WAY BACK
This is nothing to do with 'mechanics' but our universe and the time it takes for the earth to revolve the sun (actually NOT 24 hrs)
But 12 hours daylight and 12 hours darkness
I will add more
GREAT QUESTION
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Post by timebndit on Feb 5, 2013 19:04:18 GMT -6
great question......and answers
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GLADIATOR
WWF Veteran
Owning a vintage watch is great, understanding its place in Horology is MAGNIFICENT!
Posts: 1,849
Since: Jan 22, 2013 17:30:47 GMT -6
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Post by GLADIATOR on Feb 6, 2013 4:17:20 GMT -6
I add some more
First, as I said the 'sun' is the ultimate and first 'timepiece.'
It was used as early as the 8th to the 10th CENTURY BC!!
It was used with a 'sundial.
The EARLIEST known sundial was Egyptian and is is dated to c.900 BC - its actually in the Berlin Museum
I think it is accepted that first timepieces started about 1530
People also used water (Clepsydra) from 1500 BC, then sand then fire (candles)
BUT they were all based on 24 hours for the earth to revolve round the sun - 12 in daylight and 12 in darkness.
Hope above helps, its NOT 100% scientifically correct, but I think it helps
Regards
Adam
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