You should be familiar with some terminology before you learn about watches. Horology is the art of making clocks, watches and other devices for telling time and it is also the study/science of measuring time. An effort has been made to measure time since man appeared on earth.
Using candles marked at intervals, tracking the sun in the sky, oil lamps with marked reservoirs, and hour/sandglasses are some of the ways in which time was measured. Cords with knots were use as well as small metal or stone mazes filled with incense that burned at a certain rate. Water clocks did not rely upon the watching of the sky or of the sun.
Around 1500 B.C. the earliest water clock was found in Amenhotep's tomb. They were called Clepsydras by the Greeks and were stone containers with sloped sides that allowed water to drip through a small whole in the bottom at a continuous rate. Cylindrically and bowl shaped containers that allow water to slowly fill up with water at a steady pace are also Clepsydras.
Hours were indicated by the markings on the inside of the bowl. This was used predominantly at night but it is believed they were used in the day hours as well. A bowl made of metal with a hole in the bottom was inside a larger bowl filled with water. It would fill up and it would then sink in a certain amount of time. Water flow was unpredictable and difficult to control accurately so timepieces that depended on water were very inaccurate.
People were desirous of developing more accurate ways of measuring and telling time. Creating a frequency was dependent upon the size, shape and temperature of the crystal in the development of quartz crystal clocks and time pieces. Still popular today are quartz crystal clocks and watches.
Most people can afford them and although they tend to be slightly off of the correct time, they work well for the price. No minute hand was on the first watches but they did have natural movement.
Every twelve hours they required winding. Originally watches were worn for adornment rather than functionality. Weights in portable timepieces were not practical. From the beginning man's goal has been to measure time and a time line will show you how watches have to gottten to be what they are today There are new functions on watches.
They have stop watches, times across time zones, the date and the time. Some kind of an alarm is put in most watches. I can really see the Dick Tracy kind of watch being real, the possibilities are endless. Although some of the years might not be in chronological order but they are as close as possible. Learning how watches have developed is very interesting.
It is incredible when I think of how smart and technical the minds of the people who had their hand in inventing watches. The driving power of timepieces prior to 1600, were balanced weights and it was a huge problem. This created difficulty in carrying them around. Henlien was paid fifteen Florins in 1524 for a gilt-musk apple with a watch. This, in fact, is earliest date known of watch production.
Watches that were probably French or German appeared in 1548. Swiss and English products began to show up in 1575. The was the time when the most advancements and innovation. The first watch movements were made of steel and then later of brass. These straight verge watches had no balance and were awfully inaccurate. The was the introduction of the use of spiral-leaf main springs.
The power of movement without hanging weights was allowed. These timepieces were not continually accurate. 1600 through 1675 was called the age of decoration. Rather than being practical watches developed into decorative pieces of jewelry.
Tambour cylinder cases were changed to a circular case with hinged, domed covers on the front and back. Two types of case Champleve Enamel and relieved cases filled with colored enamel appeared. Glass crystals were fitted to the cases as an alternate choice to metal opaque covers in 1620. The owner was able to see the time without removing the cover because the glass is clear. The cover needed to be removed in order to see the time and/or set the watch.
Plain watches came out of the Puritan movie in 1625. Fancy shapes and adornments were seen mostly on ladies' watches after 1660. The first uses of spiral balance springs in watches occurred in 1675. The accuracy of a time piece was now being measured in fractions of minutes not fractions of hours. A dial was created by watchmakers that had a minute hand and was divided by minutes because of the increased accuracy.
Charles II in 1675 introduced waistcoats with pockets. Men now carried their watches not on a pendant but in their pockets. 1704 was the year Dullier and Debeaigre developed the method of using jewels as bearings. Sully determined in 1715 that creating a small sink around each hole would retain the oil because of the surface tension.
Finding a large diamond endstone in the cock was common in 1725. 1750 saw the beginning of putting watchmaker's names on the dials, it had never been done. A clock made by John Harrison in 1761, that was so accurate they used it during sea voyages to measure longitude. In 1775 Champleve is now rare.
Self-winding watches began to be produced by Purrelet. These watches made by Rareguel, were produced in 1780. The pocket chronometer in 1800 was readily available and an extremely accurate watch. The first one who in 1814 used a push or pump with a rack that operated by pushing the pendant that turned on a ratchet basic or going bowl was Massey.
The first to use mass production was the United States in 1850 and got mixed results. Advances were made in metallurgy in1900. The introduction of the balance spring on the first verge watch was made at this time. Watches powered by batteries became available in 1952. Since 1970 electronic watches have been very successful. Watches today use quartz crystals, and even atomic power.
Advances in the field of Horology are being made all the time and time tracking has never been more accurate.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the technology that has scientists, archaeologists, historians and computer game fans excited all at once. An international team of experts has unveiled a 'virtual Rome' program, the worlds biggest and most complex computer simulation of what the ancient city was like in 320 AD, under the rule of Constantine. An era considered to be the most powerful peak Rome experienced during ancient times.
The project, a culmination of ten years of work and a collaberation of experts in architecture, archaeology and computer programmers from the United States, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom, was introduced in June this year under the title of 'Rome Reborn'. It's a digital, interractive model of the city that features more than 7,000 buildings and structures, which the viewer can enter and explore in real-time 3D animation.
At the unveiling, Bernard Frischer, project deveoper said 'This is the first step in the creation of a virtual time machine, which our children and grandchildren will use to study the history of Rome and many other great cities around the world.'
The mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni has also praised the project, saying 'It's a fascinating experience, re-created with all the necessary historical and philological care. In other words, it will allow us to to be in the Roman Forum and understand the context we are in.'
To create the program, digital pictures were taken of the Plastico di Roma Antica, a 16 x 17 meter sized plaster model which was built in 1934-74 and is currently on display at the Museum of Roman Civilization. These images were combined with information from laser scans taken of whats left of the remains of these buildings today. Ancient maps and building catalogues were also used by the project developers to reproduce buildings like apartments, houses, and shops as accurately as possible.
Each site that features in the program is accredited by independant 'recognised authorities'. These authorities are historians and archaeologists who have worked on each particular site over many years and are considered industry experts, to ensure these ancient sites are portrayed accurately, according to the evidence which exists to date.
The project website expains however, that the project has been produced in such a way that it can be updated should future evidence or archaeological findings determine innaccuracies in the model. 'The model is a representation of the state of our knowledge (and implicitly, of our ignorance) about the urban topography of ancient Rome at various periods of time.'
The $2 million project at this early stage, allows viewers to navigate their way around the city by using simple keyboard controlls. They can enter buildings including the Colosseum, the Senate, the Forum and Temple of Venus, even private residences to examine details of the interior including frescoes and decorative details of the buildings.
At the Colosseum for example, the arena floor, and seating areas can be viewed, as well as the underground chambers onced used to house wild animals caught and stabled for public events such as gladiator matches. One can even view the operation of elevators used to move the animals into the area from their holding cells.
Selected sites are accompanied by text descriptions about details of the site such as it's history and structural points of interest, which can also be expanded as new information comes to hand.
Developers have pointed to several uses for the program, which is already available to industry proffesionals for further research and study.
According to Frischer, '3D modeling is the natural evolution of archaeological research, allowing possibilities for studies on light accoustics, and ventilation, and other aspects of structural engineering techniques used in ancient times.'
He explains that even for the experts who's life work involves the study and analysis of ancient cities, viewing their project sites in 3D forces them to consider details like this about the sites that they havent in the past.
A purpose built theatre at the UCLA provides access to the model on a 24 x 9ft screen that gives 160 degree views of the program when viewed with 3D glasses, but those of us at home interested in the project can view samples of the simulation through the internet. The developers hope that the project will expand to include other ancient cities around the world, and be available for purposes like education, and even commercial uses like a 'home study' kit for tourists planning a visit to Rome, interested in the history of the city.
Plans are already in place to make the model available for viewing at an orientation centre opposite the Colosseum in the near future. In the mean time, the team is focusing on developing the Rome model earlier and later in time, from as early as the Bronze Age up to the Gothic Wars.
With sponsors like Intel and Microsoft funding the development of the project, chances are it wont be long before time travel will be possible for the average family, at least through your TV or computer screen, that is.
Both Martin Smith & Gaizka Pujana are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Martin Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pearls, Women and Diamonds. Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice and tips on a variety of subjects if you need Dating tips His numerous articles provide a wonderfully resource of information.. Martin Smith's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
Gaizka Pujana has sinced written about articles on various topics from Barcelona Holidays, Family Travel and Culture and Society. Gaizka Pujana is the co-owner of Barcelona Homes, S.L. which is a company specialized in providing short term tenancy solutions in Seville and Barcelona through its web pages. Gaizka Pujana's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.