World Famous Clocks Part 1

 

www.centralwatch.com

From sun dials to tall towers – clocks have been a major feature in nearly all cities for generations. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous clocks around the world and see what makes them tick:

Grand Central Terminal Clock – New York, USA

One of our near and dear favorites, Grand Central Terminal’s own Information Booth Clock. Manufactured by the famous Seth Thomas Clock Company in 1913, it has been said that it is valued somewhere between 10 and 20 million dollars due to the material it was crafted out of - high-grade opal. Sitting atop the clock is an acorn, the Vanderbilt’s family symbol, which isn’t just there for decoration. It’s actually a compass that is aligned true north so that the four sides of the clock line up perfectly with the four compass points of the building. 

And one last tidbit of information - every clock in Grand Central is set every second by the atomic clock in the Naval Observatory in Bethesda, MD. Aka - they’re the MOST accurate. 

Big Ben’s Great Clock – London, UK

Many Londoners and tourists alike, collectively refer to the Clock Tower, the clock, and the Great Bell that chimes every quarter hour - as Big Ben. In fact, Big Ben is actually the nickname only of the Great Bell. The more you know!

The Clock Tower or Elizabeth Tower stands 316 feet high and houses four clocks, each 23 feet in diameter, designed by Augustus Pugin. At the base of each clock dial is the following Latin phrase - DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM - which means “O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First.” Big Ben is easily one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.

The Shepherd Gate Clock – Greenwich, UK

Staying in England for our next one, the Shepherd Gate Clock mounted outside the gate of the Royal Greenwich Observatory building was likely the first to display Greenwich Mean Time to the public, with a 24-hour analogue dial. 

This clock is an early example of an electric clock, which was a slave mechanism controlled by electric pulses transmitted by a master clock inside the main building. The idea for this clock network came from Astronomer Royal, George Airy, seeking to create a single time standard for the railways. 

The Samrat Yantra - Jaipur, India

While not a clock in the same light as the previous few - the Samrat Yantra is the world’s largest sundial, standing 27 meters (88 feet) high, and measures time with an accuracy of 2 seconds! Aim to visit on a sunny day, so you can truly see how the instrument works! 

Stay tuned for our World Famous Clocks Part 2!

For over 60 years, Central Watch has been New York’s Premier dealer of new and used luxury watches, as well as watch repair. For more information, give us a call at 212-685-1689 or like us on Facebook!