Journey through Time: Understanding the Sounds and Chimes Emitted by Watches

Time doesn’t just tick-tock - it chimes, rings, and alarms. The humble beginnings of mechanical clocks trace back to bell towers in the late 13th century in Europe, specifically in Italy and Germany. The Latin word for bell is ‘clocca’, which later morphed into ‘clock’. A notable example is the Salisbury Cathedral clock, a bell tower that still rings on, its significant parts resting in the 14th-century charm.

These bell towers eventually incorporated dials and hour hands, evolving into pendulum-based clock mechanisms by the mid-17th century, further enhancing their precision. Iconic towers like London’s Big Ben and the Zytglogge in Switzerland follow this tradition, chiming every hour and marking special occasions.

As watch-making progressed and miniaturised even further, a new sound innovation emerged - repeaters. Unlike Sonnerie, which automatically chimes the hour, quarter hours and so on, repeaters chime on demand without automation. The repeaters consist of mini spring-driven hammers striking hardened steel wire gongs, and were originally designed to provide audible time in the darkness.

From towers to pocket watches and wristwatches, the evolution of time devices has always carried forward the beautiful symphony of chimes and melodies, each sound with its unique purpose and journey. The journey of time devices offers a melodic tune, a tune that chimes from the past and rings into the future.