At present, you couldn’t imagine life without a clock. It’s one of the most important inventions of mankind. We use it to tell the time of the day, which is no little thing. It helps you figure out if you’re running late or, on the contrary, you arrive too early. Knowing the exact time helps you catch the bus on time. 

The ability to tell the time is more often than not underestimated in our society. Anyway, just imagine what it would be like if clocks were never invented. Time wouldn’t stop, but it wouldn’t be better for us. We would have to organize our days according to the positions of the sun. 

Clocks are fairly affordable nowadays. However, in the 18th century, clocks were a real luxury. They were like miniature versions of cathedral clocks. Although they used to be pretty accurate, clocks remained pricey. Lady Farringdon added clocks to the Chichester Market Cross. If you would like to find out more about timepieces throughout the 18th century, please continue reading. 

Clocks enter a new age of maturity in the 18th century 

The first mechanical clocks came to birth at the beginning of the 14th century. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the 18th century that clocks came to age so as to say. At this time in history, timepieces gained the status of scientific instruments, so they weren’t simple devices that just marked the passing of time. 

It’s important to remember that during the 18th century an important intellectual and philosophical movement took place. We’re talking about the Enlightenment. In the Age of Reason, new ideas and ideals were spread across Europe and North America. Advancements in science took place, which ultimately impacted the art of watchmaking. 

Watchmakers started to be considered scientists and much was expected of them. In the past, they were nothing more than simple craftsmen. Watchmakers had to make very precise timepieces. They weren’t motivated so much about the financial gains. What they wanted was to prove that they were up for the task. Hard as it was, watchmakers managed to overcome the challenge and brought forward timepieces that were anything but primitive.

Types of watches you could find in the 18the century 

Approximately 4000 years ago, the Mesopotamians and created the sexagesimal system of measurement of time. Maybe you’re curious to find out what types of clocks existed in the 1700s. The focus was on two main types of timepieces. 

Equation clock 

The likelihood is that you’ve never heard about the equation clock. It’s a clock that is used to measure the equation of time so that you can calculate solar time, as it would be shown on a sundial. If you want to tell the time using this device, you have to do a little bit of work. At the time, all clocks were made by hand, so there were no two timepieces alike. People who had been using sundials for most of their lives didn’t initially trust equation clocks. It took a long time until they got used to them. 

Pendulum clock 

A pendulum clock consists of a rod that hangs vertically from its top end and swings from side to side thanks to the force of gravity. The mercury pendulum that George Graham invented in 1721 eliminated all errors. The timekeeper didn’t slow down in the summer due to thermal expansion. As a matter of fact, it achieved accuracies of a couple of seconds per week. 

The first mechanical clock was invented by an American. We’re talking about Levi Hutchins, who was born at Harvard. He came up with the idea of a device that would wake people up at a certain time. What he did was to construct a cabinet of pine, placing the inner mechanism of the brass clock inside. He then inserted a gear and set the clock to wake him up at 4 a.m. Just think about it. Now, we hate the thought of the alarm going off and, in those days, they would be thankful to wake up on time. 

Watches were considered a status symbol 

Owning a clock in the 18th century was like owning a smartphone in the 21st century. In other words, unimaginable. As mentioned earlier, not everyone could afford to buy a timepiece. You would need a king’s purse to afford a modest clock. A brass lantern clock or a tall case clock was some of the most expensive items that money could buy. These days, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to calculate the time duration. Back then, not everyone could afford a timekeeper. 

Clocks were portable and made from precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, bronze, etc. Therefore, if you had a lot of money in the bank, you could become the proud new owner of a watch. The dominance of such articles hasn’t been dented in the upcoming years. More specifically, wearing a watch is considered to be a status symbol. It can signal things like your wealth, class, level of education, and, most importantly, taste. 

The good news is that at the turn of the 19th century, the potential for a low-cost timepiece was acknowledged and two investors immediately took action. Clocks started to be manufactured for mass production. Workers abandoned traditional practices and machinery was introduced for interchangeable watch parts. But enough about that. In the 18th century, the English were the most notable clockmakers. The City of London and Soho were the main centers of the British industry. 

Final thoughts 

In the 18th century, Europe and America are busy capturing time. After the success of clocks in religious institutions, this impressive technology was implemented on a large scale. People didn’t have to rely on sundials anymore. The Enlightenment revolutionized the production of clocks, forever changing the way that people told time. 

This isn’t the time or place to list all the technological improvements. What is important to keep in mind is that the 1700s benefited from better clocks, which didn’t have decorative purposes. Timepieces began to be valued for their practicality and not for their appearance.