Clocks and Watches

The Rolex name is synonymous with luxury and cool. But how did this watch company become one of the most famous brands in the world?

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

Portable timepieces have existed since the mid-1500s; however, the wristwatch (as we know it) has only been around for a little more than a century. Learn the many ways that watches have evolved.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Sure, we're all obsessed with our phones, but does everyone think that strapping a timepiece to the wrist is redundant?

By Nicholas Gerbis

You may have heard about quartz and liquid crystal in reference to wristwatches, but do you know how the two materials make the time tick by?

By Jeff Harder

Mystery clocks represent that enigmatic intersection between horology and magic. What makes their floating hands move and keep time so well?

By Linda C. Brinson

A wristwatch is an essential part of your wardrobe, but have you ever stopped to wonder why? As it turns out, the timepiece you've strapped to your wrist has a very long and storied history.

By Linda C. Brinson

Astrolabes are exquisitely crafted instruments that have hundreds of uses. Isn't it time you learned how to use this handy decoder of the sky?

By William Harris

Dive watches don't just tell time; they can save your life. When you're counting on a limited air supply in the depths of the ocean, you'll want to know when it's time to head for the surface.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Cell phones may be the modern pocket watch, but oscillating mechanism wristwatches are still evolving. So exactly how precise is the Precisionist?

By Matt Cunningham

The most expensive wrist watch in the world is embellished with 1,282 diamonds and costs $5 million. But can it really tell time better than a Timex?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Sometimes your watch is a little slow -- or at least that's what your friends insist. But down deep you wonder: Whose timepiece is really correct -- yours or theirs? And furthermore, just how accurate can anyone expect his watch to be?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Your wrist device links to a net of synchronized computers orbiting Earth to provide you with highly accurate data: It's not sci-fi; it's a GPS watch.

By Matt Cunningham

These amazing timepiece pictures explore unusual and exotic time gadgets. Learn more and explore timepiece pictures.

The ability to tell time has been around for centuries. What began as a fairly simple practice has evolved into a complex system of time, daylight savings and leap years. But where did it all start, and what was the role of sundials?

By Jessika Toothman

The trend in technology is to get more and more "connectivity" into smaller and smaller packages. Find out how it's possible to access news, weather, sports, stocks, horoscopes, e-mail and more from a wristwatch.

By Robert Valdes & Nathan Chandler

Clocks come in many different forms, from quartz watches to atomic clocks. Take a peek inside and learn what makes each kind tick.

By Marshall Brain

Many radio-controlled clocks automatically sync their time with the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado. How do they do it?

Curious about how a self-winding watch works? Take a look at the mechanics inside a self-winding watch.

Indiglo watches convert electricity directly into light through the very efficient process of electroluminescence. Find out how it works!

Have you ever looked inside a grandfather clock or a small mechanical alarm clock? Pendulum clocks are fairly complicated, but they rely on simple forces. Find out how pendulum clocks keep accurate time.

By Marshall Brain

When you need to know the time, there's about a 50-50 chance you'll turn to some LEDs to find out. Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a digital clock or watch?

By Marshall Brain

Wind-up alarm clocks have been around a long time, but they are still fun to explore. See what's inside this classic ticker!

By Marshall Brain

Quartz watches actually use quartz crystals to keep time. How can they be so accurate? Find out why quartz makes such a great time keeper.

By Douglas Dwyer