Historical perspective on astronomical clocks

An astrolabe is a classical piece of equipment used by astronomers and navigators to locate and predict the positions of heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon, and planets. It can then also be used to determine the local time. The design of the original astronomical clocks was greatly inspired by the astrolabe and mainly displayed the current position of the heavenly bodies.

The first mechanical one of the astronomical clocks came from the hands of Ibn al Shatir as far back as the 14 th century. Another clockmaker by the name of Richard Wallingford designed a similar clock at about the same time. The first wristwatch to apply the technology was designed only in 1985 by Dr. Ludwig Oechslin and Ulysse Nardin.

Astronomical clocks have specially designed dials for the display of the information and can even indicate the eclipses of the moon. A geometrical model is used for the presentation and the middle of the dial may be marked with a sphere as representation of the earth to indicate the 24 hour rotation of the earth. The sun more often than not is indicated by a golden sphere with the earth rotating around it.

The first water driven astrolabe timepiece was designed by Song Dynasty and Su Song from China. The mechanical versions came into being in Europe and were mainly used for the timing of general public feasts and other important events as well as for models of the solar system as they perceived it.

The same attention to detail and perfection are still to be found in the Hermle astronomical clocks available through Holtzhausen.com

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