Sundials

Sundials - timepieces for the sunny side of life

Sundials are among the oldest timepieces in human history. Among the numerous models that have developed in a clearly differentiated way over time, the most popular types of sundials are still popular timepieces today - also for your own home or garden.

In general, the vertical sundials are usually linear, flat surfaces that are attached to a wall or to a vertical support. The watch is then placed where the sun can hit it at a precisely calculated angle for most of the day. This is the southern wall of the building in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. Vertical sundials are the most common form, at least nowadays.

Horizontal sundials are, as the name suggests, horizontally aligned and are thus often installed on levels in the garden or in parks on unshaded areas. The now round clocks show the time throughout the day and do not have to be oriented to the south or the corresponding direction. These clocks only need to be laid flat on the ground at an eact angle to the earth's ais to ensure ideal readability of the clock.

In addition to the well-known variants that display the time via a wandering shadow, there are also those sundials that work according to the same principle via a point of light. In this case, a shadow is cast on the dial via a pinhole, which is broken through a single hole. This hole only allows so much light to pass through the aperture that the time is displayed via a point of light that travels across the dial with the time of day.

In addition to the various styles, there are of course also different materials from which sundials are made. All these materials have one thing in common - the high weather resistance, which is necessary because these watches are intended for outdoor use. Sundials made of stone and sundials made of metal are the most widespread models that have proven themselves for a long time.