FREE U.S. Shipping  •  30 Day Returns
FREE U.S. Shipping  •  Complimentary Engraving  See Details
Live Chat Software chatLive Chat    emailEmail   phone866-323-8463
Complimentary Engraving

Add a free laser engraved message (up to 20 characters) to any watch over $300. Just add your watch to the cart, click on "Engrave" to add your personal message and then add code ENGRAVE during checkout.

Complimentary engraving cannot be used on sale items or private offers and cannot be combined with any other promo code.

X
Gemnation
accountSign In  |  watch listList  |  shopping cartCart
Live Chat Support Software

Watches « Back to Education

  • DIAMONDS

    DIAMONDS

        
  • WATCHES

    WATCHES

        
    • History

      A Brief History of Time Measurement

      By Barry B. Kaplan
      Stonehenge
      Stonehenge: Ancient celestical
      timekeeping instrument? Many
      experts think so.
      Throughout history, the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars have provided us with a means for measuring the passage of time and determining the seasons, months, and years.

      Little is known about prehistoric timekeeping, but ancient artifacts indicate that people off all civilizations, were to some extent, preoccupied with measuring and recording the passage of time.

      Twenty-thousand year-old architectural remnants discovered in Europe indicate scratched lines and gouged holes in sticks and bones, possibly used to count the days between moonphases.

      Sumerians in the Tigris-Euphrates valley (present-day Iraq) used a calendar five thousand years ago that divided the year into 30 day months, the day into twelve 2-hour periods, and these periods into thirty 4-minute parts.

      Evidence suggests that four-thousand year-old Stonehenge was used to determine seasonal or celestial events, such as lunar eclipses and solstices.

      Egyptian timekeeping was initally based on the moon's cycles. Later, however, they realized that the star we call Sirius rose next to the sun every 365 days. Thus, some 5000 years ago, they devised a 365-day calendar.

      More than four thousand years ago, the Babylonians (present-day Iraq) used a year of 12 alternating 29 day and 30 day lunar months, giving a 354 day year.

      The Mayans of Central America, however, relied not only on the Sun and Moon, but also on the planet Venus, to establish two calendars - one of 260 days and another of 365 days.

      Modern civilization has adopted the 365 day solar calendar. A leap year occurs every fourth year (except century years not evenly divisible by 400). Leap years add an extra day to February to correct for minor inaccuracies in the 365-day year.
      In Association with Amazon.com

      Buy Books about Diamonds and Gems

      Gemnation has partnered with Amazon.com to bring you
      the most relevant diamond, gem and ring buying books and guides.
    • Watch Parts
    • Watch Care
    • Watch Celebrities
    • Watch Bracelet Resizer
  • JEWELRY

    Jewelry

        
  • PEARLS

    PEARLS

        
  • RUBIES

    RUBIES

        
  • SAPPHIRES

    SAPPHIRES

        
  • BOOKS

    BOOKS

  • GLOSSARY

    GLOSSARY

A Brief History of Time Measurement

By Barry B. Kaplan
Stonehenge
Stonehenge: Ancient celestical
timekeeping instrument? Many
experts think so.
Throughout history, the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars have provided us with a means for measuring the passage of time and determining the seasons, months, and years.

Little is known about prehistoric timekeeping, but ancient artifacts indicate that people off all civilizations, were to some extent, preoccupied with measuring and recording the passage of time.

Twenty-thousand year-old architectural remnants discovered in Europe indicate scratched lines and gouged holes in sticks and bones, possibly used to count the days between moonphases.

Sumerians in the Tigris-Euphrates valley (present-day Iraq) used a calendar five thousand years ago that divided the year into 30 day months, the day into twelve 2-hour periods, and these periods into thirty 4-minute parts.

Evidence suggests that four-thousand year-old Stonehenge was used to determine seasonal or celestial events, such as lunar eclipses and solstices.

Egyptian timekeeping was initally based on the moon's cycles. Later, however, they realized that the star we call Sirius rose next to the sun every 365 days. Thus, some 5000 years ago, they devised a 365-day calendar.

More than four thousand years ago, the Babylonians (present-day Iraq) used a year of 12 alternating 29 day and 30 day lunar months, giving a 354 day year.

The Mayans of Central America, however, relied not only on the Sun and Moon, but also on the planet Venus, to establish two calendars - one of 260 days and another of 365 days.

Modern civilization has adopted the 365 day solar calendar. A leap year occurs every fourth year (except century years not evenly divisible by 400). Leap years add an extra day to February to correct for minor inaccuracies in the 365-day year.
In Association with Amazon.com

Buy Books about Diamonds and Gems

Gemnation has partnered with Amazon.com to bring you
the most relevant diamond, gem and ring buying books and guides.
Email Us Live Chat Call 866-323-8463 Call 718-663-3970