In the world of physics, there are only two sorts of time, the relativistic sort that makes up one part of the fourth dimension, as described by Einstein, and the arow of time that moves in the direction of entropy. In the world of technology, commerce, health, culture and politics there are multiple times - and, it seems, often a complete lack of logic to underpin them. While anyone who has had to catch a plane, or make an international phone call, knows how tricky time zones can be- and for all that they just seem part of the fabric of global living - next year marks what is only their 140th anniversary. The idea of time zones is young. It is also in flux.
"The whole issue of time zones is simple in essence but a complex problem in reality," as Emily Akkermans puts it. She is the fantastically-titled Curator of Time at the Greenwich Royal Observatory in London ("I haven't managed to bend time to my will yet," she jokes). "We meddle with time zones around the world and make changes all the time. Whether those reasons are good ones depends on what side of the fence you're sitting."
Greenwich is where, for reasons of its history in pioneering navigation at sea, there is a literal line in the ground that, since 1884, has demarcated point zero for global time zones. This remains a fact even if improved measurements of our planetary globe afforded by satellites has meant that, since the mid-1980s, the line has actually moved about 100m eastwards.
Necessary Exposition
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Denne historien er fra Issue 69-utgaven av WOW Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BUOYANT HEAVYWEIGHTS
The ubiquitous use of titanium and carbon fibre does not satisfy a growing number of watch lovers; the indisputable rise of quiet design vexes them. The recent release of hefty and heavy timepieces, especially in the dive watch segment, proves that some just like it big
YEN FOR PRECISION
While we typically think of watchmaking as a Swiss matter, this ignores the powerful contributions of Japanese industry and know-how. We begin this deep dive with a look at the biggest names in the game
LEGENDARY DEPTHS
From pioneering chronographs to revolutionizing dive watches, Longines has always been at the forefront of horological advancements. Explore how the Swiss brand's journey through water-resistance shaped the future of dive watches-and made a splash in the process
LEAPING AHEAD
IWC updates the perpetual calendars in its Portugieser range with four new models
HOLDING THE HIGH GROUND
Chanel's 2024 collection represents a rare moment where haute couture and haute horlogerie coexist perfectly
SARTORIAL TIMING
Parmigiani Fleurier encourages us to take a second, and perhaps third, look at the new Toric collection of watches
LEFT HAND DRIVE
The DOXA SUB 300T Aristera is a tribute to the brand's heritage in dive watches, combining the original design with a left-handed twist for 2024, offering the standout features that made DOXA renowned while breaking new ground in functionality
LIVING HISTORY
A. Lange & Söhne has spent the better part of this year celebrating the 25th anniversary of the seminal Datograph. With the Datograph Handwerkskunst, the watch is elevated to the highest level
THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION
Since its inception, Rolex has never wavered in its pledge to create the world's finest watches for anyone, anywhere
SWEET SPOT
The Longines Legend Diver is just the right amount of watch for a contemporary sports model that could also pull dress watch duties
