IN THE SPIRIT OF MEMENTO MORI

Even though the sound of a watch's ticking may remind us of time passing and our inevitable demise, it has inspired some of the most profound horological works.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

IN 2013, A KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN for a watch-like product called Tikker turned heads and raised eyebrows in the watch industry and beyond. Rather than telling the time, however, it counts down to your imminent death.

Surprisingly, it was a tremendous hit, achieving its production goal of US$100,000 (S$129,850) in weeks. Users fill out a questionnaire on their lifestyle habits and philosophies on existence, and Tikker gives them a rough estimated lifespan. By subtracting their age from that, the clock counts down to their expected death. It truly reframes one’s perspective on existence when the answer to, “What time is it?” is not “Half past five in the afternoon”, but “20 years, 12 days, six hours and 13 minutes to my death”.

The Tikker may be the least subtle embodiment of the relationship between time and our thoughts on death, but it continues a five-century fascination that began shortly after German Peter Henlein invented the pocket watch in 1510 during the second plague pandemic.

Although the plague pandemic began in 1346 with the Black Death, it was endemic all the way until 1835, with notable outbreaks in London (in 1563, 1592, and 1665), Malta (1592) and Vienna (1679). This profoundly shaped humanity’s thoughts on death by intensifying its omnipresence in daily life and infusing it with deep spiritual significance.

These factors worked together to foster a culture that was acutely aware of the fragility of life and the importance of preparing for death, which were all central themes in medieval art, literature, religious practices, and of course, horology.