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Learning to tell the time using an analog face, with no numbers or markers.

The Cockney Rebel

The Cockney Rebel

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Jul 17, 2010
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At the moment, I’m using a Nike face, with 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 displayed, as well as markers for the other numbers.

I can easily tell the time with no numbers, if there are markers for each number.

However, I can’t really tell the time with no markers at all. I’d like to learn to do this, as it will enable me to use more faces.

If anyone has any tips, I’d be really grateful.
 
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Nothing more than practice.

Set your watch face so it has no markers, then keep a digital time source nearby. Whenever you check the time use your analog face to check the time, then verify it with the digital clock. You will get some wrong but your brain will correct over time.
 
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What you need is something like this. You don't need to buy one you can make one very easily with a bit of card, a marker pen and some sort of clip/stud to keep the hands on. It doesn't have to be anything pretty, you won't need it for very long
What is important is just to label it exactly like this with the minutes, the hours, quarter past etc.
Then you position the hands and you can read the time off. It really won't take a lot of practice to get it- I doubt you'll need to spend much more than half an hour as an adult to get good at it.
 

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AsherN said:
Remember that most of the time (pun intended), exact time is not required. Most of the time you glance at an analog watch, with or without markers, your brain will get an estimate of what time it is. It does not matter if it's 10:09 or 10;11.
Click to expand...


Misreading the minute hand is relatively inconsequential, but misreading the hour hand is a much bigger issue. :D
 
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Is this a genuine question or a spam story/article /post?

Maybe I’m just old (49) but I’m amazed that this is even an article & people are giving honest advice. I could read a clock when I was 5 or earlier! (my dad had a digital numbered display alarm clock & we had old numerical clock face type clocks in house). If this is genuine then there is little hope for humanity! Jeesh.. no offence but.. 🤯
 
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Hmmm, never had this problem, but I've only ever used analog clocks when given the choice.

Start with a full analog face, with numbers. Use it for a couple weeks
Switch to tick marks for each number. Use it for a couple weeks.
Switch to ticks on 3,6,9,12 and use it for a couple weeks.

Switch to no ticks. Tada!
 
So if I and others are getting this right, if you are faced with a clock face such as this:

clockface.jpg

You are unable to tell what time it is? and thus you need a way to learn how to tell such time when faced with such a clock face?

Memory muscle basically. The best way to learn is to purchase such a clock and every day get someone to change the position of the hands out of sight and then get you tell them what time the clock is showing. After a while you will start to learn the position of the hands relative to what would be the corresponding numbers on the clock.
 
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Ericdjensen said:
the youngest millennials are 29 lol we can read clocks. But yeah, it's pretty sad how many young people can't. I know people with kids that don't have a single analog clock in the house
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It is the digital age. I've got teenage family members who say analog is for the grandparents.
 
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The Cockney Rebel said:
However, I can’t really tell the time with no markers at all. I’d like to learn to do this, as it will enable me to use more faces.
Click to expand...
Check out the app Roughly. It adds a complication that gives you the rough time in words (10 til 9, quarter past five, etc).

I use it with most of my “not at work” watch faces when the exact time isn’t necessary. It’s great for that, but I bet would also help you check your own estimates and practice.

Screenshot is my sleep face (for any of our detail-oriented friends, walkie talkie is on because I just changed the face rather than setting the focus)

incoming-8CD63F83-98F0-405E-8D0D-CF2C9BB93E4E.png
 
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laptech said:
It is the digital age. I've got teenage family members who say analog is for the grandparents.
Click to expand...
Teenagers have been saying “x” is for old people for decades. So? I don’t really care what the skibidi toilet gyat rizzler sigma folks think lol
 
nathansz said:
Is this a serious question?

How old are you?

Edit: I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m just honestly blown away that someone who is able to be on the internet can’t read a watch
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I think a huge percentage of gen A can’t read an analog clock or watch and they’re all on the internet. He’s asking how to improve on reading one with zero numbers or markers
 
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