千百年来,人类利用各种装置来计时和报时。目前正在使用的六十进制时间系统,大约可以追溯至公元前2000年的苏美尔。古埃及把一天分为二个部分,每一部分再分为12个小时,并使用大型方尖碑追踪太阳的移动。他们还发明了水钟(water clocks)。Precinct of Amun-Re(英语:Precinct of Amun-Re) 很可能是最初使用水钟的地方,后来在埃及以外的地方也有人使用水钟;古希腊人就经常使用叫作clepsydrae的水钟。约在同一时间,相信商朝已使用泄水型水钟──漏壶;而漏壶可能早在公元前2000年,从美索不达米亚传入。其他古代计时器包括有蜡烛钟──在中国、日本、英格兰,和伊拉克使用;日晷──在印度和西藏,以及欧洲一些地区广泛使用;此外,还有沙漏,运作原理和水钟一样。
1921年,华持·加廸(英语:Walter G. Cady)(Walter G. Cady)制造第一个石英晶体谐振器。沃伦·马利逊(Warren Marrison J. W. Horton)和JW.霍顿(J. W. Horton)于1927年,在加拿大的贝尔实验室制造首个石英钟[31][32]。之后几十年,因为由真空管组成的石英钟笨重,它只能设置于实验室中。
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