The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock face, maintained since 1947 by the board of directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago. The closer the clock is to midnight, the closer the world is estimated to be to global disaster. As of January 14, 2010, the Doomsday Clock now stands at six minutes to midnight. Since its creation, the time on the clock has changed 19 times.
Originally, the analogy represented the threat of global nuclear war, but since 2007 it has also reflected climate-changing technologies and "new developments in the life sciences and nanotechnology that could inflict irrevocable harm.
Time changes
In 1947, during the Cold War, the clock was started at seven minutes to midnight and was subsequently advanced or rewound per the state of the world and nuclear war prospects. Setting the clock is relatively arbitrary, and decided by the directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reflecting global affairs. The clock has not always been set and reset as quickly as events occur; the closest nuclear war threat, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, reached crisis, climax, and resolution before it could be set to reflect that possible doomsday.
The most recent officially-announced setting — six minutes to midnight — was on 14 January 2010. Reflecting international events dangerous to humankind, the clock hands have been set nineteen times, since its initial start at seven minutes to midnight in 1947.
Doomsday Clock graph. The lower the graph becomes, the higher the probability of catastrophe is deemed to be.
Year
Mins Left
Time
Change
Reason
1947
7
11:53pm
—
The initial setting of the Doomsday Clock.
1949
3
11:57pm
−4
The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb.
1953
2
11:58pm
−1
The United States and the Soviet Union test thermonuclear devices within nine months of one another. (This is the clock's closest approach to midnight since its inception.)
1960
7
11:53pm
+5
In response to a perception of increased scientific cooperation and public understanding of the dangers of nuclear weapons.
1963
12
11:48pm
+5
The United States and Soviet Union sign the Partial Test Ban Treaty, limiting atmospheric nuclear testing.
1968
7
11:53pm
−5
France and China acquire and test nuclear weapons (1960 (Gerboise Bleue nuclear test) and 1964 (596 nuclear test) respectively).
1969
10
11:50pm
+3
The U.S. Senate ratifies the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
1972
12
11:48pm
+2
The United States and the Soviet Union sign the SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
1974
9
11:51pm
−3
India tests a nuclear device (Smiling Buddha), SALT II talks stall.
1980
7
11:53pm
−2
Further deadlock in US-USSR talks, increase in nationalist wars and terrorist actions.
1981
4
11:56pm
−3
Arms race escalates, conflicts in Afghanistan, South Africa, and Poland add to world tension.
1984
3
11:57pm
−1
Further escalation of the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
1988
6
11:54pm
+3
The U.S. and the Soviet Union sign treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear forces, relations improve.
1990
10
11:50pm
+4
Fall of the Berlin Wall, dissolution of Iron Curtain sealing off Eastern Europe, Cold War nearing an end.
1991
17
11:43pm
+7
United States and Soviet Union sign the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. (This is the clock's earliest setting since its inception.)
1995
14
11:46pm
−3
Global military spending continues at Cold War levels; concerns about post-Soviet nuclear proliferation of weapons and brainpower.
1998
9
11:51pm
−5
Both India (Pokhran-II) and Pakistan (Chagai-I) test nuclear weapons in a tit-for-tat show of aggression; the United States and Russia run into difficulties in further reducing stockpiles.
2002
7
11:53pm
−2
Little progress on global nuclear disarmament; United States rejects a series of arms control treaties and announces its intentions to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; concerns about the possibility of a nuclear terrorist attack due to the amount of weapon-grade nuclear materials that are unsecured and unaccounted for worldwide.
2007
5
11:55pm
−2
North Korea's test of a nuclear weapon, Iran's nuclear ambitions, a renewed U.S. emphasis on the military utility of nuclear weapons, the failure to adequately secure nuclear materials, and the continued presence of some 26,000 nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia. Some scientists, assessing the dangers posed to civilization, have added climate change to the prospect of nuclear annihilation as the greatest threats to humankind.
2010
6
11:54pm
+1
Worldwide cooperation to reduce nuclear arsenals and limit effect of climate change.
Métiers d’Art La symbolique des laques Maki-e watch theme: Longevity The pine, bamboo and plum are the “three friends of winter”. The theme of the first set Métiers d’Art La symbolique des laques Maki-e watch is their symbolic meaning. These three kinds of trees were introduced to Japan from China at an early age and received greatly in Japan like in China. As these three kinds of plants can all withstand cold weather, “three friends of winter” stands for longevity, which symbolizes a fair-weather friendship.
Métiers d’Art La symbolique des laques Maki-e Watch: Pine and Crane
Pine is very popular in Japan because of its curved shape and texture. But in art and literature, pine is indeed the traditional plant from China. Pine is evergreen tree, which symbolizes longevity and immortality.
As pine, the crane is symbol of longevity and elegance. It is the most mysterious bird as the Phoenix in east legend. It is said that cranes can live thousands of years. But when it is 600 years old it will only drink cold water for a living. In Taoist mythology, the crane is angel. In addition to its mythical image, Japanese are attracted by its elegant and beautiful feather. In winter, all Japanese are looking forward to the advent of cranes. They even regard crane as a harbinger of wealth.
Métiers d’Art La symbolique des laques Maki-e Watch: Bamboo and Sparrow In Taoism, as well as the Buddhist legend, the tubular structure of bamboo symbolizes “empty”, which stands for tolerance and enlightened ideas. Bamboo has flexible and firm features. It is the symbol of upright and outspoken personality.
Although the life of bamboo is shorter than pine, it also represents longevity. Single shoots can not survive for a long time, but the whole bamboo grove is formed by shoots.
Bamboo grove has great attraction to sparrows. In Japan, sparrow is the symbol of loyalty and responsibility. Bamboo and Sparrow often appear in the drawing of Buddhism, bamboo stands for spiritual awareness and relief of secular, sparrow represents spontaneity and joy of life.
Métiers d’Art La symbolique des laques Maki-e Watch: Plum and Nightingale
Plum is famous for its fine and blossoms in winter. The faint scent distributes in cold winter, reminding the arrival of spring. Although the plum trees and flowers are not spectacular, its refined and elegant characteristics bring a little embellishment of lonely winter. It’s the symbol of inner beauty and humility.
The collocation of Plum Blossom and Nightingale derived from Japanese culture. They are both messengers of spring: the first singing of Nightingale is called hatsune. Plum and Nightingale usually appeared in the art and poetry.
Vacheron Constantin Calibre 1003 Movement Movement: 1003 SQ, hollow 14K gold, plated ruthenium treatment; self-developed by Vacheron Constantin; cast the “Geneva Seal” Power: Manual winding mechanical movement Movement thickness: 1.64 millimeters Movement diameter: 20.80 millimeters Gem: 18 Vibration frequency: 18,000 times per hour Display Function: hours, minutes, Power reserve: approximately 30 hours
Fusing their expertise with the latest in the study of micro technology, orbital dynamics and levitation, it took more than three years of research and development for Sarcar's craftsmen and their team of scientists and engineers to achieve yet another great milestone in the field of horological sciences. Thus their latest creation the Twist is indeed a technical marvel that will wow all aficionados in the region. The innovative brilliance of this model lies in the technical magic of making a brilliant-cut diamond dance freely in such a way as to reveal its multiple sparkling facets.
Incorporating a one-carat floating solitaire on a brilliant-set pavé-dial encased by an intricately diamond-studded gold case, this ingeniously-designed luxury timepiece has indeed propelled Sarcar's brand image to its highest level in this world of Space Age Horology. The floating one-carat solitaire above 12 o'clock index turns around in all directions at the slightest twist of the wrist to exude multi streams of colours of scintillating brilliance that are bound to mesmerise and fascinates.
Take a good look. There is a floating one-carat solitaire above 12 o’clock index. It can turn around in all directions at the slightest twist, showing the extreme brilliance that are bound to mesmerise and fascinates. That’s why the ‘Twist’ name comes, I think. Of course, it is the technical magic that can make the brilliant-cut diamond dance freely. Besides, the model is enhanced by an 18-carat white gold bezel entirely set with brilliant-cut diamonds.
It is no doubt that the watch is the perfect combination of aesthetic beauty and technical sophistication. Sarcar has once again demonstrated its ability to give up the big suprise.
Have you ever heard of "Atomic Clock" ? Well, heres your description..
An atomic clock is a type of clock that uses an atomic resonance frequency standard as its timekeeping element. They are the most accurate time and frequency standard known, and are used as primary standards for international time distribution services, to control the frequency of television broadcasts, and in global navigation satellite systems such as GPS. Atomic clocks do not use radioactivity, but rather the precise microwave signal that electrons in atoms emit when they change energy levels. Early atomic clocks were based on masers. Currently, the most accurate atomic clocks are based on absorbtion spectroscopy of cold atoms in atomic fountains such as the NIST-F1.
National standards agencies maintain an accuracy of 10−9 seconds per day (approximately 1 part in 1014), and a precision set by the radio transmitter pumping the masers. The clocks maintain a continuous and stable time scale, International Atomic Time (TAI). For civil time, another time scale is disseminated, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). UTC is derived from TAI, but synchronized, by using leap years, to UT1, which is based on actual rotations of the earth with respect to the solar time.
And the latest Atomic Clock using cesium standard deviates only one second per 100,000 years!
wa hoho.. today is quite a day for me...
had a small bday celebration at class and it was quite a madness! playing around with cakes...
So thats tell us the moral of the story is.. never ever tell anyone your bday or keep a low profile! absolutely! hahaha... took quite a few shots thou.. pardon me for the blurness in the photo as my phone is lousy =/
Happy birthday to Rayden, our class monitor and Nurul ! =)
I dont know what kiki is doing..maybe trying to light candles.. as for hong ding, which is the guy behind her, ehh i also dont know what he doing -.-"
Took a photo of them while the rest is cutting cake...
Kiki is distributing the cakes now.. while some people are planning for some actions.. heh ;)
Bam! One of our victim! aw poor ting lol !
After the celebration, we all went home, then at night, i met up with my fellow armies friends,
were chatting all along, so long never seen them, the feeling is.. just nostalgic...
chat and eat at chong pang nasi lemak till 1.30am.. hope can come out often.. =D
Alright shall end here and sleep le.. :)
Vacheron Constantin’s classic Kallista is the world’s most expensive watch, which was produced in 1886, originally Kingalid ordered it. However, the king passed away before the watch was finished, and it was bought by an unknown buyer from the US at the price of $3.5milion. Kallista is entirely diamond-studded, both on the watch body and the strap, enjoying 118 carefully selected top grade blue and white diamonds weighting 130 karats. Every stone of Kallista has its own GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certificate.The case itself was sculpted from a gold block. The latter weighted over one kilo. Today it is valued at 11 million. And in order to produce this watch, Vacheron Constantin recruited the best engineers and took 20 months (over 6,000hours) of work. And Kallista means perfect in Greek. This is just what Vacheron Constantin wants to show to the world.
The designer of this wonder was Raymond Moretti.
Have you ever wonder which watch manufacturer is the oldest, and how old?
Well heres your answer...
Vacheron Constantin was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron. This makes it the oldest watch manufacturer in the world with an uninterrupted history. Besides being a young businessman, Vacheron was also a talented craftsman. In 1770 his company created the first complication, and nine years later he designed the first engine-turned dials.
Vacheron Constantin is also the company that some watch enthusiasts consider to be the creator of one of the most expensive wristwatches, which was entitled Kallista. It was made in 1979 and its initial price was $5 million. Today, however, the watch is valued at about $11 million. Kallista had 118 emerald-cut diamonds. It took about 6,000 hours for the watch masters to make this watch and about 20 months for the best jewelers in the world to enrich the watch.
So up-to-date, the company has already weather 255 Years of watch making.
The creation of Patek Philippe Caliber 89 is a historical moment not only for the company but for the world of watches as a whole. This timepiece is the most complicated watch in the world. The watch was designed in 1989 to celebrate the 150 years anniversary of Patek Philippe. Calibre 89 is a 3-pound, 2-sided pocket watch made of gold. Inside a rather small case are fitted 1,728 interacting parts.
Caliber 89 includes 33 complications which represent features that certainly surpassed their time, making the watch more than a simple time displayer. The watch can keep the time of two different time zones as well as display the day of the week, month, year and leap-year, moon phase and even the movement of stars. There are also other interesting features like: time of sunrise and date of Easter. These are just some of the complications.
There were manufactured only 4 models of Caliber 89 and today these models are worth about 6 million dollars each. Truly a remarkable timepiece is Patek Philippe Calibre 89. Although this watch represents much more than a simple Swiss timepiece, the latter is still very difficult to create.
With its 1,728 parts the timepiece weights 1.1 kg and exhibits 24 hands. It took about five years to develop this amazing creation and about four years to manufacture it. Thus today the 18 carat gold most complicated watch in the world displays:
1. Day of the month
2. 12-hour recorder
3. Day of the week
4. Hour of second time-zone
5. Moonphases
6. Winding crown position indicator
7. Century decade and year displays
8. Leap Year Indicator
9. Power Reserve
10. Month
11. Thermometer
12. Date of Easter
13. Time of sunrise
14. Equation of time
15. Star chart
16. Sun hand
17. Time of sunset
Did you know,
Patek Philippe watches have enjoyed great demand among discerning collectors and watch connoisseurs of a high social status and wealth. Since Queen Victoria’s reign, monarchs, popes, political leaders, and rulers have purchased timepieces manufactured by the brand either for their personal use or as a precious gift to be presented to an important guest, or in recognition of someone's remarkable bravery and loyalty.
In 1851, Patek Philippe started supplying its watches to Queen Victoria and her consort. Timepieces of the Genevan manufacturer immediately attracted attention of all the royal courts of Europe. Queen Victoria acquired a key-wound Patek Philippe watch created in a pendant style in November 1851 during the Great Exhibition of London. Queen Victoria owned one more exclusive Patek Philippe timepiece to be worn pinned to clothing. This watch was suspended from a diamond and enamel brooch.
The list of Patek Philippe notable past clientele also highlights Pope Pius IX, Christian IX and Louise (the king and queen of Denmark), Victor-Emanuel III (king of Italy and Duke of Savoy), and Hussein Kamal (prince of Egypt in the period of 1914-1917).
In 1989, Patek created one of the most complicated mechanical watches ever made, the Calibre 89, created
for the 150th anniversary of the company. It holds 33 complications, including the date of Easter, a thermometer, time of sunrise, equation of time, sidereal time, and many other indicators. 1,728 unique parts allow sidereal time a 2,800 star chart, and more.[4] The Calibre 89 is also able to add a day to February for leap years while leaving out the extra day for every 100 year interval.
This has outdone their previous record for making ultra-complicated (with 24 functions) pocket-watch for Henry Graves, Jr, which was the most complicated pocket watch ever made at that time.
For more information for this pocket watch, finds it in my blog.
Orbitting around the earth, the moon has a powerful allure and is full of beauty, legend, myth and romance. On the L.U.C Lunar One, the phases of the moon are precisely reproduced. Its perpetual calendar with orbital moon phases clearly indicates the date, day, months and leap years and has an additional 24-hour scale. The "night stars" orbits around the small second axis on a subdial conveying all the poetry of the starry canopy of space. It houses a L.U.C calibre 96 QP, chronometer-certified by the COSC and bearing the "Poincon de Geneve" quality hallmark.
Function(s): perpetual calendar, 24-hour scale, stop seconds Indication(s): hours, minutes, small seconds, date, days, months, leap years, moon phases, day/night display Movement: L.U.C 96QP self-winding Diameter (movement): 33.00 mm Thickness (movement): 6.00 mm Power Reserve: approximately 65 hours, L.U.C Twin Technology (two stacked barrels) Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) Oscillating weight: 22-carat gold Balance-spring: with Phillips terminal curve Jewels: 32 Material: 18-carat rose gold Water-resistant up to: 30 metres Sapphire crystal: scratch-proofed, cambered and glare proofed Case back: sapphire crystal Straps: hand-stitched alligator Buckle: 18-carat gold folding clasp Certification(s): COSC, Poinçon de Genève Dial description: 18-carat gold dial Limited edition: 250 Year: 2008
Sigh.. sometime things can be irony.. in the past didnt cherish studies and keep on playing games,
but i told myself that i quit gaming, but today, i got unknowningly pulled for the gaming competition for my school. But more surprising matter is i heard from my lecturer that im one of the 5 students selected in class for the NYAA, national youth achievement award, also for the school.. supposingly good things keep coming and i ought to be happy, but why am i feeling nothing at all.. alot of things keeps boiling in my heart..
But im doing my best in everything i could possibly be,
But the question is, will time wait for me? even for a min? =)
P/S
yaya i sound so emo, dont know lah.. theses are my thoughts i been thinking since morning lol !
The Harmonious Oscillator, from Rudis Sylva, features a system with two mechanically interlinked balances driven by a single escapement. This technical innovation goes against watchmaking theories, which have always ruled out stress on the balances.
With its innovative technicality, this design can boast a more accurate setting capacity than a conventional tourbillon, thanks in particular to the asymmetric deployment of the balance springs in all positions, hence the name "Harmonious Oscillator". This world first with two toothed balances exhibits a resonance effect from the first oscillations.
Mika Rissanen, a watchmaker specialising in grand complications working for the Rudis Sylva brand, is the brains behind this patented invention. The technical specifications are as follows:
• Two complete toothed balances are interlinked. This combination ensures the same amplitude. The symmetry and energy of the balance springs are constantly opposed, enabling instantaneous average correction in the vertical position, which eliminates the effect of gravity.
• Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
• The cage turns 360 degrees in 60 seconds
• Cage diameter: 17.40 mm
• 2 flat balance springs, asymmetric deployment
• 2 specifically shaped toothed balances made from special material
• 1 escapement with 1 lever positioned at 90 degrees
• Manual winding mechanism
• Power reserve: around 50 hours
SPECIFICATIONS:
Case:
White Gold
Category:
Complication/Fine watchmaking
Bracelet strap:
Leather
Size:
43.0 x 43.0 mm
Buckle:
-
Thickness:
17.0 mm
Setting:
No
Waterproofness:
30 m
Movement:
Complication Power reserve : 45 h , 21600 variations / hours , Manufacture movement , Haute horlogerie finishing
Apart from the veteran watch collectors, did you ever wondered what type of stainless steel your watch is made of???
In the world of timepieces, majority or almost all uses 316L stainless steel for their watch straps and casing except for Rolex.
They uses 904L stainless steel for their straps and casing. And from what i read on, the price difference for 316L and 904L is big.
Just a little more details about stainless steel,
You all do know chromium + steel = stainless steel
904L has more chromium (26% vs 18%) and less nickel (5% vs 10%) than does 316L.And i believe why other watchmakers still preferred to use 316L is because 904 grade steel is more commonly used in industrial components which under constant exposure to highly corrosive substances (acids and the like) - conditions which a watch bracelet simply will not be exposed to. Therefore, there is no reason why they need to implement 904L instead of 316L when 904L costs alot more than 316L.
Correct me if im wrong.
For more details about types of stainless steel, you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel.
A blog that shows no other things but timepieces, or anything that could related to time.
As i constantly trying to put as much stuffs in as i could, whatever you need or you want and i dont have, please feel free to email me, the link can be found at the bottom.
Thank you and have a pleasant day!
-Joseph
