The history of clock making, from the beginning to the present, has managed to produce a large variety of clocks. The progression of different clock types has been to meet different needs and to improve performance. All the different types of clocks are similar in basic function, but they are really quite different in their construction and the affects they have had on our society.

To try and classify clocks into types, you quickly realize that one clock can usually be considered to be of more than one type. Instead of trying to be to strict on clock classifications, I have instead focused on different types of clocks as they have affected clock making progress or our society. Below is information about various types of clocks that have had an impact on clock making.