Time change - why do we change the indicators every October?

On Sunday 26 October, at 04:00 in the morning, our clocks will turn back one hour, marking the start of wintertime. An established practice that many of us perform mechanically, but few know why it was established and what it actually serves.

Changing the time - from summer to winter and vice versa - is an idea that dates back more than a century. The first to propose it was Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, with the aim of saving energy by making better use of natural light. However, its application on a European scale started much later, at the beginning of the 20th century, mainly due to the need to reduce fuel consumption during the World Wars.

Today, daylight saving time is practised in dozens of countries, in order to make more use of daylight in the summer months. So, from March to October, our clocks are set one hour ahead. With the turn of autumn, we revert to winter time, bringing the time back into line with the natural cycle of the sun.

Although the original purpose was energy-related, opinions are divided today: some believe that the change has little or no energy benefit, while others argue that it helps improve quality of life and safety by lengthening the natural light interval during activity hours.

Small changes in time - big impact on everyday life

Changing the time may seem simple, but it affects our bodies more than we think. Our biological clock usually takes 1-2 days to adjust. For some people, especially those who work tight schedules or travel frequently, this adjustment may seem more intense.

In the world of watchmaking, the change of time is always of particular interest. It is the moment when mechanical watches - with their precision and technological harmony - remind us of the reason why we love them: because time is not just a number on our digital phone, but a tangible, mechanical experience. For many collectors, changing the time is a small excuse to adjust, clean or check the operation of their watch - a kind of ritual that connects people to time.

To sum up:

On Sunday 26 October we turn our clocks one hour back. A small change that reminds us that time is inexorably moving - and that, no matter how much we move it, its value remains priceless. And of course you must not forget that if you want your watch to always work with absolute precision, it is necessary to contact a a qualified watchmaker for inspection and maintenance!