List of Largest Clock Faces Around the World

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A detailed close-up of an alarm clock face covered with water droplets, creating a moody atmosphere.
Credit: pexels.com, A detailed close-up of an alarm clock face covered with water droplets, creating a moody atmosphere.

The largest clock faces in the world are truly a marvel of engineering and architecture. The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, boasts the largest clock face in the world, measuring 43 meters in diameter.

Located in the heart of Mecca, the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower is a prominent landmark and a popular tourist destination. The clock face is made of stainless steel and LED lights, and it's visible from a distance of over 10 kilometers.

The clock tower's massive size is not only visually striking but also serves a functional purpose - it's a prominent landmark for pilgrims making their way to the nearby Masjid al-Haram mosque. The clock face is also equipped with a state-of-the-art time-keeping system that ensures accurate timekeeping.

The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower's giant clock face is a testament to human ingenuity and the ability to create something truly massive and impressive.

World's Largest Clocks

The Surat Floral Clock in India is the largest botanical clock and the third-largest clock face in the world. It exceeds the next-biggest garden clock in Switzerland by about 2.2 meters in diameter.

Credit: youtube.com, Clock face Size Comparison

Its diameter measures about 24.25 meters, and each hand weighs a massive 1,763 pounds. This floral clock is made up of plants and soil, with a reinforced concrete slab covering about 25% of its area to house the machinery.

The Central do Brasil Clock in Rio de Janeiro boasts the fourth-largest clock face in the world, with a diameter of 20 meters. It's located on a 135-meter tall tower in the Central do Brasil train station, which was built in 1943.

Central do Brasil Clock

The Central do Brasil Clock is a notable timepiece in Rio de Janeiro. Located in the Central do Brasil train station, it's the fourth-largest clock-face in the world.

Standing at an impressive 135 meters tall, the clock tower is a striking feature of the train station. The clock face itself has a diameter of 20 meters.

Built in 1943, the Central do Brasil Clock has been a prominent landmark in Rio de Janeiro for over 75 years.

A fresh viewpoint: Washing Face in Shower

Duquesne Brewery

Credit: youtube.com, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. unveils new face of Duquesne Brewery clock

The Duquesne Brewery Clock is an iconic timepiece that has been a Pittsburgh landmark since 1933. It was the world's largest single-faced clock at the time of its construction.

The clock's face has a diameter of 18 meters (60 feet), making it a notable feature in the city's skyline. The clock's hour hand measures 7.6 meters (25 feet) in length and the minute hand measures 10.6 meters (35 feet) in length.

The Duquesne Brewery Clock was designed by John Franklin and powered by a 1.25 horsepower Janett motor. Franklin built the clock in Georgia and then shipped it to Pittsburgh, where it was initially displayed on the Hillside of Mount Washington.

The clock was later purchased by the Duquesne Brewery Company in 1961 and was used to advertise various brands until 2017.

Types of Large Clocks

Let's take a look at the different types of large clock faces out there.

The largest astronomical clock face is found in Prague, Czech Republic.

The biggest digital clock face is at the Tokyo Skytree in Japan, standing at 30 meters tall.

Astronomical clocks like the one in Prague often feature intricate carvings and decorations to highlight the importance of timekeeping.

Surat Floral Clock

Credit: youtube.com, Garden clock #travel #switzerland

The Surat Floral Clock is a remarkable structure that holds the record for being the largest botanical clock and the third-largest clock face in the world. It's located in Surat, India, and measures a diameter of about 24.25 meters (79.72 feet).

The clock's hands are quite massive, weighing in at 1,763 pounds each. This floral clock is made up of plants and soil, giving it a unique and natural look.

It's interesting to note that the clock's machinery is fitted into a reinforced concrete slab, which covers about 25% of its area. This helps to keep the clock's mechanics in place.

The Surat Floral Clock was built on 22.98 acres of land donated by the Navin Fluorine Company, making it a beautiful and functional addition to the area.

Temporarily Installed Clocks

Temporarily installed clocks are a unique breed of time-keeping structures that are designed to be temporary, often created for special events or exhibitions. They can be truly massive, like the Burning Man Festival clock, which had a face diameter of 3.28 km (2.04 mi).

Close-up of a red analog alarm clock with a rainbow clock face on a bright orange background.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of a red analog alarm clock with a rainbow clock face on a bright orange background.

The Scania Clock, located in Spain, is another example of a large temporary clock. It measured 298.5 m (979 ft) in diameter and was created using 14 Scania trucks driving in circles for 24 hours at an abandoned airfield.

One thing that's worth noting is that temporary clocks often require a lot of planning and preparation to bring them to life. Take the Burning Man Festival clock, for instance - it took 13 months to create!

Here's a list of the top 3 temporarily installed clocks:

Temporary clocks can be a lot of fun to create and experience, but they often have a limited lifespan. The World Fair clock, for example, was created specifically for the 1904 World Fair in St Louis.

You might like: Jens Olsen's World Clock

Benefits of Big Clocks

Big clock faces are not just functional, they're also iconic landmarks. The Abraj AL Bait Towers in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, boasts the largest clock face with a diameter of 43 meters.

Credit: youtube.com, Clock dial Size Comparison | Clock Tower Size faces| world largest clock

These clock faces are often used as national monuments, and some have even been used for advertisement purposes. The Duquesne Brewery Clock in Pittsburgh, USA, is a great example of this.

Some of the largest clock faces in the world can be found in famous cities like London, Switzerland, and India. The Elizabeth tower (Big Ben) in London is a notable example.

The largest clock faces are often found in prominent locations, such as city centers or tourist areas. The Istanbul Cevahir in Istanbul, Turkey, has a clock face with a diameter of 36 meters.

Here's a list of the top 10 largest clock faces in the world, based on their diameter:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Allen Bradley bigger than Big Ben?

The Allen-Bradley Clock Tower was once the largest of its kind in the world, surpassing Big Ben in size. However, it was later surpassed by the Abraj Al-Bait Towers in 2010.

Is the Liver building clock face bigger than Big Ben?

The Royal Liver Building's clock face is larger than Big Ben's, measuring 25ft in diameter. Take the 360 Tour to see it for yourself and enjoy stunning views of the city.

Seth Meier

Senior Writer

Seth Meier is an experienced writer who has a passion for technology and innovation. He has worked in the tech industry for over a decade and has developed a deep understanding of emerging trends and disruptive technologies. As a blogger, Seth focuses on providing valuable insights and analysis on various topics related to technology, entrepreneurship, and digital marketing.

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