Complication · Calendar & astronomy
Tide Height Indicator
Partially verifiedA display showing the current height or state of the tide at a specific coastal location.
Definition
A display showing the current height or state of the tide at a specific coastal location.
Historical origin
Crucial for maritime navigation and coastal activities.
How it works
A disc or hand geared to the lunar day (24 hours, 50 minutes) rotates to show high and low tide.
Some versions allow for adjustment of the local tide offset.
Pocket watch context
Found in nineteenth-century coastal and marine clocks.
Wristwatch context
Found in modern sailing watches from brands like IWC and Heuer.
Identification
- A dial marked 'High' and 'Low'
- Often combined with a moon phase
Servicing notes
Needs to be set for the specific port of use.
General guidance only. Complicated mechanisms should be assessed and serviced by a qualified watchmaker or clockmaker specialist, not adjusted at home.
Related photographs
No confidently matched photograph of this subject has been found yet. These photographs show a closely related record, and are not examples of the type described on this page.
Sources & references
- de Carle, D., Watch and Clock Encyclopedia
- Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers
- Horological Journal (British Horological Institute), technical articles
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.