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Christiaan Huygens

The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock and the balance-spring. His invention of the balance as a replacement for pendulums (which would stop and cause large errors in timekeeping when they were shaken or moved) made it possible to make accurate portable clocks and watches that could be carried around.
The pendulum clock invented by Huygens > The balance-spring, also invented by Huygens > The balance inside a modern-day pocket watch
Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1656, based on the isochronism of pendulums discovered by Galileo Galilei. Pendulums require length to work properly, which made it difficult to make smaller clocks using them. So Huygens began to think about other ideas to replace pendulums. He invented the balance-spring in 1675. Even today, Huygens’ inventions are still used in modern mechanical wristwatches.
Take a look at the Portable Mechanical Clocks (Watches) page in the History of Clocks section. Portable Mechanical Clocks & Watches
Christiaan Huygens
The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock and the balance-spring. His invention of the balance as a replacement for pendulums (which would stop and cause large errors in timekeeping when they were shaken or moved) made it possible to make accurate portable clocks and watches that could be carried around.
The pendulum clock invented by Huygens Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1656, based on the isochronism of pendulums discovered by Galileo Galilei.
The balance-spring, also invented by Huygens Pendulums require length to work properly, which made it difficult to make smaller clocks using them. So Huygens began to think about other ideas to replace pendulums. He invented the balance-spring in 1675.
The balance inside a modern-day pocket watch Even today, Huygens’ inventions are still used in modern mechanical wristwatches.
Take a look at the Portable Mechanical Clocks (Watches) page in the History of Clocks section. Portable Mechanical Clocks & Watches
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  • Galileo Galilei
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