Why Clocks and Watches use IIII instead of IV

[AtomicTom]

Hey everyone, just saw this fun article at Monochrome Watches, and it has
to do with the reason why clocks, and watches use the Roman Numeral IIII,
rather than IV.

There evidently isn't a definite reason to why, but the article goes into some
fun, and interesting possible reasons. From just the plain ease of reading, to
being the first way to write '4', to even offending different kings, and gods.

Here is the article guys...

https://monochrome-watches.com/why-do-c ... ead-of-iv/


Have some pictures here also...

[dnslater]

Good stuff. I had a project years ago where I specified an 8' diameter clock on a corner of a building. After it was complete the owner called me in a panic saying that the clock was manufactured wrong with an error on the face....... as it read IIII instead of IV. I had to do some quick research on the topic and then I noticed that he was wearing a wrist watch which also had IIII on the face. He had the watch for years and never noticed.

[JBZ]

Nifty. Every now and then I'll see someone on other forums claim a Rolex or some other high end watch is fake because of the IIII instead of IV.

[AtomicTom]

Good stuff. I had a project years ago where I specified an 8' diameter clock on a corner of a building. After it was complete the owner called me in a panic saying that the clock was manufactured wrong with an error on the face....... as it read IIII instead of IV. I had to do some quick research on the topic and then I noticed that he was wearing a wrist watch which also had IIII on the face. He had the watch for years and never noticed.

Nifty. Every now and then I'll see someone on other forums claim a Rolex or some other high end watch is fake because of the IIII instead of IV.

Oh neat guys, that is something hearing these stories for you !!
Had just thought it was an interesting article, and fun too. But it
seems like the both of you have had some actual experience !

So so cool to hear Nick, and Jeff !!!

[Graeme]

I always believed it was for the balance on the dial as mentioned in the article, but I never knew that the 9 was sometimes written VIIII. If that's true then that debunks the balance theory.

Regards Graeme

[CGSshorty]

A friend got a tattoo of a clock with IV instead of IIII. I wanted to tell her it was wrong but didn’t have the heart to ruin it for her. I’m sure she wouldn’t have cared.