Why do some clocks use the roman numeral IV on their dials, while others use IIII in the place of number four?As clock and watch designers it’s a question that we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.
There are several conflicting theories on whether it should be IIII or IV on a clock face, and no definitive answers. Here are just some of the theories on why IIII came to be most commonly used:
When Roman numerals were in use by the Roman Empire, the name of the Romans' supreme deity, Jupiter, was spelled as IVPPITER in Latin. There was a feeling that using the start of Jupiter’s name on a clock dial, and it being upside down where it fell, would be disrespectful to the deity, so IIII was introduced instead.
King Louis XIV of France supposedly preferred IIII over IV, and so he ordered his clockmakers to use the former. Some later clockmakers followed the tradition, and others didn't.
Traditionally using IIII may have made work a little easier for clock makers. If you're making a clock where the numerals are cut from metal and affixed to the face, using IIII means you'll need twenty I's, four V's, and four X's. That's one mould of "XVIIIII" which you can cast four times and have the right number of digits for your dial. If you use IV, the totals are four, seventeen, and five, which doesn't divide up so neatly, and therefore requires several moulds in different configurations.
For those logically-minded souls amongst us, then using IIII makes more numerical sense when the clock dial is viewed as a whole. This arrangement means I is seen at the start of the first four hour markings on the dial, V is seen at the start of the next four markings, and X is seen only in the last four markings, creating radial symmetry.
The main reason that we at Newgate favour the IIII on all of our clocks and watches, is all down to aesthetics. We feel that using IIII creates more visual symmetry with the VIII opposite it on the clock face than IV does, creating a greater sense of balance within our designs.
One notable contradiction to most clock makers preference for the IIII, is London’s iconic Big Ben clock tower. Dating from the 1850’s this landmark timepiece is a rarity in favouring the IV approach.
FAQs
The Mystery of Numerical Notation on the Dial Plate - 4 is Expressed as IIII, not IV. The numerical notation of 4 is IV in Roman numerals. You probably think so, too. However, there are many cases where IIII is used at the 4:00 position on the dial plates of clocks that use Roman numerals.
Is it iiii or iv on a clock? ›
You may have noticed this somewhat unusual use of Roman numerals on a watch face. with four o'clock represented as 'IIII' instead of the 'IV'. Although it may look wrong or misplaced, it is actually common in the watch industry to list the IIII as IV for tradition as well as aesthetics.
Why is the Roman numeral 4 on my clock wrong? ›
This is apparently because “IV” is an abbreviation for “Jupiter” in Roman times. So they decided to use “IIII” so that their public clocks didn't have “1 2 3 GOD 5…” written on them.
Why does Rolex use iiii instead of IV? ›
There are several possible reasons, though nobody really knows the definitive answer. Historians have postulated that such usage was decreed by King Louis XIV, claiming he liked the symmetry of IIII on clocks and sundials, rather than IV.
What is the error on the Roman numeral clock? ›
One reason IIII is used on an analog clock is to avoid confusion. The 4 is between to-the-right and facing-bottom, and there is concern that I, if used, would be confused with VI (6). On most clocks, the Roman numeral for IV is written as IIII which is incorrect.
Why do old clocks have iiii instead of iv? ›
According to this theory, the face turned best if had an even weight around its circumference. For 4, the four strokes of IIII balanced the face better than the three strokes of IV.
Does IIII exist? ›
The notations IV and IX can be read as "one less than five" (4) and "one less than ten" (9), although there is a tradition favouring representation of "4" as " IIII" on Roman numeral clocks.
What is the rule for 4 in Roman numerals? ›
To write 4 in Roman Numerals, we express 4 as 4 = 5 – 1 Now, representing in Roman Numerals 4 = V – I Here, the smaller letter I is preceding the bigger letter V Therefore, 4 in Roman Numerals is written as IV.
How would you correctly represent the number 4 in Roman numerals? ›
What makes a Roman numeral invalid? ›
In order for a number written in Roman numerals to be considered valid there are three basic rules which must be followed. Numerals must be arranged in descending order of size. M, C, and X cannot be equalled or exceeded by smaller denominations. D, L, and V can each only appear once.
7 in Roman Numerals is VII.
What is the Roman numeral of 11? ›
Thus, 11 in Roman numerals is XI.
What is the only number that Cannot be written in Roman numerals? ›
Zero is the only number that can't be represented in Roman numerals.
What symbol can never be repeated in Roman numerals? ›
Q. While writing a Roman numeral, only the numerals I, X, C and M can be repeated. V, L and D cannot be repeated.
What are the errors in clock? ›
There are three main components of clock error -- accuracy, stability, and jitter. The clock accuracy describes how well the actual frequency matches the specified frequency. Clock accuracy might be affected by factors such as the quality of the oscillator crystal and how the oscillator was assembled.
Does IV mean 4 or 5? ›
IV Roman Numerals is 4. The system of writing numbers using Roman alphabets is known as Roman Numerals. Learning the conversion of roman numerals to numbers and vice versa enhances students' skills in Mathematics.
Does vi mean 5? ›
The number 6 in Roman numerals is VI.
Does vi mean 6? ›
6 in Roman Numerals is VI. There are seven symbols (alphabets) used in the Roman Numeral system. They are I, V, X , L, C, D and M.
What Roman numeral is IV? ›
IV in Roman numerals stands for the number 4.
