Tempus Rerum Imperator
An armillary sphere, granted in 1671 by the College of Arms as a crest for The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers , signifies the role of the heavens in measuring time. Clockmakers once relied on the sun, moon and stars to set and regulate their masterpieces. The importance of time is underscored by the supporters, placed above the words of the motto: Tempus Rerum Imperator (time is the ruler of all things) . Above Tempus stands Father Time, hourglass and scythe in hand, while above Imperator an emperor reminds us of time’s dominion over the affairs of the world. Coat of Arms of The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers ( Livery Committee ) Today, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have taken over the role once symbolised by the sphere, serving as the modern foundation for global timekeeping. Their atomic clocks provide highly precise timestamps, distributed via GNSS signals to synchronise critical infrastructure worldwide. A solar storm in 2012 caused small-scale ...
