Difference between revisions 63223441 and 67233591 on enwiki

[[Image:Breitling_Montbrillant.jpg|thumb|The hands are set to 8 minutes past 10]]

'''10:08''', 8 minutes past 10, is roughly the time analog [[watches]] are set to in most advertisements, though actual times shown vary between about 10:08 and 10:10. There are several reasons offered by watch companies, many of them [[psychology|psychological]], and none of them verifiable as the actual origin of the practice: 

* The form of the [[hand (mechanism)s of the clock|hand]]s has a positive effect on the viewer: the short hand pointing at 10 o'clock and the long hand pointing at 8 minutes is reminiscent of a [[tick (checkmark)|check mark]], which commonly means "ok" or "fine." Some observers further identify this appearance with a [[Smile|smiling]] face.
* The position of the hands does not obscure the date on watches with a date-function at 3 o'clock or any other functions at 9 or 3 o'clock.
(contracted; show full)[[Urban legend]]s are frequently heard to the effect that the watches are set to commemorate the hour at which some famous person died: often [[Abraham Lincoln]] or [[John F. Kennedy]]. All such stories prove to be several hours off.

==References==
* Answer on [http://archives.stupidquestion.net/sq82798.html stupidquestion.net]
* Cecil Adams's [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_330.html Straight Dope article]

[[Category:Advertising]]
[[Category:Clocks]]