Difference between revisions 93952910 and 93953095 on enwiki

{{unreferenced|date=October 2006}}
[[Image:BwcMarlinNoSweep.jpg|thumb|The hands are set to about 10:11]]

'''10:08''', 8 minutes past 10, is roughly the time  to which analog [[watches]] are set 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 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.
* The position of the hands does not obscure the company logo, which is often printed under 12 o'clock. In fact, it highlights the logo by underlining it and placing it at the center of the delta formed between the clock's hands.
(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 when calculated.

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

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