# Why are most of the clocks in stores set at 10:10?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 13, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609 "2005-01-13T22:32:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609/1 "2005-01-13T22:32:34Z")
Even the digital ones?
Is there any significance to this time?
---
### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609/2 "2005-01-13T22:45:18Z")
[This article](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_330.html) from the Straight Dope archives might be illuminating.
---
### Author:  [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609/3 "2005-01-13T22:46:53Z")
10:10 (or 8:20) appears to simply be aesthetics for analog dials - it’s nicely symettric and often results in the hands framing the brand name. It’s probably just inertia for digital clocks.
Cecil on the subject:
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_330.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_330.html)
Another article:
[http://www.ubr.com/clocks/faq/1010.html](http://www.ubr.com/clocks/faq/1010.html)
---
### Author:  [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609/4 "2005-01-13T23:14:15Z")
Thank you. That’s the SECOND time I’ve asked a question that was already answered in the archives. I guess that will teach me to read up first more. Heh.
---
### Author:  [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2005, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609/5 "2005-01-14T13:33:23Z")
I once read an article asking the Timex people why they always showed the watch at 1:50 (or 10:10, if you prefer). They said “That way, you can see the product name on the dial.” 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-of-the-clocks-in-stores-set-at-10-10/284609/6 "2005-01-14T15:15:48Z")
I was hoping there weren’t any replies yet, 'cuz then I could have said “What time were you in the store, **Idle**?”
C’est la vie.
–Cliffy