Timepiece is a general term for any device that measures and indicates time, including clocks and watches. In the specialist language of horology, however, a timepiece has a more precise meaning: a clock that shows the time but does not strike the hours or chime, as distinct from a striking or chiming clock.
Timepieces have been made in many forms, from small mantel and carriage timepieces to wall dials, regulators and watches. Because they lack a striking train, they are mechanically simpler and often quieter, making them popular for bedrooms and studies. Many fine English timepieces use a fusee movement, in which a cone-shaped pulley evens out the force of the mainspring to improve accuracy. When describing a clock for sale, dealers and auction houses often use the word timepiece to indicate that it has a time-only movement, which can affect value compared with a striking or chiming example. When buying any antique timepiece, consider the maker, the quality and originality of the movement, the dial and the case.
