Why do all clock/watch ads show the hands at "10 and 2"?

Answer 1

Its a smiley face

Answer 2

Purely aesthetics. When you have a product you want to sell photographed then you have to work with what you have. In the case of clocks and watches, that pretty much means the clock hands.

If it's kids' clothes you're selling, then obviously you want them to be bright and clean, and for the kid to be smiling and looking comfortable in the photograph. If you're selling food you usually show people enjoying it. Whatever you're selling, you want everything you can control in the advert to be a positive thing.

With something like a watch, product photographers and ad writers don't have much to work with- the hands on the clock-face are about all they can physically manipulate.

Putting the clock hands at '10' and '2' produce a sort of 'smile' (everyone knows a smiley consists of a circle and a sort of 'v' for the mouth... oh and some eyes, obviously) and thus the viewer of the ad / picture (hopefully) makes some, often unconscious, connection between this clock face they're looking at and the image of a smiley face they have in the recess of their mind. Thus: "this watch is a 'good' thing. I think I'll buy it..." ;-)

Associative patterns aside, the hand pointing slightly up just looks better than down- don't you agree?

Answer 3

Subliminal visual impact. On a watch face where would You normally find the manufacturer's name and logo? 12 and 6. The 10 - 2 hands help to focus Your attention towards the center in the display, thus aligning Your eyes to the 1/3-2/3 segmentation of the screen. Easy.

Answer 4

The hands are placed at 10 to 2 because it balances the watch/clock mechanism inside.

Smiley faces? Ha Ha ha

Answer 5

The watchmakers mark (brand name) is usually located under the 12.
Other info is often shown above the 6.
Dates are often shown to the left of the 3 on a wristwatch.

If the hands are pointing up, they would cover the brand name, or one of the other features which is being advertised.

Answer 6

It's the best view of both hands of the watch.

Legend has it that this is when President Lincoln died (10:10 PM).

Answer 7

All good answers! Sometimes watchmakers will display the time of day a famous, or infamous event occured. That is what a former teacher of mine told me and I never gave it another thought until now. Thinking now that he may not have known what he was talking about.

Answer 8

All the above are probably true, but why are digital displays always set at ten past ten?

Answer 9

Upstretched arms. It looks more optimistic than twenty to four.
.

Answer 10

its a display technique, it shows them with a smile (20 past 7 would show them sad ::!!)