Figure 1 hereunder is the basic geometric grid used to create a hexagon; the most common grid used by the early Islamic artists to make their star patterns. If you look closely, it has the same outline as the modern-day clock/watch which is shown in Figure 2 below.
The Chinese, Greeks and other ancient civilisations kept time using all sorts of gadgets including sun-dials, water clocks, stone columns and hourglasses; all were cumbersome & heavy.
The first mercury-powered automated clock was invented during Islam?s Golden Age by the mechanical engineer, Ibn Khalaf al Muradi, who wrote about it in his 'Book of Secrets' [Kitab al Asrar] in 1277. Al Muradi had closely studied the work of the instrument-maker/astrologer/and leading astronomer, Ishaq Abu Ibrahim al Zarqali (1029-1087). Al Zarqali had upgraded the astrolabe from the basic model designed by the Greeks. The segmentation on the updated astrolabe was used primarily to map out the heavens [used for travel and especially to find the correct direction of Mecca for prayers]. As they had mapped the heavens and their star patterns, they gave them names resulting in the twelve houses of astrology [again on the same basic grid - as shown hereunder] (Surah 85:1 al Burj). N.b. Nowadays, Islamic scholars prefer to ignore the astrology component [as it would mean 'divining', which in Islam is considered magic and therefore in conflict with the words of the Qur'an].
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Solon and Students (reproduction after 13th century artist)
n.b. Colours do not reproduce correctly as each browser's setting and digital image recognition is different.