Early clocks and watches all chimed on bells, but this made striking watches very thick. In the last quarter of the 18th century, when the fashion changed to thinner watches, a steel-wire open ring was fitted around the band of the movement and fixed to it at one end. When struck near the fixed end, a good bell-like sound resulted. Wire gongs were later made with many turns in sprial form, to give a low-pitched sound. With their advantge of occupying only a small volume, they have been extensively used in clocks of many kinds since the early 19th century.