The name comes from the Turkish Saat Kulesi which literally means "Clock Tower" in English.

The main purposes of the tower were calling people to their jobs, reminding them of their duties and making them aware of the time.

Its location was carefully chosen, as it can be seen or its clock heard from every part of the town.

It has a rectangular base, and it was made of a nicely irregular cut stone.

For a long time there used to be a man in Ulcinj whose title was muvekit (Ottoman Turkish for "timekeeper"), and his duty was to take care of the correctness of the clock on the Tower.