Step one: where is hour hand? Is it on a number or after? Is it approaching a new number? This is already enough to estimate.

Step two: where is minute hand? Is it on a number, or after? Is it approaching a new number? Dead center?

This is enough to get precise time within about 90s.

If the hour hand is a little past 5, I know the minute hand is between 12 and 4. Oh, it’s between the 2 and 3. Closer to the 2 but definitely past it.

It’s 5:12. Maybe 5:13. Maybe 5:11. Probably 5:12.