Where can we buy a high quality wall clock?

December 7, 2018 9:18 AM

My husband and I are looking for a high quality wall clock for our bedroom. We've ordered numerous ones from Amazon and looked at many others, only to be disappointed in quality, or worried about reselling (Etsy). Very specific asks within.

We'd love it if we could find a reputable clockmaker that makes clocks in ~16" diameters with numbers or marks for each hour (we're sleepyheads) made of wood and metal (aka non-plastic) materials. Our aesthetic is mid-century modern, but any clean/simple clock would do.

Buying from a human being that made the clock by hand would make us happy. Have you purchased a clock from a fellow human being, and you know for sure it was a high quality hand-made clock? Please give us your recommendations.

Please don't recommend a clock from Amazon or another online retailer. Please only recommend shops on Etsy (or elsewhere) if you know the person who made it OR if you have bought a clock from them! We are capable of searching for clocks on the internet (and boy, have we!), but we're hoping folks might have the in on clocks. Catch me?

posted by ancient star to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

I received a lovely wall clock from Sea and Soul as a gift. The aesthetic may not be quite right, as they mostly do nautical charts, but since the work is custom, maybe they could make something you like if that idea doesn't suit. The wood is a lovely light birch and the numbers (12/3/6/9) and markers (for all other hours) are deeply cut and cleanly stained blue and black (respectively), so the clock is quite readable even in low light; it would suit your sleepyhead standards there, I think. The hands are a thin black metal; the workings of the clock are just off-the-shelf components (plastic battery case that takes one AA) but seem reliable so far. You can certainly find near-identical-looking clocks for much less on Amazon and similar, but I'm quite impressed by the craftsmanship of my clock.
posted by halation at 11:04 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

High quality, Swiss design, brushed steel, an absolute classic mid-century look: Swiss Railway Wall Clock. Not from Etsy though, will the MOMA Shop do?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:41 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]

the workings of the clock are just off-the-shelf components (plastic battery case that takes one AA)

Wall clock movements are inexpensive and much of a muchness, but it's worth going for a higher-quality version that can move larger/heavier hands, and also run without a tick or a second hand if you don't want that in your bedroom.
posted by holgate at 11:46 AM on December 7, 2018

Shinola makes clocks by hand in Detroit. They are lovely, well built items.
posted by ersatzkat at 1:04 PM on December 7, 2018

I just went through a similar thing. I found these in galleries, though both artists have websites.

I bought one by Leonie Lacouette. It's really beautiful; it makes me happy every time I look at it. I wanted something slightly different than the ones on her site - I wrote to her, got a very prompt and nice reply. She made what I wanted and I bought it through a local gallery, at her encouragement.

Then I bought two by David Scherer. I saw them first online, but wasn't quite sure enough what they'd look like in person would be to order one, but then I saw him at a local art fair, and ended up with two. His website is really good for photos, not as good for sizes and prices, but you could probably contact him (or find a gallery, local or online, that sells his stuff) and get more details. I get a lot of compliments on them.

I would absolutely call all 3 of them high quality hand-made clocks, and recommend both artists.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:34 PM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

Most jewelry stores have a very good selection. And you can never go wrong with Howard Miller.
posted by yclipse at 7:05 PM on December 7, 2018

Artist Sondra Gerber makes some beautiful clocks! I have one of her pieces (not a clock) and it's high quality. Here are a few of her designs.
posted by Ostara at 7:39 PM on December 7, 2018

I hesitate to suggest this clock, because I do not personally own one, but I do think they meet a lot of the items on your want list (only 14" diameter, though) I have seen them in person and think they look amazing and seem to be very well made - Tait Design Wall Clock.
posted by Sabby at 8:26 AM on December 8, 2018