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Mad About . . . Clocks

I love clocks. Not in a desperate momenti mori woe is me time is passing kind of way, just as objects. I’ve probably got two in every room, apart from the digital ones on the cooker etc, yet I don’t wear a watch. Go figure. Anyway, here are a few that I currently want.

WINE O’CLOCK

£55

johnnyegg.bigcartel.com/product/wine-o-clock

Part of the new summer range from Johnny Egg, this must have a place in every kitchen in the land. The hands are flocked and you can choose what colour you want them to be. It measures 30cm by 15cm and we think it will be a big hit for summer.

BIG BEN WALL CLOCK

£120

www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

I would like this in my hall. Well we are in London after all. It’s basically a 2m tall sticker ( with all the windows cut out) so the colour of the wall will show through and when you’ve stuck that on, you attach the working clock movement which has metal hands. Point to note – it is completely silent so fine in a bedroom and it even comes with a battery supplied.

OVERSIZED ANTIQUE BLUE CLOCK

£395

www.roseandgrey.co.uk

Oversized, and not necessarily under-priced either, but as a feature in a room (assuming you don’t need to spend the money on chairs) it is rather beautiful. I rather like the crochet cushion in front of it too. Even if you don’t want the clock, there’s masses of other lovely objets for the home, so you can always spend a happy hour having a browse.

IDLE/GO CLOCK

£99.87

www.cb2.com

This engineer’s clock is rather fun. It needs to hang away from the wall as it has a clock on both sides. The other is black with “Idle” written in it.CB2 is part of Crate and Barrel which opened in the US in 2000, but until now has not been available to us Brits. They have just started shipping to the UK and to make it easier, the prices are already in pounds sterling and all the duty and VAT is calculated at check-out.

RED OVAL CLOCK

£85

www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

Sticking with the vintage theme, this giant fob watch clock is rather lovely. I have something similar (but smaller sadly) in my kitchen. It’s a bit different from all those fake vintage frameless faces that you see everywhere now. I’ve got one of those too mind.

DIAMANTINI & DIAMANTINI CUCU WALL CLOCK

£100

www.johnlewis.com

Or what about this? The rather cutsey traditional cuckoo clock has been given a modern makeover. The cuckoo still pops out on the hour and can be programmed to sing too if you want. Which you might want once, but, on balance, probably not every hour.  Comes in a variety of colours and prices including red, white and walnut (£240) or a mini one for £44.

KARLSSON THREE PIECE PARIS SKYLINE CLOCK

£39.95

www.mooch.co.uk

A three-piece set featuring one of the most distinctive skylines in the world.  As it is three pieces, you can decide how far apart you want to hang them.

ASTERISK CLOCK

£176.40

www.designshopuk.com

I love this for its simplicity but also it’s quite bold. This is a Vitra re-edition of one of George Nelson’s clocks from the 50s. His other famous pieces include the Eye clock and the Sunburst. Be careful when you buy as there are many, many copies of his work. If you spot one for around £50, it is not the real thing  – look out for clues like “George Nelson style”. That probably means it’s a cheap copy and, frankly don’t bother. Either buy the real one or buy an original clock in your price bracket. Sorry, didn’t mean to lecture, stopping now.

PAPER CARRIAGE CLOCK

£48

www.moska.co.uk

This is by Lucy Roscoe and is a fantastic modern take on a traditional carriage clock. The pattern is embossed and it hides a standard clock mechanism that takes AA batteries.

GOMITOLO KNITTED CLOCK

£220

www.redcandy.co.uk

Admittedly we are probably moving away from clocks that you might actually buy and into the realms of “wow look at that.” But do look at it – it’s knitted. And sometimes it’s good to just see what’s out there rather look only at things that you intend to buy. So this is out there. It’s 50cm in diameter but there is one that’s 90cm for £120 more. Gomitoli is Italian for a ball made of wool or string and, in a weird fact that you’ve probably never thought of before – it is a washable clock as the cover is removeable and can go in the machine.

YOUR CLOCKS

ST MICHEL CLOCK TABLE

£89

www.made.com

chosen by @LucyGongMuse

GIANT CLOCK OF JOY

£55

www.postmoderndesigns.co.uk

chosen by @m2comms

And this lovely wall of clocks from www.nest.co.uk

HELIX 

£4,550

by www.charlieturnerdesign.co.uk

Tags : clocks
Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.