Wall clocks are not only functional, they compliment and add to the character of your home and office. A clock needs to blend in with your style – just as your art, your wallpaper, your color scheme, and your lighting blend together.
In contrast to conventional plain white clocks with black numbers, today’s wall clocks have personality, they come in all price ranges, and if you buy a good clock, it will last indefinitely. The only maintenance? An occasional battery change and some dusting if desired.
What to Look for in Function
1. A battery-run wall clock can be mounted in minutes, just as you’d hang a small picture. Another advantage to battery powered clocks is not having to deal with an unsightly electrical cord, or an over-crowded wall outlet. Most 10″ clocks will use 1 AA battery. (And it’s always nice to have the battery included, so you can hang your clock right away.) Larger clocks will require multiple batteries.
2. A case made of wood, with glass over the clock face is nice, BUT – a clock with a one-piece plastic case and plastic over the clock face is lighter, easier to mount, generally less expensive, less breakable, and cheaper to ship as a gift. The look of the plastic cases on a good clock is nearly indistinguishable from that of a wood case.
3. Look for a three point contact on the back of the clock. This will allow the clock to sit against the wall with a solid, non-rocking grip. A picture of this type of clock back can be seen at Clocks Clocks Clocks.
What to Look for in Price
You can buy a wall clock for anywhere from $6.00 to $200.00 or more, with the average being between $15.00 and $75.00. Look for a clock in the $15.00 to $30.00 range to get a high quality piece for the best price.
Some clocks have separate second-hand dials, some have mariners’ information, some have sweeping second hands, some have pendulums. All these details will contribute to the final price. Keep your bells and whistles to a minimum.
What to Look for in Style
Now we’re into the fun part. The decorating part. The colorful part of choosing a wall clock that reflects your personality and the character of your home or office.
There are clocks available to suit any taste; any fashion. You can easily find contemporary clocks with unusual, one-of-a-kind decorations on the face; fashionable clocks with face colors and pictures that reflect your interests, hobbies, or style. A clock for a child’s room may have fire engines pictured on it; for a tween perhaps a cat’s face. A clock for a woman’s bedroom might be floral; for her office, perhaps a still-life. A bowling clock might be perfect for the family room or rec room – and even more perfect if you’re the owner of a bowling alley!
Decorating need not be a chore. It can be fun – even whimsical. And it’s always nice to know what time it is.