As much as any popular item that consumers buy, there’s a wide range of different choices in clocks. Size, shape, colour, theme, design – There’s a wall clock to suit everyone’s needs and personal preferences these days. That’s all well and good, but unfortunately the only time we ever find out just how much choice there is, is when we actually need to choose one to suit our home or office.

Antique wall clocks

Wall clocks with an antique style are still popular purchases, possibly because of the nostalgia-factor.  Antique styled clocks have very recognizable characteristics, such as the Roman numerals on the face of the clock and the curvy and sharply pointed hands. More elaborate versions have a long case underneath the clock with a pendulum swinging from side to side. Modern day antique wall clocks, however, aren’t built with the pins and gears of days gone by, and the pendulum swing is driven by battery power (as is the rest of the clock)

Contemporary wall clocks

The more contemporary models are the most commonly purchased versions and are pretty straightforward. Although still mostly analog clocks, some feature a digital display as an addition. Some contemporary clocks also feature Roman numerals, but with a more modern font face that give the clock an upgraded look.

Modern wall clocks

Although modern is the correct term for these models, with some designs the term that comes to mind is futuristic. Many modern wall clocks have been designed with the deliberate intention to step away from the perceptions we have of what a clock is supposed to look like. Whether it’s chaotic graphic designs or cutlery-styled arms, these clocks are the choice for people who look for alternative options. They’re also right for people who are pretty confident in their time reading abilities (since some designs make it hard to read the actual time).

Decorative wall clocks

The sole purpose of decorative clocks is to complement the existing array of decorations a room may already have. Functionality or specific styles don’t really matter. From brushed steel to stained wood, these clocks are built to please the eye and are a popular choice. Although on the high end price range, some decorative wall clocks feature elaborate designs on the face, with mechanisms visibly churning away and fancy melodies played on the hour.

Retro wall clocks

As if wall clocks were a fashion accessory, the retro designs represent some of the most famous clock designs, as featured in movies or scenes of a few decades ago. Clocks like the Black Kit Kat, styled to look like a cat with a pendulum tail and eyes moving from side to side as the seconds tick away.

Whatever your taste, whatever the purpose, there’s a wide choice in wall clocks and choosing the right model and style can be a tough decision to make.

Pendulum clocks were the most common wall clocks for centuries, from its invention in 1656 by Christiaan Huygens well into the 20th century. This type of clock relies on a pendulum mechanism, by which the swinging motion of the pendulum (with its long maintained momentum) drives a set of gears that move the hands on the face of the clock.

Until the advance of the Quartz crystal clock in 1927, the pendulum clock maintained its popularity for almost three centuries thanks to its relative accuracy in measuring time. What was considered accurate in those days isn’t quit the same interpretation we have of this concept nowadays, which comes forward by the 15 seconds a day by which pendulum clocks would usually run late.

The first pendulum clocks only had a hand to indicate hours and had a long and relatively heavy pendulum arm. With shorter swings and the introduction of an anchor escapement mechanism (which helps the pendulum by providing precisely timed impulses to keep it swinging), accuracy was improved to such an extent that a minute hand could now be added to display time in more detail. This development accommodated the use of longer, slower pendulums which paved the way for grandfather clocks, with a pendulum that is encased within the extended frame of the clock.

The mechanism of a pendulum clock is built up of five parts:

• A power source, which is often a weight on a cord that turns a pulley through the force of gravity
• A gear train that increases the speed of the force applied by the weight, so it can be used by the pendulum
• An escapement that allows the pendulum to keep swinging through precisely timed impulses, and which also controls the gear train by allowing it to move forward a fixed amount at each swing of the pendulum
• The pendulum, which is usually a weight affixed to a rod and suspended from the clock’s internal mechanism
• An indicator that displays the amount of time the escapement has rotated, and in doing so shows how much time has passed (the face of the clock).

Pendulum clocks were very expensive up until the 19th century, since they were handmade by craftsman and were available mostly to the higher classes. The wealthy would often enrich the visual appeal of their clocks with rich ornamentation, which made the clock a showpiece of capital. The industrial evolution of the 1800s meant that factory production of clock parts was introduced, which made pendulum clocks much more affordable and thus available to middle class families.

Wall clocks with a similar style and appearance are mass produced at present day, with a fake pendulum and a simple battery-driven mechanism. Pendulum clocks are once again made by hand by specialists now. Although you pay more, the quality and craftsmanship are well worth the extra expense, which is affordable nevertheless.