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Collectible Clocks

You should pause to consider mankind’s great effort to invent precise timepieces whenever an interesting collectible clock comes up for bidding at an auction house.

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The Development of Mechanical Clocks

Peter Henlein, a German locksmith, created a small spring-powered clock at the beginning of the 1500s, but it was the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when mechanical clocks made great advances.




This period in Europe was one of astounding scientific inventions. Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695), an important scientist from The Hague, was an astronomer, mathematician, physicist and also a key figure in the development of the clock. There had been weight-driven clocks since much earlier times, but Huygens created the first pendulum clock.

These two methods of propulsion, clocks running on springs and those propelled by weights, are still used today.

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Collectible Clocks

Clocks are collected because they are precise and sophisticated timekeeping devices, such as chronometers which are able to withstand changes in temperature. Collectible clocks are also desired for their surface beauty. This characteristic is what makes antique clocks so interesting. They can be exact scientific instruments as well as beautiful antique objects like jewelry and vases.

Expensive grandfather clocks are constructed like fine furniture by cabinetmakers, while women’s watches are often thought of as jewelry. The outside of the clock, its case, can be decorated with figures and composed of material such as marble, silver, porcelain, and tortoise shell.

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A Few Collectible Clocks

  • Carriage Clocks This portable, rectangular clock with handles at the top was used for travel. They run on springs and are often made of brass. Those from France first come to mind, but carriage clocks also originate from other countries as well.
  • Cuckoo Clocks The cuckoo clock is from the Black Forest of Germany. It is traditionally powered by weights while bellows create the bird sounds.
  • Tallcase Clocks Tallcase clocks are commonly called grandfather clocks. The tall, narrow cabinet of this clock is needed for the pendulum and weights.
  • Wristwatches During World War One, watches were strapped to wrists by soldiers to tell the time in a convenient manner. This fashion was brought home after the war and became popular.
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For Further Study

There are many kinds of collectible clocks. Some names are self-descriptive while others might make you wonder what the timepiece looks like and how it operates. Some examples include:

  • Banjo clocks
  • Ship’s clocks
  • Advertising clocks
  • Mystery clocks
  • Car clocks
  • Novelty clocks
  • Picture clocks

Clocks are also categorized by year and place, such as 17th century or 18th century, British or American. More information about collectible clocks can be found by searching the internet for these names or by picking a time or place.



The New Encyclopedia Britannica gives an excellent, technical explanation of how clocks work in addition to a concise history. It should be read in order to know something about the intricate workings of the fancy watch on your arm, the elaborate clock nestled for years on the livingroom mantel, or your next purchase at an antique shop.

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External Clock Links

  • The Horology Source - Horology is the science of studying time and the art of making timepieces. The Horology Source is an extensive website about clocks.
  • NAWCC, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors - The NAWCC is a nonprofit organization located in Columbia, Pennsylvania. It includes a museum, library and a School of Horology that conducts courses in clock and watch repair. Their virtual museum is particularly interesting, having photographs and descriptions of clocks throughout history.
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