Utinam KB2 Standing Clock, €29,700 (approx. £25,000)
Scaling up in both size and colour, if this particular standing clock from French maker Utinam looks familiar, you’ve likely been paying attention to Louis Erard or Yema recently. Those triangles, arrows and circles? The combination of cartoonish blue, yellow and red? That’s the signature of Alain Silberstein and indeed, the KB2 was built in collaboration with the famed Bauhaus designer. As close to a watchmaking sculpture as you’ll find outside of MB&F’s MAD Gallery, and just as big on personality. There’s no putting this thing on a desk; at over 2m tall, it’s as monolithic as it is majestic.
Available at Utinam.
Erwin Sattler Troja 20, €125,800 (Approx. £105,000)
Now we’re talking. Erwin Sattler’s Troja 20 a revamp of their previous Troja 16 model goes well beyond just a pendulum clock, though it’s a stately one at that. The longcase clock section is flanked either side by walls of watch winders, enough to keep 20 pieces in perfect time. There’s no putting this thing on a desk; at over 2m tall, it’s as monolithic as it is majestic. Why bother with a separate watch winder, safe and clock when you can pull them all together into one stunning, room-defining feature like this?
Available at Erwin Sattler.
L’Epee 1839 Grenade, CHF 10,900 (approx. £9,600)
Who said clocks need to be classical? After years of collaborating with MB&F some of that madness must have rubbed off on L’Epee 1839. This timekeeping explosive displays hours and minutes on black, engraved aluminium discs, with the gears powering them making up the body of the grenade. Available in a variety of colours, it’s definitely a statement for your desk. It’s also protected by an Incabloc shock protection system; just don’t be tempted to throw it. Who knows what might happen? Missing a few seconds an hour may be the least of your problems.
Available at L’Epee.
Maison Alcée Persée Nuit
Sure, clocks are a testament to the craftspeople that made them, but what about if you were that craftsperson? That’s the concept behind self-assembly clockmaker Maison Alcée, whose 233-piece kits come with all the tools and instructions you need to build a beautiful desk clock of your own. It’s all very beginner friendly, but the end result is a modern, minimalist clock that, in the case of the Nuit edition, is sleek, dark and cool. It might sound trite and Hallmark-y to say, but this isn’t just a clock, it’s an experience.
Available at Maison Alcée.
Båge & Söner X Monocle Crispy Pillow, €690 (approx. £575)
Let’s start with something relatively lightweight in the world of clocks but something that all of us kind of need in our lives: a rather handsome alarm clock. A collaboration between Swedish clockmaker Båge & Söner and lifestyle brand Monocle, the Crispy Pillow belies its slightly disturbing name with a clean, contemporary twist on a classic California dial. That means Roman numerals across the top, Arabic numerals across the bottom and the overall look of a vintage watch. At 75mm x 75mm, it’s a travel-sized bedside companion and, yes, there is a snooze button.
Available at Båge & Söner.
Oracle Time