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THE NOTEBOOK / Choose a clock

Choose a clock

Shape, sound and a dial you can read.

23 guides
A numbered analogue wall clock above a wooden shelf and green plants
Choose a clock

Choosing a wall clock you can read across the room

Start with the view from your chair, not the close-up in a product photograph.

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A minimalist grey tabletop clock in warm sunlight
Choose a clock

What a silent clock actually promises

Quietness depends on the whole clock, its position and the room around it.

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Two compact quartz clock movements with separate red second hands on a workbench
Choose a clock

Sweep or step: choosing a quartz movement

The seconds hand's movement changes the feel of a clock, but it does not settle every buying question.

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A person measuring wall space beneath a paper clock-size mock-up
Choose a clock

Measuring a wall before buying a clock

Measure the empty space, the usable dial and the route needed to reach the clock later.

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A white analogue alarm clock on a wooden bedside surface
Choose a clock

Analogue or digital for a bedside clock

Choose the display you can understand comfortably from your usual sleeping position.

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A hand reaching for the top control of a twin-bell alarm clock
Choose a clock

Choosing an alarm you can set in the dark

Distinct controls matter when you reach for an alarm without turning on the room light.

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The back of a blue-rimmed wall clock with its battery cover removed
Choose a clock

Battery access matters more than it looks

A well-placed battery compartment makes routine changes easier and reduces unnecessary handling.

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An angled close-up of a white quartz dial with black numerals
Choose a clock

Reading the dial from an angle

A clock that reads well head-on can become awkward from the sofa or doorway.

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An ornate clock dial with multicoloured number panels
Choose a clock

Why thin hands disappear on patterned dials

Fine hands can merge into decoration even when the numerals are large.

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