About Clocks
A UGEARS clock is a wooden model kit that actually tells the time once it is assembled. You slot the parts of laser-cut plywood together without glue and then wind up the movement — a pendulum or a tourbillon keeps it going.
You can choose between wall clocks and table clocks: with a pendulum, with a tourbillon, or in an engine-block design.
Run time per winding
The movement draws its energy from a wound spring, not from a battery. That means a limited running time per winding: after one winding the engine clock shows the time for up to 5 hours, and it runs 60 to 90 minutes longer if you disengage the pistons. The tourbillon table clock runs for about 2 to 3 hours when fully wound. For the Aero clock, the manufacturer gives no running time per winding.
If you are looking for a clock to read the time every day, another clock will serve you better. If you want to watch escapement, pendulum and gears work together, you will find movements here with nothing hidden behind a casing.
Which clock suits you
Engine clock — the place to start. 265 parts, about 5 hours, medium difficulty. The dial reads like a dashboard: speedometer for the hours, rev counter for the minutes. After 60 minutes a return mechanism resets the minute hand by itself.
Aero clock — the big piece. 320 parts, about 11 hours, and at 75 × 47 cm an object that needs a free wall. The mechanism is half open; the pendulum works in plain sight.
Tourbillon table clock — the showpiece. 338 parts, about 15 hours. The tourbillon turns on three axes, and the time is shown not by hands but by rollers.
Frequently asked questions
Do the clocks really tell the time?
Yes, they are working wooden timepieces. The running time per winding is limited, though — they are spring-driven, not battery clocks. How long a movement runs after winding is stated on each product page.
Do the clocks need batteries?
No. The clocks are wound up and run on a spring mechanism or a pendulum.
How accurate are they?
The manufacturer gives no figure for accuracy. The tourbillon mechanism of the tourbillon table clock is modelled on the watchmaking original, which compensates for deviations caused by gravity.
How long does it take to build?
A clock movement is not a one-evening project. Expect several hours over several sessions — clocks are among the more involved kits in the range. The manufacturer's figure for each model is on its product page.
Where does the finished clock go?
There are wall clocks and table clocks. The wall clocks are considerably larger than the product photos suggest — measure the space first. The exact dimensions of each model are on its product page.