Choosing a modern-design table clock to match your lifestyle

The new fiscal year is just around the corner.

It's a season full of lifestyle changes, like starting a new life or moving house.

Many of you may be excited about a new environment.

Even for those whose surroundings won't change much,

perhaps it's a time to finally start that hobby or lesson you've always wanted to try but never had time for,

or to make better use of your own time.

In a season when new things begin,

you might feel like refreshing the things around you—

that kind of mood sets in, doesn't it?

Take, for example, the [clock]—an essential item in our busy modern lives.

Since you're at it, why not take this new season as an opportunity

to update the table clock you glance at every day, almost without thinking,

into something more modern? It might be a good idea.

The role of the table clock

Now that mobile phones and smartphones have become so widespread,

checking the time with a clock is no longer strictly necessary.

Even so, aren't there still moments when you feel a clock is indispensable to daily life?

Not just for checking the time,

why not take this opportunity to reconsider the table clock?

・As an alarm clock

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear "table clock" is its function as an alarm clock.

Being able to check the time without squinting at the bright screen of your smartphone

is one of the charms of a table clock.

Depending on the model, some come with a snooze function,

and some let you check the dial even in the dark.

・As interior decor

A table clock with a highly refined design blends naturally into a room,

making you want one for its interior appeal as well.

Not just for its function, but also as a piece of interior decor,

it might be worth choosing a clock

from the perspective of what fits perfectly in your room.

*This is a color that we do not carry.

Comparing the feel of use

Even though we simply call them "table clocks,"

each one feels different to use.

When you buy an alarm clock online,

it can feel unsettling, worrying that the actual experience might differ from what you imagined.

For the clocks introduced here, our staff actually

checked the products themselves and noted down their impressions of use,

so please use this as a reference.

・Dial design

Do you prefer a clock with numbers, or without?

When it comes to readability, a dial with numbers seems better,

but a dial without numbers looks sleeker and cleaner.

・About the operating sound

Some people love the tick-tock sound of a second hand moving, so characteristic of a clock,

while others are looking for a clock that's as quiet as possible—preferences vary.

Also, many people buy a table clock mainly for its alarm function.

If you're placing it in the bedroom, it's best to choose one that operates quietly and has a solid alarm function.

One table clock for every room

How many clocks do you have in your home?

So that you're never left frustrated

by not being able to check the time when you suddenly need to,

we've selected the perfect table clock for each room.

・For the living room... a table clock by Wajima Kirimoto

This table clock looks as if that classic, large clock you once dreamed of

had been turned into a tabletop version, just as it is.

In the living room, it's nice to have something with presence,

and yet something that doesn't assert itself too strongly, adding a touch of elegance instead—

that would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

[Product Features]

Movement: Step type

The second hand makes a pleasant, quiet tick-tock sound.

Alarm: Yes

It sounds with a beeping electronic tone.

You can turn the alarm on and off using the dial on the back.

Wajima Kirimoto works primarily as a hooki-jiya (wooden base craftsman),

and together with skilled artisans, creates everything from urushi (Japanese lacquer) tableware and small items to furniture and architectural interior materials.

It's a brand that continues to explore ways for urushi to blend seamlessly into modern everyday life.

Urushi tools might seem difficult to care for,

but Wajima Kirimoto makes things that can be used more and more in daily life,

developing a deeper character over time.

・For the study... an alarm clock by BRAUN

"Less, but better"

This is BRAUN's design concept.

Beyond its clarity and ease of use,

this alarm clock, with its beautifully restrained form that conveys a kind of quiet modesty,

blends effortlessly into daily life.

Its compact size means it won't get in the way on your study desk.

When you want to focus—whether working or studying—

you'll probably want to keep your phone, which you usually check the time on, out of sight.

This minimally designed clock,

simply placed on your study desk, somehow makes you want to sit down and get to work—

it's curious, really.

It also makes a perfect gift for students starting a new school term.

[Product Features]

Movement: Step type

The second hand makes a quiet tick-tock sound.

Alarm: Yes

A gentle electronic tone.

・For the entryway... a small clock

This is a reissue of the "Small Wall Clock," released in 1970 by Riki Watanabe,

one of Japan's leading product designers.

At a time in the 1970s when ornately decorated clocks were common,

this clock stood out with its strong individuality, achieved by stripping away unnecessary decoration,

It has also been highly regarded by many designers and architects around the world. 

At about 12cm in diameter, it's a compact size.

If you want to place a clock in your entryway, this small clock is recommended.

You can choose from 5 colors,

so please pick your favorite one.

In a narrow space like an entryway,

you'll want a clock that's compact yet still has a touch of flair.

You want to check the time right away,

but at the entryway your hands are often full,

and many people find it a hassle to check their phone too.

This small clock can be used both as a table clock and as a wall clock,

so

place it somewhere easy to see in your entryway.

【Product Features】

Movement: Step type

There is no second hand.

Alarm: None

※This is not waterproof.

・For the bedroom... ARNE JACOBSEN Table Clock series

The designer of this clock, Arne Jacobsen, is

one of the most influential architects and designers

of the 20th century to come out of Denmark.

He shaped the prototype for today's modern Scandinavian design,

and is known as the father of Danish design.

In the late 1930s, he created a table clock for Lauritz Knudsen,

then Denmark's largest electrical equipment manufacturer,

but due to the effects of the war, sales ended after only a short time.

This product, known as the "phantom table clock,"

has been faithfully recreated in its original design, with excellent functionality added to suit modern times,

and this table clock is its revival for the present day.

There are 3 designs available.

Bankers, whose design highlight is the red color at its center,

adopts the design used for the National Bank of Denmark,

a project handled by Jacobsen in 1971, in his later years, often called his masterpiece.

The monotone-colored City Hall is based on the design of the wall clock

created together with Rødovre Town Hall, which Jacobsen designed in 1956.

Station, reissued from its 1943 design,

was made with a simple Arabic numeral font for greater visibility.

It was later adopted for clocks used in Danish railway stations,

and could be called a piece of Denmark's national design.

This clock is recommended for the bedroom.

With its snooze function, LED light, and precise, minimal design,

it's convenient for checking the time when you're in a darkened room.

※You can set the alarm using the thin hand.

【Product Features】

Movement: Step type

There is no second hand.

Alarm: Yes

Simply touch the top of the clock to stop the sound,

and since it has a snooze function, you can fully stop it from the back.

This recreates the alarm sound that Arne Jacobsen was pursuing at the time.

It rings with an elegant bell sound.

To keep it beautiful for a long time

・Wipe it regularly

Table clocks don't require any particular maintenance,

but it's said to be good to regularly clean the glass surface

to make the dial easier to see.

For urushi (Japanese lacquer) products, avoiding dryness and wiping with a damp cloth

to maintain moisture is said to be the most important thing.

◇Wall clocks and table clocks can be found here