Clock guides · Buying a clock

How to choose a good clock

Before you buy, decide how you want it to run, how it should sound and who needs to read it. A plain guide with no sales pitch.

By David Ray · Updated November 10, 2026

Quartz or mechanical?

For keeping good time with no fuss, quartz is hard to beat. A quartz crystal keeps a steadier beat than any pendulum, and NIST notes quartz oscillators can stay within about 100 microseconds a day. All a quartz clock asks for is a fresh battery, which Frankenmuth Clock Company suggests changing at least once a year.

A mechanical clock is a different kind of purchase. It ticks, often chimes, and can last for generations, but it needs winding every week or every day and professional servicing every few years, which The Henry Ford museum puts at about every five. Buy one for its craft and character, not for accuracy.

See also: a look at today's desk and mantel clocks on OnlineClock.app.

Silent or ticking

Most battery clocks tick because the second hand jumps forward once a second. If the sound bothers you, especially in a bedroom, look for a continuous sweep movement. As a clock parts supplier explains, its second hand glides smoothly, so there is no click every second. These are the clocks labeled silent or non-ticking.

If you are replacing the movement in a large clock, check the hands too: long or heavy hands need a high-torque movement, or the clock may stall as the hands climb.

Want the exact time right now? See it on a big, clean clock at OnlineClock.app, free, with no sign-up.

Atomic clocks that set themselves

A radio-controlled, or atomic, clock is a quartz clock with a receiver that picks up a time signal broadcast from a real atomic clock. In the United States the signal comes from NIST's station WWVB near Fort Collins, Colorado.

They are a good choice if you hate setting clocks, but reception matters. NIST notes that metal buildings, electrical noise from nearby electronics and weak batteries can stop them syncing, and most try only at night. Place one near a window, away from TVs and computers.

See also: the exact atomic time to check your clock against on OnlineClock.app.

Easy to read

Think about who will read the clock and from where. Large numerals, strong contrast between the hands and the dial, and a plain face are easier from across a room than a stylish dial with tiny markers or no numbers at all. For a digital clock, check that the display can be dimmed at night.

If you choose Roman numerals, note that many clocks write four as IIII rather than IV.

Clocks for seniors and people with dementia

For someone living with dementia, an ordinary clock may not help much, because it does not say what day it is or whether it is morning or evening. Day clocks are made for this. One model sold through the Alzheimer's Society's online shop has two displays: one shows the day, date and time, and the other says in plain words something like Now it's Sunday afternoon.

Useful features to look for include a high-contrast display, automatic brightness for day and night, a choice of 12-hour or 24-hour time, adjustable times for when morning, afternoon and night begin, and the ability to keep the correct time if it is unplugged and moved.

Chimes and night silence

Chiming clocks often offer more than one tune, such as the Westminster chime, with a selector to change it or turn it off. Many mechanical chiming and cuckoo clocks have a switch to silence them at night, and some do it automatically.

If the clock will be in or near a bedroom, check for a night-silence feature before you buy. A chime that sounds lovely at noon can be much less welcome at 3 a.m.

Questions people ask

Which is better, a quartz or a mechanical clock?

Quartz is more accurate and needs only a battery. Mechanical clocks are chosen for craftsmanship and sound and can last generations, but need regular winding and servicing.

What is a silent wall clock?

A battery clock with a continuous sweep movement. Its second hand glides smoothly instead of stepping once a second, so it makes no ticking sound.

What kind of clock is best for someone with dementia?

A day clock that shows the day of the week and spells out the time of day, such as Sunday afternoon, with a clear high-contrast display.

Do atomic wall clocks work everywhere?

They need to receive a radio time signal. Metal buildings, nearby electronics and weak batteries can stop them syncing, so place them near a window.

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Sources

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