Time Machines

The Zen Alarm Clock's Tibetan bell-like chimes helps you ease gracefully into a new day.

Nothing can stop the onward march of time, but measure it any way you choose.

Ease gracefully into the day using a new Zen alarm clock with Tibetan bell-like chimes. Mark your gardening hours with a decorative sundial.

Grandfather clocks offer ancestral charm, while fleeting trends are easily accommodated with inexpensive but stylish timepieces.

Young customers are drawn to decorative wall clocks that use batteries, says Domonique Good, who works with her husband, Stan, at Stan Good Clocks, 107 S. MacDill Ave.

Baby boomers tend to gravitate toward grandfather clocks, which follow the you-get-what-you-pay-for rule.

“If you want a better movement that’s going to last longer, you’re going to have to pay for it,” Good says. Just $200 to $300 more can make a huge difference.

A new development in grandfather clocks is an auto-winding feature by Hermle, a German company. It costs $300, Good says.

Howard Miller, which has been making clocks for more than 80 years, offers a broad assortment of styles. (Take a look at www.howardmiller.com.) The company watches furniture trends and designs complementary clocks, marketing director Mark Siciliano says.

Wall clocks, particularly those produced by Timeworks Inc., are a big hit with consumers, says Tom DaPrato, president of Ahl DaPrato, which operates three online distributors.

Timeworks’ clocks sell well because they’re stylish and affordable, says DaPrato, who operates www.simplywallclocks.com, www.grandfatherclockco.com and www.simplymantelclocks.com. “They’re very big on the antique replica.”

When buying over the Internet, be sure to read the product descriptions and dimensions carefully, he warns.

What looks like wood may be resin, for instance. And size is important. You can only be sure of a size by reading the measurements.

Grandfather clocks may be better purchased at a local store, Good says. They’re delicate to ship, and they’ll need someone to keep them ticking.

– B.C. MANION
Media General News Service