Just Clock

Check the clock for a manufacturer’s mark or label. Once you have this, you should be able to look up the clock’s brand to see if it is French in origin. A clock is considered antique once it is 100 years old. A professional can also help verify the origin of your clock. Shop an array of expertly vetted antique clocks on 1stDibs.

The difference between a grandmother clock and a granddaughter clock is height. A grandmother clock is a longcase clock that is usually around 60 to 72 inches tall, while a granddaughter clock is one that is 36 to 60 inches high. Both are shorter than a grandfather clock, which typically measures 73 to 90 inches in height. Explore a diverse assortment of grandmother and granddaughter clocks on 1stDibs.

What the rarest clock is today will owe to a particular model's presence on the market. The rarest and most sought-after clocks in the world include those created by Patek Philippe, Waltham Watch Company, Cartier, Hermle, E. Howard Co. and Thomas Tompion.

If a given model designed by one of these manufacturers is scarce, this attribute will be critical to determining its value providing there is demand for it. While other factors are at play when it comes to value, scarcity is important in the world of collectibles.

Clocks designed in recent decades may be worth more than their older counterparts if fewer of the former are on the market. For example, an antique clock manufactured in a large quantity, even if it is an exceptionally decorative object adorned with gilt bronze flowers and tortoiseshell elements, may be worth far less than a one-of-a-kind vintage clock owing entirely to rarity and demand.

A table clock designed by prestigious English clockmaker Thomas Tompion for Queen Mary in 1693 was sold at auction for more than $2 million in 2019, while a clock named the Duc d'Orléans Breguet Sympathique, designed by the Swiss house of Breguet in the 1830s, fetched $6.8 million at auction in 2012. There are an estimated 12 Sympathiques in existence.

Find a collection of clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

The Atlas clock is a famed clock mounted outside of the Tiffany Co. store in New York. Tiffany Co. have since created an Atlas line of watches inspired by this famous clock and legendary Greek figure. Shop a collection of authentic Atlas watches on 1stDibs.

The spandrel of a clock is the triangular-shaped space between the top of an arch and the frame on either side. This feature often has decorative elements to create interest on either side. On 1stDibs, find a collection of clocks with spandrels from some of the world’s top sellers.