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Modern or Traditional Cuckoo Clocks: How to Decorate with Either Style 37

Although the cuckoo clock is one of the most iconic timepiece styles, it has a long history that many do not know. The original inventor of the cuckoo clock remains a mystery, but its origins are traced back to the 1600s. The Black Forest cuckoo clock from Southwestern Germany is believed to be the first style of cuckoo clocks created. Farmers originally used logs from the Black Forest to build these clocks during the winter months. Today, clock makers continue to use the same mechanics and components, but there are a variety of modern styles that have broken free from tradition.

Here are three tips on decorating with cuckoo clocks for any style home décor. 

1. Choose Your Theme

Cuckoo clocks are often depicted in cartoons and movies as annoying and outdated, but these timepieces are full of traditional techniques! They are truly pieces of art, and some styles have undergone a major transformation since they were invented. Incorporating a cuckoo clock into your home can instantly elevate any room. It just has to be well coordinated. From traditional carved Black Forest cuckoo clocks to hip, trendy clocks like the stunning Romba Hohenzollern Waaghur, there are a lot of different styles to choose from.

However, before you can pick the perfect clock for your home, you have to decide on a theme. Do you want a more traditional cuckoo clock with animated figures to go with your mid-century décor? Or a bold pink cuckoo clock completed with carved leaves and birds?

It can definitely be a little overwhelming, but matching the base color of a more complicated clock to your current décor will make your decision much easier.

2. Find the Right Location

Once you have decided on a theme, you need to find the perfect location for your clock. Would you rather your cuckoo clock blend in with the other accessories in your home or do you want it to be the focal point?

If you picked the latter, we recommend choosing a musical cuckoo clock with animated figures. The Romba Watergirl cuckoo clock features intricately carved figures and a large 36-note music box. Hang it over your fireplace or television for all to see!

But what if you don’t want your clock to be the centre of attention? Sternreiter’s Arabella Black Forest Mechanical cuckoo clock is delicately carved from a rare black Arenga wood for a more subdued look. This 8-day cuckoo clock also features beautifully hard-carved bone hands and a bird, which has exceptional detail all the way around.

3. Think Outside the Box

Every cuckoo clock is unique, and when it comes to style the options are endless — from chalet to Black Forest, quartz or mechanical, 1-day or 8-day, Hermle or Romba, you’ll find what you need in both traditional or modern styles. So why not get a little creative with your decorating? Instead of choosing one mechanical or musical cuckoo clock, consider displaying a cluster of clocks! You can dedicate a single wall to your growing collection to create the ultimate focal point. Utilize shelving, simple pieces of art, and even empty space to separate and define each group of clocks. This option really allows you the freedom to explore and appreciate the vast world of cuckoo clocks.

Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks Chime Holiday Magic Timely and Timeless has clocks and free gifts to make your holidays complete 25

The holiday season is truly magical. For a few weeks, time seems to slow down. There’s a joyful spirit in the air, and friends and family reconnect.

Traditions, old and new, are the hallmark of the Christmas season, and few things are as traditional, or as charming, as cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest region of Germany. Carved bird cuckoo clocks, and cuckoo clocks with animated figures, are among the top souvenirs for tourists visiting the region. It’s not hard to see why – the Black Forest is where the cuckoo clock was born, refined, and then shared with the world. It is an endearing timepiece that has enchanted the world since the 1600s.

As you search for the best gifts this year, consider a real Black Forest cuckoo clock. The Black Forest, after all, is steeped in Christmas tradition. 

Christmas in the Black Forest is magical! Some of the longstanding traditions include leaving candy out to becalm restless ghosts, and not watching animals go into the barn on Christmas Eve, so the animals can talk to each other without being observed on the Holy Night! A tradition that is truly spectacular is Triberger Weihnachtszauber, where thousands of lights illuminate the valley.  One of our favorites, Triberg Cuckoo Clock by Hermle pays homage to that tradition. 

When you give a Black Forest Cuckoo clock as a Christmas gift – and it doesn’t matter what kind; it could be an  8 Day  Sternreiter cuckoo clock, a modern Romba cuckoo clock, or even a 12 melody musical cuckoo clock like Hermle Rheinberg, you give a piece of the Black Forest’s heart. These clocks truly are nostalgic and memorable gifts for the young and old alike.

Wouldn’t mom love a delicately carved  cuckoo clock?  And our fine, imported from Germany traditional Black Forest and Chalet style cuckoo clocks are perfect for the cabin, lodge, or rustic home. We even have quartz or mechanical movement clocks to satisfy those that want to wind their timepiece, and those that want it to self regulate.

The joy doesn’t stop when you choose one our authentic Hermle, Sternreiter or Romba Black Forest cuckoo clocks. For a limited time, get a free carved whistle when you spend up to $500, or a free clock with purchases of over $500. You get a gift to give and a little something special for yourself.

Your free gifts are only offered until the clock strikes 12 on December 31, so don’t delay. Shop our outstanding selection of Black Forest cuckoo clocks today, and learn why we are the go-to online clock retailer for traditional as well as modern cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest. Our customer service and our selection cannot be beat.

What is the greatest give you can give anyone at Christmas? Time – and we have plenty of it! This year, turn aside from the electronics that can quickly become outdated. Step away from the clothes (do you really know their personal clothing style?). Back down from the chocolates. Instead, do something different this year. Give someone you love a piece of nostalgia: a Black Forest cuckoo clock that reminds them of the time you give every day of the year.

Grandfather Clocks: Timely and Timeless 13

In this era of smart phones, voice-controlled speakers and wireless-enabled wearable devices, the grandfather clock is an anachronism if ever there was one. While digital time displays are ubiquitous, incorporated into all manner of disposable technology devices that continue to evolve at a breakneck pace, the basic mechanics of a grandfather clock, including the weights and pendulum mechanism, have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

Of course, needing to know the time is the worst possible reason one might have for buying a grandfather clock. A grandfather clock has almost nothing to do with telling time (even though these key-wound mechanical clocks are highly accurate even by today's standards) and almost everything to do with the desire to own (and/or give) an objet d’art of incredible craftsmanship, unparalleled beauty and enduring value. Let's face it: Nothing compares to the ornately carved rings of Roman numerals or the unhurried cadence of the pendulums that are hallmarks of the traditional grandfather clock.

The grandfather clock (an American term, coined in the early 1800s) describes a tall case, floor standing clock that, traditionally, was passed down from one generation to the next as a family treasure. The tradition is still alive. Indeed, today's buyers of exquisite floor clocks oftentimes want to create an heirloom for their own family. That explains why most of our customers request a complimentary brass plate engraved with their names and the purchase date of the clock, to be permanently affixed to their purchase.

While the popularity of traditional grandfather clocks ebbs and flows, depending on the economy and any number of other factors, the market for beautiful mechanical clocks remains strong. Given the fine craftsmanship of the woodwork and the intricate German engineering of mechanical clocks, it stands to reason that high-end floor clocks such as those manufactured by Hermle, which ranks as one of the world's oldest and most prestigious manufacturers of grandfather and grandmother clocks, will always maintain their universal appeal — and their value, as well. In recent years, the pendulum has swung back toward grandfather clocks (pun included) as a new generation of consumers comes to appreciate these masterworks and their place in history.

The average lifespan of new smart phone, a computer or virtually any other technological marvel is generally only a few years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. Some prized possessions, on the other hand, can be cherished, enjoyed and shared for many decades and even for many generations. A Steinway grand piano is a good example. A Hermle floor clock is another good example.   

Home décor fads come and go. But grandfather clocks stand the test of time and are bound to always have a place in the homes of not only the rich and famous, but also the not-so-rich-and-famous. While the red oak, mahogany or maple wood casings for Hermle grandfather clocks are now cut by computer-guided machines, the clocks are still hand assembled, requiring 20 to 30 hours of work.

The classic grandfather clock consists of a split pediment, Doric columns and a finial at the center of the top. Traditionally, the most obvious difference between one grandfather clock and another was size, parquetry, and inlay. While classic styles will never look out of date, floor clocks are also fashion statements and can even be viewed as a status symbol in today’s homes. This perception continues to give rise to contemporary floor clocks with new shapes, finishes, and sizes. Some of these clocks, such as the Hermle Parker grandfather clock and the Charlotte round top floor clock in walnut, are incredible museum quality pieces that would impress in any home or office. 

While grandfather clocks remain a category staple, younger consumers often gravitate toward more modern variations on the theme. Our collection of Hermle floor clocks includes a variety of styles, including some models that were introduced only recently. Contemporary floor clocks offer clean simple lines to coordinate with any modern design scheme. These styles create a unique and striking focal point and make a dramatic statement — one that transcends the passage of time and may even connect one generation to the next — in any living area or open space.

Ten Things You Need to Know About Franz Hermle Clocks 64