Man has been fascinated with telling the time for thousands of years, but it was not until the mid-17th Century that Dutch scientist Christopher Huygens successfully applied a pendulum to clocks allowing for accurate and easy timekeeping. This was followed by other improvements including springs and repeaters. Over time clocks have evolved both technically and aesthetically and remain one of the most cherished items in any home.
While modern digital clocks might have the edge over traditional timepieces when it comes to accuracy and ease, most people know that there remains something timeless and beautiful about the look and sound of antique clocks as they tick,tick,tick their way through our days. 8 day clocks remain as popular as ever for their practicality and overall antique clocks offer a sheer variety of design unavailable new.
At LoveAntiques you will find a fine and large selection of antique and vintage clocks from imposing longcase clocks to smaller carriage and bracket clocks. Our dealers are able to offer beautiful and unusual mantel clocks as well as highly practical Fusee clocks all with the knowledge that they have been checked by our reputable dealers.
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Warm Walnut Grandmother / Grandfather Longcase Clock with Peerless / Embee Quarter Chiming Triple Weight 8 Day Westminster Musical
£ 1,595
Warm Walnut Grandmother / Grandfather Longcase Clock with Peerless / Embee Quarter Chiming Triple Weight 8 Day Westminster Musical
£ 1,595
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
1920's Deep Mellow Sounding Musical Chiming Triple Weight Oak Grandmother/Grandfather Longcase Clock - Silent Cord
£ 1,595
1920's Deep Mellow Sounding Musical Chiming Triple Weight Oak Grandmother/Grandfather Longcase Clock - Silent Cord
£ 1,595
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Small (< 70") Grandmother or Grandfather Oak Longcase Triple Weight Musical Quarter Chiming Clock with Underslung Rheingold-gongs
£ 1,495
Small (< 70") Grandmother or Grandfather Oak Longcase Triple Weight Musical Quarter Chiming Clock with Underslung Rheingold-gongs
£ 1,495
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
London City Antiques
Quality Antique Burr Walnut and Ormolu Mounted Bracket Clock
£ 1,750
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Good Quality Quarter Chiming Triple Musical Tune Triple Weight German 8 Day Movement in A Very Attractive English Grandfather or Grandmother Oak Longcase Clock
£ 1,750
Good Quality Quarter Chiming Triple Musical Tune Triple Weight German 8 Day Movement in A Very Attractive English Grandfather or Grandmother Oak Longcase Clock
£ 1,750
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Small (65.5in) English Quarter Chiming Musical Light Oak Grandmother/grandfather Longcase Clock with Astragal Glazed Long Trunk Door Enfield Spring 8 Day Movement
£ 965
Small (65.5in) English Quarter Chiming Musical Light Oak Grandmother/grandfather Longcase Clock with Astragal Glazed Long Trunk Door Enfield Spring 8 Day Movement
£ 965
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Slim Early 19th Century Small (72.4in) Oak 8 Day Twin Fuse Grandmother Grandfather Longcase Clock - Late Georgian Construction in the 17th Century Style
£ 1,495
Slim Early 19th Century Small (72.4in) Oak 8 Day Twin Fuse Grandmother Grandfather Longcase Clock - Late Georgian Construction in the 17th Century Style
£ 1,495
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Vavasseur Antiques
French Mantle or Boudoir Clock Barometer Retailed by Loveday c.1860
£ 550
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Fantastic Quality Antique Victorian French Ornate 8 Day Striking Mantle Clock
£ 875
Fantastic Quality Antique Victorian French Ornate 8 Day Striking Mantle Clock
£ 875
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Worboys Antiques
Small Blue Chinoiserie Mantel Clock
£ 395
Sunnyside Antiques
Scottish Longcase Clock
£ 2,650
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Stunning Antique Victorian Quality 8 Day Movement Marble Clock Set
£ 625
Stunning Antique Victorian Quality 8 Day Movement Marble Clock Set
£ 625
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Slim Mahogany Granddaughter Clock
£ 690
Graham Smith Antiques Ltd
Georgian Style Grandmother Clock c.1920
£ 2,050
Story Antique Clocks
Fine Quality George III Longcase Clock by Bateman of London
£ 5,950
Canonbury Antiques
Tiffany Mantle Clock & Stand French Marquetry Inlay
£ 2,400
Sovereign Antiques
Drop Dial Wall Clock Fusee
£ 395
Deviantik
Modernist Wall Clock
£ 120
Georgian Antiques
George IV Rosewood Drop Dial Regulator Wall Clock
£ 1,500
Artsonline.org.uk
Stunning Japy Freres 19th Century French Bronzed Spelter & Marble Garniture Clock Set
£ 1,850
Stunning Japy Freres 19th Century French Bronzed Spelter & Marble Garniture Clock Set
£ 1,850
Artsonline.org.uk
Artsonline.org.uk
Beautiful 19th Century French Sevres Porcelain & Gilt Metal 8-day Garniture Clock Set
£ 1,590
Beautiful 19th Century French Sevres Porcelain & Gilt Metal 8-day Garniture Clock Set
£ 1,590
Artsonline.org.uk
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian French Marble Mantle Clock
£ 895
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian French Marble Mantle Clock
£ 895
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Antique Victorian Walnut Mantle Clock
£ 575
Westmorland Glass - Steam Mill Clocks
Stunning Engraved Carriage Clock
£ 3,195
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Large Antique Victorian Quality Mantle Clock
£ 975
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Quality Antique Victorian Marble Mantle Clock
£ 665
Koos Limburg Jnr
Finely Made Louis Philippe Mahogany & Ormolu Portico Clock
£ 850
POA
Westmorland Glass - Steam Mill Clocks
Gothic Vienna Wall Clock
£ 650
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Quality Antique Victorian Ornate Brass Mantle Clock
£ 575
London City Antiques
Quality Antique Inlaid Mahogany Mantel Clock by Mappin & Webb, London
£ 795
Quality Antique Inlaid Mahogany Mantel Clock by Mappin & Webb, London
£ 795
London City Antiques
Kembery Antique Clocks Ltd
Atmos Jaeger Lecoultre Clock
£ 975
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Antique Victorian Quality French Brass Carriage Clock
£ 485
Masons Antiques
Small Mahogany Striking Mantel Clock - Japay Freres
£ 795
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Antique Edwardian Quality Mahogany Inlaid Balloon Shaped Mantle Clock
£ 345
Antique Edwardian Quality Mahogany Inlaid Balloon Shaped Mantle Clock
£ 345
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Quality 19th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu & Porcelain Mantle Clock
£ 695
Quality 19th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu & Porcelain Mantle Clock
£ 695
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Quality Antique Victorian Walnut Vienna Wall Clock
£ 895
Euro Antique Watches
Antique Vintage Decorative 8 Days Travel Clock in Tortoiseshell Case - Swiss 1920
£ 400
Antique Vintage Decorative 8 Days Travel Clock in Tortoiseshell Case - Swiss 1920
£ 400
Euro Antique Watches
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Antique Edwardian Quality Hand Painted Porcelain Mantle Clock
£ 525
Antique Edwardian Quality Hand Painted Porcelain Mantle Clock
£ 525
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Large Antique Victorian Marble Mantle Clock
£ 685
Antique & Vintage Clock FAQs
How much are vintage and antique clocks worth?
Both Antique and Vintage clocks are highly sought after by collectors around the world and the best can sell for many tens of thousands of pounds (or dollars). Like any item everything comes down to the maker, quality of the movement and design, as well as the overall look of the case. Throughout history people have created beautiful and expensive high end time-pieces, as well as far lower quality items so prices vary widely. Because clocks have many moving parts condition and originality is also very important and a fully restored vintage clocks will naturally be worth far more than one that is not working or needs an overhaul. Although digital clocks have technically been around for over 100 years, those with an electric motor did not come in to widespread use until the second half of the 20th Century. While some digital clocks are becoming more and more collectable, the most valuable remain mechanical clocks because people still admire and appreciate the craftsmanship and time that went into making them. Because there are many places to buy and sell old clocks it is always worthwhile researching your clock to give a sense of current values. However please note that current fashions will cause the value for different types of clocks to rise or fall compared to the past.
How do I know if my clock is an antique clock?
Although the outer design of many clocks has not changed substantially for hundreds of years, the mechanisms quite often have. Obviously if it has a digital dial and movement it will date to the 1960s onwards, and if it is powered by batteries or electric cable will be from the early 20th Century onwards. When it comes to looking at mechanical clocks then it is good to look inside to see if you can find a makers name anywhere. Better quality clocks have been well marked for hundreds of years and usually there will be a history of that maker on the internet. Serial numbers can help with even finer dating if present, but note that is was quite common for clockmakers to sell simple movements to others to put in their own cases. Therefore the movement manufacturer and the clock retailer can be two different people. The very first clocks merely had the hour hand and the face in brass but much of the dating for most clocks comes from understanding subtle changes in design. Therefore for accurate dating it is always worth showing your clock to a specialist who will be able to tell you its history.
How do I sell antique clocks?
There are more places than ever to sell antique clocks from physical shops to online sites such as LoveAntiques as well as auctions. This can be great news for you but it is important to arm yourself with some basic knowledge to ensure your clock sells for the correct amount of money. Clock collectors on the whole are detail oriented people which means that they will be looking closely at its pedigree, originality, rarity, aesthetic appeal and of course if it is working or not. Each of these points can make a big difference to the sale price and just because an item may look fancy or indeed plain, is not telling of its true value. The maker and the movement is the primary factor that aids price, but a simple movement which has been put into a very pretty case by a famous retailer will also command good money. Early clocks will tend to be more valuable than later ones because they were so scarce and valuable at the time, but if possible selling to or at least asking the advice of a specialist will help. If you place the item in auction then ensure that the item is described clearly with plenty of photos and is listed online so that international collectors who understand the field far better than you will be able to spot it.
Does age make an antique clock more valuable?
In theory the older the clock, the higher the value, but identifying authentic antique clocks can be challenging, as looks can be deceiving. There are clocks that look antique - with the right style, material, and colour - but are actually not that old. Also, not all antique and vintage clocks are valuable, as the brand of an antique also plays a big part in its value. Along with evidence of the clock being handmade such as irregularity in the shape, you have to find out the brand. Back then, antique and vintage clocks were considered as works of art, and some brands were known to use a particular style, material and even colour. Thus, aside from the trademark and initials you may find on the dial or the back of the clock, it’s also best to be familiar with the style of a particular brand or even country of origin.