rom the first use of gnomons, then sundials, some 1,500 years before the Common Era, numerous devices have been used to measure time.

While contemporary horology is dominated by wristwatches, other beautifully crafted, often artistically inspired instruments express this fascinating notion in novel ways.

The following gallery presents some of these “time machines”, many of which encourage us to reassess how we think of this most valuable commodity.

The Tortoise automaton by master watchmaker Raúl Pagès is the culmination of several years of work. A key is used to wind up the Tortoise, which then advances, moving its legs and head. Great care has been lavished on the finishing: hand bevelling, guilloché work and Côtes de Genève. The shell, legs and head are crafted from 18-karat gold.

Alain Silberstein – iZman: Is that the new iPhone 23? Nope! While it may have the same shape as an iPhone, there is nothing expendable or electronic about this mechanical marvel equipped with a tourbillon, that will sit neatly on your desk. The legendary French watch designer strikes again with this travel alarm clock, in his trademark yellow, blue and red primary colours. It’s wound old-school style with a red key which, when not in use, fits into a corner of the case. The tourbillon movement with two time zone dials and eight days of power reserve was developed by master watchmaker Olivier Mory. $$$

Code41 – Mecascape Sublimation One: The young Swiss brand has been breaking conventions ever since its crowdfunded launch in December 2016. Founder Claudio D’Amore’s wish is to “free up the wrist” and this latest timepiece does exactly that. This “unidentified timekeeping object” will slip into a pocket or perch on a desk. Its mechanisms are distilled into a titanium case that measures 98 x 60mm and offers a clear view of its 237 components. The movement delivers eight days of power reserve and shows the hours (in two time zones), minutes, seconds and date. After the first series was snapped up by more than a hundred aficionados, the second series is in preparation. $$$

Mondaine – Mini Clock: Mondaine’s station clock is a much-loved symbol of Switzerland. Now anyone can enjoy this icon of design, hung on a wall or set on a bedside table. Powered by a quartz movement, this Mini Clock (125mm in diameter) counts hours and minutes, with a luminous dot on the tip of each hand for easy read-off at night, and includes an alarm function. The dark blue dial is matched with a gold-coloured aluminium case. $

Hamilton – American Classic Lady Hamilton Necklace: Wearing a watch as a necklace is a tradition that Hamilton revives with the Lady Hamilton Necklace. The epitome of 1930s Art Deco style, it can be worn as part of a necklace or as a timepiece paired with a delicate chain bracelet. Three versions are available: stainless steel, yellow gold or rose gold PVD. Each Lady Hamilton Necklace comes with an adjustable chain and a fringed tassel pendant in forest green, midnight blue, or red burgundy. $

L’Epée – Regatta: L’Épée is renowned as a maker of clocks that measure time in unique, poetic and often humorous ways. The Regatta is a prime example. Its sleek, elongated form appears to hang in space. Inspired by sculls, it captures the grace and power of these water craft. This vertical clock stands 518mm high and provides eight days of power reserve. The vertically aligned rhodium-plated gears are in full view, measuring time with Swiss precision. Offered as six limited editions of 99 pieces each, in champagne, silver, black, red, green or blue. $$$

Jaeger-LeCoultre – Reverso Secret Necklace: Suspended from this fine jewellery sautoir, its supple chain composed of diamond-set links and polished onyx beads, are two polished onyx pendants and a fully gem-set secret Reverso. More than 3,000 diamonds have been carefully set in the Reverso Secret Necklace, the work of artisans at the brand’s own Atelier des Métiers Rares®. This perfect union of fine jewellery, rare handcrafts and mechanical watchmaking represents over 300 hours of highly skilled and painstaking work. The movement beating inside this Reverso is the specially designed manual-winding Calibre 846. Limited production. $$$

Chanel – Lion Astroclock: This remarkable timepiece is anchored by the symbols associated with the brand. The lion (Gabrielle Chanel was a Leo) is faceted to convey power and strength while black is, of course, a favourite colour of the maison. The base supports a glass sphere which contains a mechanical movement in all its splendour. Gravitating around it are a comet hand and a constellation-shaped hand set with diamonds, both in 18k white gold. A limited edition of five pieces. $$$

The Unnamed Society – The Champion: Another uncommon “time machine” from The Unnamed Society, expressing a familiar theme through the expertise of watchmaking and the decorative arts. The Champion brings a football’s geodesic sphere to mechanical life, thanks to the company’s first proprietary haute horlogerie movement developed, built and finished in Switzerland. Jumping hours and trailing minutes are read from two rotating discs, while the 205 components of this decorative clock can be admired through the mineral glass base – which doubles as a playing surface for penalty kicks. A beautiful creation for the beautiful game. $$$

Carl Suchy & Söhne – Table Waltz: A tribute to the country’s horological craftsmanship, this table clock is handmade in Austria and driven by a mechanical movement produced in Carl Suchy & Söhne’s workshops. The elegant simplicity of this ten-piece limited edition accentuates the careful consideration given to each detail, whether the curve of the case, the alternating polished and brushed surfaces or the delicate engravings on the glass. The eye is irresistibly drawn by the beauty of the movement, seemingly suspended inside its glass dome. $$$

Swiss Koo – Koo Naturel: Bring a little piece of Switzerland into your home with this traditional-with-a-twist cuckoo clock. Entirely handmade in Switzerland from wooden slats, it captures the essence of the Alpine nation in its decor of a chalet, fir trees, a Swiss flag and countless whimsical details. Powered by a Regula mechanical movement with an eight-day power reserve, the Koo Naturel features a brass bell and a silent function for a quiet night. $

Soren Henrichsen – Hansruedi: The classic cuckoo clock gets a modern, minimalist treatment from the Soren Henrichsen studio, in a combination of Black Forest clockmaking skills and Genevan woodcrafting. The chirpy bird is triggered by a light sensor so that it (and you) can sleep peacefully through the night, making this a thoughtful as well as handsome design. Dimensions are 15cm wide, 22cm high and 9cm deep. $

Miki Eleta – Horse Race Clock: Miki Eleta creates imaginative, sculptural clocks entirely by hand. This uncontested master of his craft spent a full ten months making and assembling the more than 700 components of his Horse Race Clock. Hours and moon phases are shown on the castle wall while minutes are displayed by the rotating tower. However, the main attraction is the horse race; which of the seven contenders will cross the line first is entirely unpredictable. This delightful piece of horological art is a tribute to Middle Eastern culture. Dimensions are 54cm wide, 46cm high and 26cm deep. Power reserve is one week. $$$

Around Five – Sculpture of Time: When an engineer and a designer, already the creators of several exceptional timepieces, get together to form their own brand, the result is this novel and poetic interpretation of time. Sculpture of Time’s soothing undulations are inspired by the path of the Sun across the sky, inviting us to contemplate and enjoy the present moment. It comes in brushed brass or aluminium in various colours. $$

La Vallée – M30TP: La Vallée has crafted a complex and functional artwork; a horological sculpture that measures an impressive 1.5 metres in length, comprises 1,280 components and displays a perpetual calendar in a dramatic linear configuration. The tourbillon can be adjusted to beat at the same frequency as the owner’s heart (at rest), thereby creating a personal connection between the two. Unique in its concept, this razor-sharp, monumental structure hides nothing of its precision mechanisms and hand-finishing, which the eye is free to explore from every angle. $$$

The Moving Mechanics Company – TM Galaxy: A mechanical artwork in perpetual motion, the TM Galaxy transcends time by uniting contemporary design with Swiss watchmaking tradition. Fully skeletonised and measuring a colossal 1.25 x 1.25 metres, its wheels revolve in synch with the pendulum’s rhythmic sway. Should they wish, the owner of this kinetic composition can remove the various pointers for the hours, minutes, seconds and date, to focus exclusively on its mechanical beauty and be lulled by the ticking sound of eternity. Made entirely in Switzerland. $$$

Erwin Sattler – Aperia III: The wall clock makes its elegant entrance into the contemporary home courtesy of Erwin Sattler, a storied manufacturer established in Munich. The Aperia III captures the attention for the multiple layers of its movement and for its dial composed of five skeletonised subdials. The enlightened amateur will notice the craftsmanship revealed by the fine guilloché work and by the hand-finishing of the components. Hand-painted moon phases complete the calendar display showing date and day. A repeater mechanism strikes the half-hour and can be silenced on demand. This superb clock has a power reserve of 30 days and is produced as a limited edition of 65 pieces. $$$

Utinam – KB2: Creative clockmaker Philippe Lebru is behind Utinam and this revisit of the traditional floor clock of Besançon, the capital of French horology. Introduced in 2021, the KB2 channels the streamlined design language of Germany’s Bauhaus and the signature colours of designer Alain Silberstein. A red pendulum is the one splash of colour in the “all white” and “all black” versions that were unveiled at the Golden Hour fair in Neuchâtel. They will be available for purchase from summer 2023. $$$

Samuel Pasquier – Horae: Twenty-six-year-old French watchmaker Samuel Pasquier devoted more than 400 hours to this monumental (2.3m high x 40cm wide) clock composed of 160 parts, using nothing but a horological sense of adventure and artisans in his native Grand Est region: stonemason Léo Capuccio for the driving weight in Carrara marble; MBP for the metal parts of the mechanism; Miroiterie Verdunoise and CRITT TJFU for the glass-cutting and Colignon for the Macassar ebony veneer. The result is a magnificent showcase for clockmaking and these companion crafts. $$$

$: Under CHF 1,000 | $$: CHF 1,000 to 10,000 | $$$: Over CHF 10,000