Weird and Amusing Clocks That Are Anything But Ordinary

“Time is money.”  “Time marches on.” ”Time waits for no one.”  Next to money, the one thing that people can’t seem to get enough of is time. And no matter much how money you may have, you still can’t control it.  But for the right price, you may be able to purchase one of the following outlandish time pieces to help you keep track of your time:

Rim Clock

For the person that’s just too chi-chi for their own words, this minimalist and distinctive clock is just for them. Designed by Jansen Lye, this clock is so  innovative you won’t be able to tell the exact time unless you write numbers on your wall. Well, if you’re THIS chic, who needs to be able to tell time anyway…

Rolling Ball Lego Clock

For the person who likes to work at getting the exact time, this clock is for you. This clock works with a system of balls and rails–the bottom rail represents the hours, the middle and upper rails are used to represent the minutes. An electric motor scoops up a ball every minute. Every five minutes, the top rail will dump and deposit a ball on the second rail. Every hour, the upper and middle rails dump and one ball is transferred to the bottom rail to increment the hours. Uhh, I think this clock has a couple balls too many.

Pong Clock

Now you don’t need to play Pong to enjoy it.  The score shown on the left and right sides correspond to the time of day. A continuous random game of Pong is played by the clock every 24 hours. Playstation it ain’t!

Skull and Crossbones Automaton Clock

For the Marilyn Manson fan in your life, how about an actual skull and crossbones clock (with the mechanical moving jaw and snakes that dart out of its eyeballs!)  Crafted in 1610 by German designer Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger, this skull table clock sits atop a pair of crossed shin bones mounted on a tripod. The automaton jaw opens over the course of three minutes, then quickly bites down, and a snake darts out of each eye socket twice a minute. The clockface is revealed by popping open the hinged brass skullcap. Not bad if you have a spare $135,000 lying around.

Fruit Clock

Just like we need fruit to keep us going, so does this clock!  This fruit powered digital clock and calendar combines micro-electronic technology with the natural electrical potential of a fresh fruit or vegetable. The Fruit Clock uses the original scientific principles on which all modern electrical storage batteries are based. Just add a fresh orange, apple, lemon, lime, pear, banana, or any another convenient fruit or vegetable to the supplied components in this kit and you have the perfect synthesis of nature’s own electrical power resource and the accuracy of a digital clock.  Well, after all this, if the darned clock doesn’t work, at least you’ll have something to snack on.

View-Master Clock

Once upon a time, View Masters were a part of just about everyone’s childhood. For those trying to relive those days, Minnesota artist Debra Dressler has come up with these handmade clocks made with genuine vintage View-Masters. And for all you Avatar fans out there, this is how people back in the day were first exposed to 3D.

The Flower Clock

A symbol of Geneva, Switzerland’s world renowned watch industry, the famous flower clock, located at the edge of the Jardin Anglais (English Garden), was created in 1955.  It is a masterpiece of technology and floral art with a new design that changes with the seasons.

Mecca Royal Clock

The Mecca Royal Clock Hotel Tower  is being billed as the world’s largest clock.  The four-faced clock is still in the process of being built but once it’s completed, it will dwarf London’s Big Ben, once the largest four-faced clock in the world.  German and Swiss engineers designed Mecca Royal Clock and according to the Ministry of Religious Endowments, the entire project will cost $800 million.

Vinyl Record Clocks

Pavel Sidorenko, a designer from Estonia, creates unique clocks by laser cutting recycled vinyl records into familiar shapes.  Sidorenko claims his inspiration is that “the sounds of people from the past are like amber stoned in vinyl.” As someone who remembers listening to vinyl records, I wonder if he thinks I’M from the Stone Age?!