Worldtime Desktop Clock | Gilt-finished Brass

Drawing on the romance of travel and adventure, this IMHOF ‘Heure Universelle’ World Time clock perfectly captures the excitement of the jet set age. It’s a contemporary mid-century desk clock with a map of the globe and the ability to read world time at the glance of an eye, in a smaller and much rarer “travel clock” size, than the somewhat larger desk variants.

Produced by Arthur IMHOF SA in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a brand renowned for making elegant desk and table clocks during the mid-20th century, the ‘Heure Universelle’ is a sought-after classic. Being a commemorative issue for "Grand Circle Tours" it adds to its charm, as a memento to the age when global travelling and exploration took off.

In Focus: the South Pole

Unlike the world time clocks which came before it, the IMHOF clock focuses on the visual representation of the South, rather than North Pole. This is due to the fact that the Southern hemisphere is less fragmented and less densely occupied by landmass, this allows for enhanced visual clarity and allows for a more instantaneous reading of the time.

The period also coincided with increased interest in Antarctica in the collective mind, with the establishment of the first permanent stations on the continent from the late 50s onwards. It was often featured in the National Geographic and other travel-orientated publications, no doubt offering an insight why the azimuthal equidistant map might be centred around it.

The Design

The clock is designed to sit flat on a desk, but is perfectly angled for easy visibility. However, with being only 8.5 cm in diameter, the compact size allowed it to be used as a travel clock. Given its remarkable condition, it was likely used as an embellishment on a desk at the time, but the notion that this clock could have travelled more widely than most of us remains a seductive idea.

The clock has a brushed brass case and dial, further accompanied by contrasting silver Roman numerals and hands, while the ocean of the map and inner dial are also finished in silver. You’ll find the ‘IMHOF’ and ‘SWISS’ signatures at six o’clock, and it has a 15-jewel movement and originally had an eight-day power reserve.

Additionally, the dial has a central disc representing the four continents and their 24 time zones, making a full rotation every 24 hours. A second dial indicates the time in each region, also making a rotation every 24 hours, so you know if it’s day or night in any location.

A stylish addition to any office desk or coffee table, this distinctive clock is sure to appeal to those with a passion for the golden age of travel, mid-century design, or world time complications.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Imhof Worldtime Desktop Clock will be subject to 20% VAT.

Condition

This World Time Clock remains in a remarkable condition. The dials, case, hands and crystals are all original. While the durability of the material, as well as the brushed finishing helped to preserve the original look, the case features barely visible scratches. The dial shows insignificant loss of paint, most notable on silver parts above the "Atlantic Ocean". The overall rendering of the world map retains its sharpness.

Warranty

Please note that the mechanism should be delicately handled, as the central disc with the 24 time zones can only be set when the hands and outer ring as set at 12 o’clock. Mishandling it can cause damage to the mechanism.

This worldtime clock by Imhof has been throughly checked. It has been found to be in working order and it comes with a lifetime guarantee for authenticity from A Collected Man. Though it is keeping time and all the functions work properly, since the clock has not been serviced, it is offered without a servicing warranty. This is an express deviation from our standard servicing policy, and as found in our terms and conditions.