Not all cuckoo clocks are created equal.

There are many differences between the numerous styles of clocks that go far beyond the aesthetic differences, and then there are those to account for on top of that.

You’ll need to ask yourself whether you want to place the clock in a sitting or drawing room where it will see company, place it in a place like a kitchen or an office where the value of its ability to keep time and play music will be more valuable to the members of your family or keep it in a private room like a bedroom.Then you will need to consider the design of the room you have chosen, and the role you want the clock to play in that setting.

For example, if you have chosen a public room to serve as the setting for a cuckoo wall clock, you may want to match the themes in your decor with some of the themes of the clock you choose.Consider the interior design of that room.

Many of them would make quite an illustrious match for a number of very nobly arrayed settings.

At the same time, a Chalet style clock might be in order for a setting like this, as there is something about the spirit of many Chalet style clocks that, though they often show scenes of revelry, are very distinguished in their character.On the other hand, if your chosen setting is decorated with ornaments or other decor that is more natural or celebrates the influences of rural scenes, then a hand-carved traditional clock might be more to your liking.

Making the decision to shop for a classic cuckoo clock can add some grace and warmth to your home, but the process of buying one can introduce you to a surprising amount of terminology.

To anyone who is unfamiliar with the history of clockmaking or the trends in their designs, finding the right clock may seem like a pretty big task.

On the contrary, it can be a fairly simple process with the understanding of a few options and key cuckoo clock terms.One of these terms refers to the “Swiss Cuckoo Clock.” If you have never shopped for a cuckoo clock before, it’s important to realize that cuckoo clocks today go well beyond popular images of carved animals and farmhouses.

In order to find the right clock for you, choosing the right style is the best place to start.

One of the most popular styles in cuckoo clock design finds its inspiration in the Swiss Chalet.Swiss cuckoo clocks, also known as Chalet cuckoo clocks, are modeled after Chelt style homes that sprinkle the landscape of the Swiss and German Alps.

The Chalet or Swiss Chalet style clocks often depict scenes of Black Forest life on the farm, at home, or at the local Biergarten.There are three main categories of Swiss or Chalet style clocks, each with a slightly different twist on its design.

As it turns out, there is much more to most cuckoo clocks than meets the eye, and there are plenty of styles and forms that will impact how well they will fit within a setting.Pick Out A StyleThe first thing you will need to determine is what style of clock will work best with your interior design.

Therefore, you’ll want to take some time to get familiar with the different styles of clocks that are out there.Traditional clocks typically take the form of ornately carved wood clocks that show off wildlife, natural settings, or implements of the chase.

They are often given a lustrous, dark finish, but some of them are carefully hand-painted.Chalet style clocks look like miniature homes or villages and show off scenes of domestic life.

Oftentimes they show off little figures of woodcutters or sawmills; another popular theme is the beer garden theme.Then there are vintage reproductions of antique designs, including railroad house clocks that are styled after designs that were once popular in Europe’s golden age of rail.

Many of these designs are similar to traditional clocks but are carved with elaborate stylistic patterns rather than rural, natural themes.Then of course there are modern clocks, some of which are handmade and qualify for certification as Authentic Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks.

Others have modern quartz movements and are ideal for their convenience, but we will touch on that in the next section.Pick Out A MovementAfter you determine which style appeals best to you, you will need to pick out a movement.

To be considered a certified Authentic Black Forest Cuckoo Clock, a clock must meet certain requirements as prescribed by the Verein die Schwarzwalduhr (VdS), otherwise known as The Black Forest Clock Association.

The clock must also function mechanically without the assistance of batteries or electricity.

Interestingly enough, some cuckoo clocks of the past utilize wooden gears.

Finally, all of the essential clock parts must be produced in the Black Forest excluding music boxes, which are typically produced in Switzerland, a country well known for making fine music boxes.There are many noteworthy clockmakers building VdS Certified Authentic Clocks today, and one of the finest is HEKAS.

Founded in 1938 by visionary Helmut Kammerer, HEKAS has been producing some of the best examples of authentic cuckoo clocks found anywhere in the world.

Every clock produced by Hekas and the Kammerer family is placed on a test wall and thoroughly tested before it leaves the clock factory.

Even if you feel that the large case of some 8-day clocks are too elaborate or embellished for the setting of your home, there are plenty of different styles in between this and a basic cube-shaped modern clock.

Somewhere in the mix is the perfect clock for your home, and you just have to find it.

It showcases the image of a Bavarian Band in a public scene and is intricately detailed down to the level of the foliage of the trees and the animals on the scene.

The dancers dance to the music as the band and mill wheel both turn to the music as well.

This musical clock even has an automatic night time shut off.Bears Forest 26” Cuckoo ClockWhereas the first model listed above is a great example of a Chalet Style clock, this is a fine example of a Traditional or Hunter style clock.

It also features dancers above the clock’s face that twirl to the music it plays.Classic Bird 16” Cuckoo ClockThis is another fine representation of a Traditional style clock, like the Bears Forest clock listed above.

If you’re thinking about decorating one of the rooms in your home with a cuckoo clock but you’ve not yet had a formal introduction to the world of German clockmaking, then you’re in for a treat.

A cuckoo clock really is so much more than a mechanical wooden clock that chimes in the likeness of a cuckoo bird or plays pleasant traditional tunes.Cuckoo clock making has storied history that, in truth, is so old that its origins are obscured by the mists of time.

It is believed that the first cuckoo clockmakers from the Black Forest Region of southern Germany began making clocks in their spare time in the winter to help supplement their income and that the trade blossomed from those seeds.

Whatever the case, today we have a range of cuckoo clocks that are sure to dazzle in any setting - and if they don’t, you can find a different style to fit the bill.All of that having been taken into consideration, you may find yourself drawn to the rustic, bucolic charm of a traditional cuckoo clock, which category is similar to other cuckoo clocks but presents a few key differences.A traditional cuckoo clock, in order to be a certified authentic Black Forest cuckoo clock, is similar to some other styles of clocks in that it must be made entirely by hand from wood in the Black Forest in Germany, and must contain a mechanical movement.

Yet something to consider is that there are other styles of clocks that are also made by hand in the same region, so there are other key differentiators between traditional styles and other styles, like Chalet style clocks.Traditional cuckoo clocks, in addition to meeting these other criteria, are also characterized by their capitalization on natural themes.

Traditional clocks typically showcase emblems of the chase such as possibles bags and muzzleloading rifles, as well as wildlife or other trophies of the hunt.

When it comes to categorizing the different types of cuckoo clocks that you will find out there, there are a couple of types you are bound to come across.

Today, you will learn what vintage clocks are and be presented with some great examples to consider.A vintage clock is defined as a reproduction of an Antique Cuckoo Clock or of the styles in antique clocks that gained popularity over the past 300 years.

To give you an example, during the 18th and 19th centuries, many clocks were ornately carved with floral details and patterns in accordance with the schools of art that were popular in Europe at the time.

Others were modeled after German railroad houses of the 1850s.

Below are a few examples meant to offer you a closer look at features typical of reproduction antique or vintage Black Forest cuckoo clocks.Vintage 8 Day Trackwalker House 18” Cuckoo Clock by Rombach & Haas This vintage reproduction clock is a fine example of some of the features you are likely to find in a specific type of antique cuckoo clock known as a railroad clock.

With finely carved leaves framing the case of the clock and with attractive two-tone walnut finish, as well as with pine cone themed weights, this clock is reminiscent of clocks carved in the traditional style too.