What exactly is a mystery clock?

Puzzles and mysteries captivate many, and it seems that clockmakers are no exception. How else can you explain the lasting appeal of mystery clocks over the centuries? From French and German 19th-century antiques worth six figures to opulent jeweled creations of the 20th century, or even the widely available 1950s American electric models, mystery clocks continue to be prized by collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts.

The enduring popularity of mystery clocks is easy to understand. These captivating novelties serve as great conversation starters. Initially baffling, they become increasingly fascinating once you grasp how they function. These clocks are feats of imagination and craftsmanship, often doubling as works of art in their own right.

The true mystery of these clocks lies in their operation. Often dubbed impossible clocks, they appear to lack any obvious inner workings or are referred to as floaters because their hands seem unattached to any mechanism. Unlike conventional clocks, where the connection between the hands and the driving mechanism (be it a mechanical pendulum or an electric motor) is clear, the hands of mystery clocks move seemingly without cause. A closer look at the back of the clock yields no clues as to what makes it tick and keeps time so precisely.

So, what's the secret behind this puzzling phenomenon? Keep reading to discover how mystery clocks operate.

It's an Illusion

Mystery clocks are feats of illusion. These mesmerizing timepieces are built on trickery and magic, and their rich history is closely tied to the lives of famous magicians.

The true enigma lies in how the clock's hands move. Clockmakers who created mystery clocks ingeniously concealed their mechanisms, making the hands appear to move of their own accord. Over the years, clever artisans have come up with a variety of methods to create this illusion, often keeping their mechanisms tightly guarded—many even patented their designs.

Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, a renowned 19th-century French magician and clockmaker, is credited as the inventor of the mystery clock. Interestingly, his last name wasn’t always Houdin. Born Jean Eugene Robert in 1806, he adopted the name 'Houdin' after marrying the daughter of a famous Parisian clockmaker. He became fascinated by magic and combined his two passions in the creation of mystery clocks. His first design won a bronze medal at the 1839 French Industry Exhibition. Houdin's clocks featured optical illusions, such as a rod running through the clock's ornate base and connecting to a hidden glass dial behind the visible one [source: Horologist].

In many of his mystery clocks, Houdin employed variations of hiding the mechanism within the clock's base and attaching the hands to a second, transparent dial with a serrated edge, which was turned by internal pinions within the frame of the clock's case [source: Kolesnikov-Jessop]. Other clockmakers have used similar illusions with transparent dials that appear round but actually conceal hidden cogs within the frame.

Continue reading to discover more about the fascinating tricks and treasures behind mystery clocks.

Jewels and Figurines: The Evolution of the Mystery Clock

Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin's groundbreaking work with mystery clocks inspired many other clockmakers. One of them, Andre Romain Guilmet, a French clockmaker, patented various types of mystery clocks during the 1860s and 1870s. His most famous designs featured ornate figurines holding pendulums that seemed to swing without any visible cause. The trick was that these figurines were placed on a rotating platform, moving so subtly that it was enough to keep the pendulum in motion with precision [source: British Museum].

Maurice Couet, hailing from a French clock-making family, began crafting mystery clocks for the renowned French jeweler Cartier in the early 20th century. Cartier's mystery clocks were lavishly adorned with diamonds and other precious gems, with each handmade clock embedded into a work of art, such as a miniature temple or gong. At the center of each clock was a gemstone, often a piece of rock crystal. The secret behind these clocks was that the seemingly solid crystal had been cleverly cut in half, with two crystal discs featuring serrated edges inserted. The clock hands, which appeared to float, were actually attached to these discs. The entire clock, which seemed to hang suspended within the artwork, was cleverly suspended by invisible wires. These innovative timepieces quickly became prized collector's items: J.P. Morgan, the American financier, purchased the first clock Couet made for Cartier. One of these clocks, shaped like a temple, which sold for $3,200 in 1929, fetched more than $1.5 million at a Christie's auction in 1993 [source: Blauer]. Another Cartier mystery clock was sold by Christie's in 2009 for $530,500 [source: Kolesnikov-Jessop].

In the early 1900s, the German clock company Junghans created many elaborate mystery clocks known as swingers. These featured figurines such as the Roman goddess Diana, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, as well as quirky depictions like "Onion Boy," "Barmaid," "Bat Boy," "Elephant," and "Zebra." These original clocks are still available for sale today, alongside more recent reproductions.

The American clockmaker Ansonia, based in Connecticut, also became known for producing figurine-based mystery clocks, which gained popularity. Ansonia's "Gloria" clock is often used as an eye-catching display in jewelry store windows. Gloria, depicted as a winged female figure holding a clock ball in her hand, has its hidden mechanisms enclosed within the ball. An Ansonia Gloria clock was auctioned for $5,175 in 2011 [source: Kovel]. Many of the most famous mystery clocks were hand-crafted, often incorporating jewels and precious metals, which enhanced their value.

Keep reading to uncover what happened when modern entrepreneurs embraced the challenge of crafting mystery clocks.

Mystery Clocks for the Masses

As electric clocks gained popularity in the 20th century, creative clockmakers started designing and selling electric mystery clocks. In 1932, Dutch inventor Leendert Prins revolutionized the market with a patent for a mechanism that could move an advertisement around a clock face without any visible machinery. In 1941, he adapted this technology for use in mystery clocks. Prins' innovation employed four transparent discs, with the hour hand attached to one inner disc and the minute hand to another. During the 1950s, electric mystery clocks became a sensation in the United States, with companies like Tiffany, Rex Cole, Boots Boy, and LeCoultre all producing their versions, most of which used the Prins device [source: Linz].

One of the most iconic electric mystery clocks was the Golden Hour, crafted by the Jefferson Electric Co. from Illinois. Its mysterious design and clear face made it a popular choice that blended well with any interior decor. The glow-in-the-dark hands and numbers were coated with radioactive radium paint [source: Schultz]. Jefferson produced several variants, including the Golden Minute, Golden View, Golden Secret, and Exciting Hour [source: Linz].

When it first hit the market, the Golden Hour clock was priced at about $25, making it affordable for the average person. By the 2010s, these clocks became sought-after collectibles. Today, you can find Jefferson mystery clocks at antique shops, specialty clock stores, or through online auctions, with prices ranging from slightly more than the original cost to several hundred dollars. Production continued until the late 1980s, when the company was sold and its clock division shut down [source: Russell].

The Haddon Clock Co. of Chicago also created mystery clocks similar in appearance to Jefferson's models, but with a key difference: the hands on Haddon clocks were clearly moving. A hidden gear inside the metal ring surrounding the clock face, along with a small wire on the minute hand, engaged with the gear. This mechanism allowed the minute hand to drive the hour hand. While the mystery was easier to uncover due to the visible connection of the minute hand to the rim, these clocks still captivated clock enthusiasts. Other manufacturers like Mastercrafters and the British company Smith's also produced similar designs.

In the 1980s, mystery clocks were often crafted for unique events or branded by companies. Examples include a Fabergé Mystery Clock designed for the Franklin Mint and a Lowenbrau mystery clock produced by Lakeside, Ltd.

As the 21st century began, prestigious brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton started to incorporate mystery clock techniques into novelty wristwatches, featuring transparent movements and seemingly floating hands. Whether sought after as rare curiosities or appreciated as fine art, these enigmatic timepieces continue to capture the imagination of many.