Help and advice in choosing a cuckoo clock

 

The purchase of a cuckoo clock at first glance seems something easy and harmless. However, you can see it in the store, when our customers are faced with all the choice presented to them, they do not know where to start. That's good, we decided to give you a hand!
Indeed, some questions must be resolved before a concrete choice can be made.

 

The first question to ask yourself: it's whether you want a mechanical cuckoo or a cuckoo quartz?
(quartz = "with batteries" in the watchmaking industry)
There is not one better than the other! The two types are alike, only the internal movement changes. Both types respect the principle of a cuckoo clock: strike the number of hours (for example, at 3 o'clock = 3 cuckoo songs)

- A mechanical cuckoo clock does not need a battery, it must be manually wound once a day (or once every 8 days for larger models).
- A quartz cuckoo clock does not wind up, it works with batteries! You put the batteries in and go for many months! (the weights and the balance are purely decorative in a quartz cuckoo clock). A detail that some customers particularly appreciate in quartz cuckoos is the presence of a light sensor! The latter prevents the cuckoo from singing as soon as there is no more light in the room! Very useful, if the cuckoo clock is located near where you sleep! Note that the mechanical cuckoos can also stop singing, you just have to do it manually.

 

The song of the cuckoo also intervenes in the choice: between a mechanical and a quartz sound is very different.
- In mechanics, the song is created by bellows which inflate and deflate propelling air through whistles! A hammer system strikes a metal spiral also contributes to the sound of the cuckoo!

Sound of mechanical cuckoo (at 5 hours) :

 

- The song of the quartz cuckoo more faithfully imitates the real sound of the cuckoo in the forest: with the sound of the echo and in the distance a sound of a river. The sound on the quartz cuckoo is diffused through a speaker discreetly located on the side.

Quartz Cuckoo Sound (at 4 hours) :

 

 

---

 

Once you've decided whether you prefer a mechanical or quartz cuckoo clock, comes the second question: choosing the aesthetic of the clock!

Two great families stand out: Cottage models and carved models.

Originally the cuckoo was carved. It was only later that the first chalet-shaped cuckoos appeared. For some, the carved cuckoo clock seems more authentic while for others, the shape of the chalet seems more sympathetic.

Many similar clocks are available in mechanical or quartz versions. However, some models are only available with one of the two types of movement.
The reference will show you similar models: for example the 522 model is a mechanical, and 522Q is a quartz!
For the same model, quartz is a little cheaper, but don't forget that it needs batteries!

Once again, we noticed at the store that it is much easier to choose a cuckoo clock when the question of the choice of movement (mechanical or quartz) is already resolved!

 

The question of music can also have its importance in the choice of a cuckoo!
- Due to its electronic movement with recorded melodies, the quartz cuckoo, compared to the mechanical cuckoo, integrates music for a more modest price. 12 melodies to be exact: a different melody every hour, played directly after the sound of the cuckoo. The latter can however be stopped to keep only the song of the cuckoo only.
Nb. Located on the side, a switch with 3 positions allows: either to hear the cuckoo followed by music, or the cuckoo alone, or even to switch off all the sounds to keep only the clock function.

Example of a quartz cuckoo with music :

 

- Music on a mechanical cuckoo clock automatically pushes the price up! Because in addition to the addition of a Swiss musical movement inside the case, animations also make their appearances: dancers, paddlewheels, woodcutters or beer drinkers, all contribute to the prestige of a clock with music. All the musical movements incorporate two melodies, which are played in turn.

Example of mechanical cuckoo with music :

 

You are now more up to date to make a more relevant choice. Browse through our collection of cuckoo clocks and don't hesitate to ask us for advice. As in the store, it is with pleasure that we will help you in your choice.

To finish a word on another type of cuckoo clock that you will find at the store: The coucoulinos ! The coucoulino is the missing link between the clock (which does not make sound) and the quartz cuckoo (described above). The cuckoo makes the same cuckoo noise as a quartz cuckoo, but does not have a bird coming out! Being smaller in size, similar to a clock, there is no room for the mechanism of the bird! All coucoulinos are quartz type (working with 2 AA batteries).
For a reasonable price, you therefore have a pretty clock that says hello every hour, respecting the number of hours like their elders! They are all equipped with a stop button that allows you to stop the sound of the cuckoo while continuing to enjoy the time.

Its coucoulino (at 4 hours) :