The Art of Time

Created by London-based design studio Animaro, Solstice is a clock that turns the passing of time into a moving artwork. It gradually changes shape throughout the day, opening and closing like a flower.

The clock completes a full cycle in 12 hours. Its movement echoing the movement of the sun

A 12 hour cycle

“Beautifully designed and engineered, this clock both mesmerizes and inspires”

“Animaro has taken clock design a step further”

As seen in:

What does time look like?

Historically, we experienced the passing of time from the tracking of stars across the sky and the passage of shadows across the ground.

In modern day life however, time and a need for absolute accuracy has become a source of stress. We believe the passing of time can be something of beauty.

Solstice is the second in a range of products from Animaro that seeks to celebrate mechanical movements and bring back a closeness with the objects in our home.

A moving backdrop to your life

At midday, when the sun is higher in the sky the clock is at its largest. At 6pm, when the sun is lower the clock is at its smallest.

It is a moving backdrop to you life, offering a new way to tell the time, through shape and pattern.

How does it work?

The clock face is made from small pieces of wood connected with joints, allowing them to move freely. As the hour hand turns round it pulls and pushes the wooden mechanism, causing it to gradually open and close

How do I tell the time?

Solstice is a 12 hour clock with a single hour hand, much like a sundial. It does not show minutes or seconds, but rather, shows the time of day. It offers a more relaxed and meditative view of time.

Two dots on the moving structure represents an hour marker and a single dot represents a half hour marker.

Fast or slow? You choose…

In addition to working as a clock, Solstice has another mode called demo. In this mode it completes one rotation every 60 seconds. This way you don’t need to wait hours to see the clock change shape, you can see it change before your eyes. This mode is perfect for showing off in front of friends.

You can leave it in demo mode for a few minutes or a few hours or a few months, its up to you. When you switch back to clock mode it will always return to the correct time.

And to switch between the two modes? Just tap the lower metal bar. It has a touch sensor. 

And if you want to see what demo mode looks like in realtime (and you have a spare minute) here it is...

How to set the time?

Setting the time is incredibly easy, after turning the clock on the hand will begin to turn. Just tap twice to set the current time and the clock will into clock mode. Check out the video below:

Three wood types

Solstice comes in three options of wood finish, so you can choose the one that will suit your home.

Walnut

Rich and dark in colour - a beautiful contrast against the metal.

Oak

Light and warm in colour - looks great against a light wood floor.

Sapele

A beautiful iridescent red wood - brings warmth to any room

Why is there a cable?

In order to drive the clock mechanism we need a powerful motor and gearbox - at this point in time it would not be possible for the clock to be battery powered. Although we will continue to investigate this in future.

If you prefer you can bury the cable in the wall much like a light fitting. We have provided a hole in the rear of the clock such that it can be wired through a wall. Please consult an electrician to help with this kind of install.

A meditative approach to time

Many people who have seen the Solstice clock have commented on the remarkable calming effect the clock has. Throughout its continuous motion it is both incredibly smooth and completely silent.

The clock is soothing to watch while in demo mode

Beautifully Engineered

Solstice is the culmination of countless hours of engineering and design thinking.

Beautiful Materials

The clock is made from high quality materials engineered to run smoothly and to last.

The clock body is machined from a single piece of aluminium, making it both durable and beautiful.

The mechanism is machined from engineered walnut, and hand oiled to seal it and bring out the colour. The rails are stainless steel for strength and each and every clock is hand assembled to ensure the highest quality.

Limited numbers

We strictly control the number of clocks we produce, so each clock is special, and so that we can keep the level of quality high.

Durable packaging

Solstice has a custom designed box that allows it to travel to you safely wherever you are located in the world. We have had 0% breakages so far.

Technical Spec

Materials: Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Walnut faced engineered timber, fabric cable.
Dimensions (in outermost position):60cm (length) x 60cm (width) x 20cm (depth)
Cable length: 3m fabric cable (+1m cable power adaptor)
Power Adapter: Multiplug adaptor with UK, USA, EU, AU type plugs
Global Voltage Compatible: 100 - 240V
Usage: Indoor Use Only