With its revolving 24-hour ring and unusual viewpoint which centres the South, rather than the North Pole, this IMHOF World Time clock captures the nostalgia of the 1960s, when transcontinental travel still held an alluring air.

This Heure Universelle clock, produced by Arthur IMHOF SA in La Chaux-de-Fonds, builds on the established tradition of world time pieces. Founded in 1924, Arthur IMHOF SA was known for the manufacture of elegant desk and table clocks during the mid-20th century. An advertisement from an Italian magazine from the ‘50s, describes the brand as a maker of “pendulettes d’art”, which roughly translates to "artistic table clocks". 

A Distinctive Design

This IMHOF Worldtime is an elegant piece, thanks to the complimentary combination of black with brass. The large mineral crystal covering the dial remains clear, allowing the details of the map to shine through. The ocean on the map is rendered in turquoise blue, which subtly complements the general aesthetic of the piece. Meanwhile, the continents are exhibited in contrasting, brushed brass, with the black lettering and outlining remaining satisfyingly crisp and highly legible.

The black outer ring features applied brass Roman numerals and indices. Additionally, there are  “IMHOF" and "SWISS” signatures placed unobtrusively beside the six o’clock marker.

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 the North Pole. This is due to the fact that the Southern hemisphere is less fragmented and less densely occupied by landmass, allowing for enhanced visual clarity and 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 National Geographic and other travel-orientated publications, no doubt offering an insight into why the azimuthal equidistant map might be centered around it.

The World Time Approach

The dial consists of a rotating central GMT disc on which the four continents and their respective twenty-four time zones are represented. This central disc makes a full rotation every twelve hours, and has a small arrow as an hour hand that can be set according to your preferred timezone. A second mobile dial indicates the respective time of each region, making one rotation every twenty-four hours, letting one know whether it is day or night in a specific location. The 15-jewel movement features an eight-day power reserve. 

It should be noted that the mechanism should be delicately handled, as the central disc with the twenty-four time zones can only be set when the hands and outer ring are both set to twelve o’clock. Mishandling it can cause damage to the mechanism.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this IMHOF World Time Clock will be subject to 20% VAT. 

Condition

The case remains in remarkable condition for an object of this age, and shows only minor and superficial marks, consistent with sympathetic polishing. The caseback shows signs of oxidation. The dial shows virtually no fading and the rendering of the world map remains crisp and highly legible.

Warranty

This IMHOF “Heure Universelle” has been recently serviced, and the mechanism remains in very good working condition. It comes with a one-year mechanical warranty from A Collected Man.