Let’s face it: We all think about picking up that one item at a garage sale or flea market for just a few dollars, only to discover that it’s worth much, much more. See what this Minneapolis bargain shopper happily discovered when he shared his Chelsea Clock find with Sean Delaney on an episode of PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow.”

Watch Appraisal: Chelsea Clock Company Tambour No. 3 Clock, ca. 1915 on PBS. See more from Antiques Roadshow.

Chelsea Clock’s Tony LaChapelle (L) and Terry Kubarsky-Engel (R) congratulate Senator Scott Brown on his special award.

We’re pleased to note that, while our Boardroom Clock was introduced just this past month, it has already achieved celebrity status! At a recent Congressional roundtable luncheon hosted by The New England Council in Boston, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown accepted an engraved Boardroom Clock, presented by James Brett, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council.

Senator Brown addressed nearly 200 New England Council members, touching on current issues relating to economic growth and business development in the New England region.

Our Chief Operating Officer, Tony LaChapelle and Director of Corporate Sales, Terry Kubarsky-Engel, were on hand, as well, as Chelsea Clock is a long-standing and active member of the Council.

The New England Council was established in 1925 and is a non-partisan alliance of businesses, academic and health institutions, and public and private organizations. The Council’s mission is to identify and support federal public policies and to help support the collective interests of its members on important issues facing New England.

Extraordinary Performance, Exceptional Value

Chelsea Clock has built a 115-year reputation as the American leader in precision mechanical timekeeping. We are proud to offer an array of key-wind mechanical clocks to satisfy a number of tastes and budgets. Our famous Shipstrike Mechanical Clock boasts many of the same hallmark qualities as our signature Ship’s Bell Clock, but at an exceptional value. Here are some of the features of this Chelsea timepiece:

• Heavy, solid forged brass case, hand lacquered and polished to resist tarnish
• Hand-crafted German-made timekeeping mechanism
• Hinged bezel for easy opening
• Chiming mechanism (chimes traditional Ship’s Bell code)
• Solid metal gears and parts
• A 5-jewel movement, incorporating tiny gem crystals to reduce friction and wear
• Aluminum dial with painted black numerals
• Full, two-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship

We are pleased to offer two different sizes of  Shipstrike Mechanical Clocks, as well as a full complement of hand-finished hardwood bases for desk or mantle display.

Since the first patented Ship’s Bell Clock left the Chelsea Clock factory in 1900, it has stood as the standard by which all other key-wind mechanical nautical clocks are measured. Still hand assembled by master clock makers in Chelsea, Massachusetts, our signature Ship’s Bell Clock boasts a number of trademark features that include:

• Heavy, solid forged brass case, hand lacquered and polished to resist tarnish
• Hinged bezel for easy opening
• Hand-crafted timekeeping mechanism
• Patented chiming mechanism, featuring a small leather-covered hammer that produces a rich-sounding bell tone (chimes traditional Ship’s Bellcode)
• 364 brass parts, many plated with gold to resist corrosion
• An 11-jewel movement, incorporating tiny gem crystals to reduce friction and wear
• Deeply-etched, solid brass dial with hand-applied silver finish
• Five year warranty against defects in material and workmanship

For over 115 years, the Chelsea Clock name has represented perfection in American timekeeping. We offer a full line of Ship’s Bell Clocks in various sizes and metal finishes, including a full complement of hand-finished hardwood bases for desk or mantle display.

Learn about our Ship’s Bell Clocks >

 Trying to decide between a Chelsea Clock mechanical clock and a quartz clock? The differences between the two mechanisms are vast, and offer distinctly different experiences, depending on your preferences. Yet no matter which mechanism you choose, you can be sure you’re bringing home an exceptional timepiece that will stand, well. . .the test of time.

 To help you decide, here’s a quick overview of the Chelsea Clock Ship’s Bell Mechanical Clock and our famous Shipstrike Quartz Clock.  While both are hand assembled right here in the original factory in Chelsea, Massachusetts, by our master clockmakers, there are subtle – and not-so-subtle – differences that make each of these timepieces truly unique.

On the outside, both the Chelsea Clock Ship’s Bell and Shipstrike clocks share many of the same qualities that have made the Chelsea name synonymous with exceptional beauty and quality. Both cases are made from heavy, solid forged brass (not cast or stamped from sheet brass), hand finished and lacquered to last a lifetime. And both are available mounted on one of our solid American hardwood bases, hand rubbed to a lustrous rich mahogany or cherry finish. And, of course, both strike the traditional Chelsea Clock Ship’s Bell chimes: eight bells at 4, 8, and 12 o’clock to mark the end of a mariner’s watch, with one bell for the first half hour after, plus one additional bell with each subsequent half hour.

But the main difference between these two timepieces is the internal mechanism, which is most clearly reflected in the price of each piece. The Chelsea Ship’s Bell Clock features a key-wound 8-day movement, while the Shipstrike Clock is powered by a battery-operated quartz movement. The Ship’s Bell Clock features our patented, hand-assembled mechanism, comprised of some 364 precision brass parts – many plated with gold to resist corrosion – as well as an 11-jewel escapement.   There is no sound quite like a Chelsea Clock Ship’s Bell chime; the solid forged brass case resonates a rich, mellow tone when the clock’s leather-covered hammer strikes our patented Chelsea bell.

On the other hand, the Chelsea Clock Shipstrike Quartz Clock features a battery-operated precision German quartz movement, offering owners the convenience of an automatic, non-winding timepiece. While Shipstrike Quartz version also strikes the famous Ship’s Bell chimes, the striking mechanism is powered by an electronic current rather than by a mechanical escapement and mainspring.

Another difference between these two Chelsea clocks is in their dials: the Ship’s Bell Clock boasts a solid brass plate, hand silvered with acid-etched, enameled numerals, while the Shipstrike Quartz Clock features a machined dial with imprinted numerals. And finally, the Ship’s Bell Clock comes with a Chelsea Clock five-year warranty, while the Shipstrike Quartz Clock carries a two-year warranty.

But whether you choose a Chelsea Ship’s Bell or Shipstrike Quartz clock, there’s absolutely no difference between these two pieces when it comes to your satisfaction. You’ll be acquiring a quality timepiece made by one of America’s most renowned clockmakers, guaranteed to bring you many years of enjoyment!

 When you think of Art Deco, your thoughts may immediately flash to images of New York City’s Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. These iconic structures are powerful tributes to this distinct design aesthetic. But nearly a century since the world was first introduced to its eclectic form of elegance, Art Deco design continues to capture the imagination with its alluring glamour and flare.

 Emerging from Paris in the 1920s, the Art Deco movement had a profound impact on many areas of design throughout the 1930s and beyond, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and jewelry, graphic arts and more. Today, influences of this stylish modernism can be found in everything from broaches to bridges. And nowhere is it more evident than in the geometric shapes and brilliant finishes that define the Chelsea Clock Mayfair Clock.

 The Mayfair Clock celebrates Art Deco with its bold, spherical shape, flanked by two smaller cylindrical bronze accents, all gracefully arranged atop a three-tiered stepped rectangular base. Featuring a heavy forged brass case, the Mayfair is hand crafted from solid brass and boasts a gleaming nickel-plated finish. Its dial, which is solid brass that is hand-silvered, features acid-etched, black enameled Art Deco numerals. Streamlined jet black ornamental hands finish this grand timepiece, creating a dramatic statement that is truly timeless.

 For those with an affinity for the lavishness of this bygone era, but the desire for modern convenience, the Mayfair Clock offers a precision German-engineered quartz movement – ensuring accuracy with carefree maintenance. Who says glamour can’t be practical?

 If the style of Art Deco is your style, take a closer look at this exceptionally made Chelsea Clock mantel clock, ideal for home or office.

The Embassy clock is an opulent mantle clock that pays homage to the allure and charm of the 19^th century clocks coveted by France’s elite class. Its profile, inspired by the fashionable clocks that often accompanied aristocrats in their horse-drawn carriages or assumed a place of prominence atop grand mantels, reflects the stylistic rectangular design and sturdy construction that popularized these exquisite timepieces.

The style of the Embassy Clock has made it a classic favorite that endures today. Its traditional design is expertly shaped from quality brass by Chelsea Clock’s master craftsmen. This lavish timepiece features distinctive detailing such as handsome vertical stripes in contrasting matte and sheen finishes, graduated molding at the top and base, and stepped feet, making it a welcome addition to fireplace mantels, bookshelves and desks. The Embassy Clock’s smooth, broad cover offers ample room for personalization, including elegant monogramming and line engraving.

While the design of the Chelsea Clock Embassy Clock captures much of the allure and charm of its French predecessors , this particular piece integrates a modern timekeeping mechanism for optimum performance and convenience. A precision German-engineered quartz movement provides quiet accuracy and quick, easy access for adjustments to time.

The Embassy Clock is a yet another fine example of how Chelsea Clock master clockmakers continue to blend classic design with state-of-the-art technology, and bring elegant timekeeping into homes and offices everywhere.

Chelsea clocks use a hammer and gong to produce our trademark sound. The strike hammer rises and falls onto a circular gong in the back of the case. If the sound is not a clean stroke, with a clear ringing tone, it can be adjusted as follows.

On the back of the case you will see a circular plate, held in place by three screws. Removing this plate allows a clear view of the hammer and the gong. At rest, the hammer head should be poised about 1/8″ above the circular gong. This allows the hammer to fall onto the gong and bounce clear, allowing the bell to ring after being struck. A slight adjustment of the wire that the hammer head is mounted on is all that is necessary to improve the sound quality. With a little patience and care, you should be able to restore our trademark Chelsea Clock sound to your clock’s strike. Move the hands ahead and allow the clock to strike several times while the plate is off, observing the action of the strike hammer. On the half hour strike, you should note that the strike hammer remains up in the air at the completion of the cycle. Move the minute hand ahead to the hour position. After the clock strikes the hour, the hammer will be at rest above the circular gong.  Make a slight bend on the brass wire that the hammer head is mounted on to affect the change in the sound quality. When you are satisfied with the sound, replace the inspection plate with the three screws. Check the strike sound one or two more times, making sure that the hammer doesn’t rub on the inside of the inspection plate.

Enjoy the sound of your Chelsea clock.

A symbol of solidarity and strength, the Chelsea Clock Presidential Clock is a magnificent timepiece that celebrates the enduring spirit of both visionaries and everyday people who dare to dream of making a difference. . .and do.

Throughout history Chelsea Clock timepieces have graced the homes of dignitaries, and stood in faithful observance during encounters among world officials. Our clocks’ visual appeal, combined with their rich history are just some of the reasons Chelsea clocks are often chosen as cultural ambassadors for the United States. In fact, Chelsea timepieces have been offered as official gifts by many of our country’s presidents.

In both name and design, the Presidential Clock reflects significant achievement in the art of superb clock making for which Chelsea Clock is world renowned. This exquisite piece brings stately elegance to any room, with its hand-finished solid forged brass case and rich, solid mahogany base. Boasting a 4.5” dial with traditional black Roman numerals, this classically-styled piece features a quality German-engineered quartz movement.

Strength. Precision. Endurance. These are but some of the many qualities that define a great leader. They are also some of  the same characteristics that shape the Chelsea Clock Presidential Clock and help make it a lasting symbol of accomplishment for those fortunate enough to receive it.

“Voyage: (n) 1. a journey, travel, or passage, esp one to a distant land or by sea or air.”

There are times when limitations overpower or inhibit change. Then there are those wondrous instances where certain restrictions only serve to motivate us more to push beyond what’s easy or expected, often leading to exciting new solutions. Such is the case with our Voyager Collection of clocks and barometers. Through the years, many of our customers have expressed their frustrations with outfitting their boats when cabin or dash space is limited. We, in turn, accepted this challenge and set to work on adapting our products to best meet their needs. The result: a new collection that offers the same exceptional quality and performance for which Chelsea Clock is world renowned, but in a more compact size and format.

The intensity, commitment and challenge of voyaging naturally leans toward no-frills, no distractions and no fuss — just man conquering wind and sea. Those same requirements are what lead us to create a nautical line, with a total focus on a mariner’s duties, attainable for any Chelsea Clock admirer. The Voyager Brass Nautical Clocks and Barometers place practice over theory, function over form, voyaging over cruising. Performance is paramount.  Made for use in the tight space of a captain’s quarters, we crafted the nautical clocks for easy accessibility, agility to fit in various spaces, and with minimal upkeep.

With pronounced clarity and simplistic contemporary style, the austerity of the design is in it’s adherence to necessity. Compact, clean yet still a figure of Chelsea Clock’s tradition of excellence.    Matte-finished forged brass, beveled glass, and a clear noble face prove the pieces to be reliable instruments for any travel on the sea.

 The Voyager Clock and Barometer Set on a Mahogany Plaque blends in with the wooden panels that line a vessels quarters, and it’s solid properties attribute to its high-resistance to deterioration which is why it has been a cornerstone in boat construction.  Those details that represent the seafarers environment make these ideal nautical gifts to grace staterooms, cabins, quarters and the rooms of your life.