# Analog chess clock recommendations (a nice one) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** chess\ **Created:** [October 31, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440 "2025-10-31T03:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/1 "2025-10-31T03:56:50Z")
As a gift I would like to get someone I know a nice analog chess clock. Yes, I know digital ones exist and are arguably better at timing the game. I don’t care. I want old-school. I want some elegance. Well built, well crafted, beautiful on its own. Assume price is not a consideration (it certainly is but don’t let it stop you). I prefer wood but again…feel free to post whatever. (And yes, I checked Amazon.) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/2 "2025-10-31T13:20:42Z")
Ooohhh. I’ll be watching this. My wife and I are big into chess. Never timed though it has been suggested that we should. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/3 "2025-10-31T13:28:12Z")
You can have a lot of fun with a chess clock like doing speed games. Put a minute or two on the clock for each person and go. A little silly but fun and some laughs. Even fun at parties (done it…people would gather around to watch). Of course, it can be used more seriously too. Whatever you want. It changes the game a little due to the time pressure (normally I do 40/120…40 moves within 120 minutes). ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/4 "2025-10-31T14:11:57Z")
I know of a great place to buy used chess equipment. The pawn shop. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/5 "2025-10-31T14:37:27Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > You can have a lot of fun with a chess clock like doing speed games. Put a minute or two on the clock for each person and go. A little silly but fun and some laughs. Sounds interesting, and frightening. Have you seen the mini-series ‘Queens Gambit’? I recommend this for anyone. Though chess players will understand it better. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/6 "2025-10-31T18:04:24Z")
Note that the OP is asking for an analog clock for aesthetic reasons. If you want a chess clock for practical use, a digital clock is much more functional. A digital clock can do things that an analog clock cannot, like show you exactly how much time is remaining for each player, or play with an “increment” (where each player gets a small amount of time added to their remaining time after each move). ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/7 "2025-10-31T18:15:37Z")
I’m sure markn\_1 . But chess is an aesthetic game, IMHO. Beautiful pieces, beautiful moves. For myself, a digital clock would ruin that. An analog clock might as well. My wife and I take less than an hour to play a game, so it clicks along pretty quickly. And we don’t pressure each other to make a move. I have mixed feelings about adding any clock to that, but we have sort of talked about it. ---
**Author:** ![corudstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@corudstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corudstr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/8 "2025-10-31T18:33:20Z")
Ebay has lots of them for sale. Many different styles to choose from. I have had pretty good luck finding vintage items on Ebay in the last year or two. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/9 "2025-10-31T18:38:51Z")
[**Would something like this do?**](https://crealandia.com/shop/soviet-wooden-chess-clock-vintage-chess-timer/?srsltid=AfmBOoqOcIrOtRmFF5JmwsuezpHbAyN6YBR4ju_7VWM-qQG_WBAu3agi) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/10 "2025-10-31T18:48:55Z")
That’s great! I know I said price is no object (and I mean it) because I want to see whatever is out there but in reality that is too pricey for me. But yeah…clocks like that are great. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/11 "2025-10-31T18:49:42Z")
I figured, LOL, but it was too awesome not to post. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/12 "2025-10-31T18:56:21Z")
I just ordered [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Analog-Professional-Grade-Wind-Up-Mechanism-Battery/dp/B0C7ZWDPP9/ref=sxin_24_sbv_search_btf?content-id=amzn1.sym.c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699%253Aamzn1.sym.c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699&crid=VBBVZ0II672Z&cv_ct_cx=chess%252Bclock%252Banalog&keywords=chess%252Bclock%252Banalog&pd_rd_i=B0B6JG91WW&pd_rd_r=380ac156-6b44-4a51-8411-b95507150874&pd_rd_w=U0ENL&pd_rd_wg=mmJyz&pf_rd_p=c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699&pf_rd_r=MKYQ773PBXR1EBHMFVSG&qid=1761936426&sbo=RZvfv%252F%252FHxDF%252BO5021pAnSA%253D%253D&sprefix=chess%252Bclock%252Banalog%252Caps%252C159&sr=1-1-5190daf0-67e3-427c-bea6-c72c1df98776&th=1) It’s sort of a ‘Why not’. My wife and I have been talking about it. I think it will be an x-mas gift or something. I am planning on buying another TV (probably a Samsung Frame) That’s for both of us for x-mas. Sorry if I’m crowding your thread, Whack-a-Mole. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/13 "2025-10-31T19:08:51Z")
A long-standing friend of mine runs a chess + bridge shop in the UK (they deliver of course.) I can thoroughly recommend it. [Chess and Bridge Online Shop](https://chess.co.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/14 "2025-11-01T03:44:11Z")
[Here’s an option.](https://www.farrar-tanner.com/tournament-chess-clock-with-pedestal?color=2626%253FglCountry%253DUS&glCurrency=USD&glcountry=US&glcurrency=USD&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17176630071&gbraid=0AAAAACT0mGIGvVzZjz9KDV4RMBntJdaWS&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvJHIBhCgARIsAEQnWlBiEzti9Bp21Irm9nxcaQ7ewY6pdd7aw2bjcFYIcZ_cSomjE73zMtwaAtrWEALw_wcB) I know nothing about it other than what’s on the page. I found it through a Google search. My two cents on using a clock at all: I argue strongly that chess is not a well-defined game without a clock. If I have to decide how long to think about a move based on some sense of how the other player is feeling, or if I just have to sort of “guess” how deep to calculate in a tricky position, then it’s a poorly defined strategy space. If I know I only have 8 minutes – or 80 minutes – left in the game, then I can decide how to manage my thinking time and how much to analyze in a position or lean on intuition. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/15 "2025-11-01T07:21:00Z")
I think there is a BIG difference between playing with a friend and chatting and tournament play where millions may be on the line. In the latter you need a clock and rigid rules. When playing with a friend while having a beer…meh…not necessary. That is not to say never use one in casual play. It does change the game a bit. And, if playing for fun, you can use the clock to help. Outside of official competitions do whatever you want if the other player agrees. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/16 "2025-11-01T11:29:49Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > In the latter you need a clock and rigid rules. When playing with a friend while having a beer…meh…not necessary. Agree completely. Although I think I want to try a clock, I’m not sure my wife and I will like it. We listen to classic rock, have a beer or three and play. I want to create/invent pieces that all can stand on their ‘head’. So that if you have to leave for any reason (phone call, bathroom break) the other person can still move. Just make that piece moved stand on it’s head until the other person gets back. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/17 "2025-11-01T18:00:29Z")
Even better, how about pawns that can physically transform into any other piece after they promote? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CSOnnle3zbA/maxresdefault.jpg "Building a REAL pawn that transforms into a queen (automatically)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSOnnle3zbA) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-chess-clock-recommendations-a-nice-one/1024440/18 "2025-11-01T18:05:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I want to create/invent pieces that all can stand on their ‘head’. So that if you have to leave for any reason (phone call, bathroom break) the other person can still move. Just make that piece moved stand on it’s head until the other person gets back. One solution would be to put that piece on a checker or a cut down post-it note.