Get Your Time Without Hands or Digits

Photos: Biegert & Funk

Telling time with hands, numbers, or even or digital digits, is so 2009. In this hyper-speed, instant download, I-want-the-information-now world, getting the time by simply looking at a clock or watch and taking a half second to figure out the time ourselves takes way too long. We want our 21st century clocks to tell us the time. In words we can understand.
The Qlocktwo fills that speed-in-time-telling void. A wonder of sleek modern design on top of high-tech wizardry, it tells time by the written word. No big-hand-on-the-6-little-hand-on-the-8 to decipher or LEDs spelling out 8:30, the Qlocktwo simply states, “It is half past eight” in backlit words from a matrix of symmetrically arranged characters on its 18-inch-square polished acrylic face.

Available in a variety of colors, the $1,100 Qlocktwo can also tell time in a wide variety of languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, Dutch and Russian. The front surface is held on by magnets, so should you decide to go euro-phile in your decor, all you need to do is swap it out.
And should you want your time told in words rather than numbers while you’re sleeping, the Qlocktwo Touch alarm clock is available for $599. At about 7-inches square, it works bedside for a quick time check without having to figure out what those numbers mean in your sleep-induced stupor.

Don’t have a grand to drop on a clock? You can download the app and turn your iPhone, iPad or Android device into a handheld Qlocktwo. Or hang it on the wall, and save $1,099.01.