Bulova B1975 Chadbourne Old World Clock, Walnut

The wood finish is nice; love the colors/design of the face, and I like the sound/variety of the chimes ... very realistic for an electronic audio effect, especially at lower volume, which is easily controlled by a rotary knob inside the rear enclosure. A lot of people who don't know much about clocks would probably think the chimes are real, not electronic. The chimes sound better "in person" than on the promotional video, because you're hearing them in actual use as the clock designers intended, rather than through the cheesy little speakers on your laptop. I found the clock very easy to set up ... just follow the sequence of the simple instructions, and always turn the clock hands forward to adjust/set, not backward. I think that's needed to avoid damage to fragile mechanical toggle switches inside the movement that activate the chimes. There are four easy switch settings for the 4 different chime features, and three equally easy switch settings for the frequency: "on" 24 hours; "on" from 6 am to 10 pm only ("off" at night), and always "off" ... all very easy to see/set in the rear enclosure on the clock. Don't yet know how accurate the clock movement will be, but I assume the movement in a Bulova product won't be junk/inaccurate. So far, very satisfied with this product. [6/19 update to original review: so far, the movement selected by Bulova for this clock is dead accurate ... I have not had to re-set it once since originally starting it, and the chimes are still sounding as/when they're supposed to, in EXACT unison with the personal alarm in my wife's cell phone, and the time in that device is constantly updated/synched through the cell service. So far, really excellent mantel clock.]

First about the clock itself. Its mellow tones are regulated by a much appreciated volume control which works quite well. I have very good hearing, am very sensitive to sound and have more than once disengaged the bonging mechanism on a clock because it woke me up in the night. Not so with this clock. The volume control allows me to set it so I am not disturbed. Often, I can hear it bonging softly in the distance. Not so loud that it wakes me up but loud enough to be a gentle reminder of the time as I drift in and out of sleep naturally. There are four tune settings for the chime: Ave Maria, Westminster, Westminster 4x4 (every quarter hour) and something called Bim Bam. We prefer either the Ave Maria or the Westminster. We have had this clock for about eight months and not once have I been disturbed by its melodious bong. If I ever do tire of it, there are settings which either turn off the chime entirely or from 11PM-5:45AM. The volume setting also allows the clock to be placed in a family or living room without disturbing television viewing or conversation. Classic styling with a mahogany-like wood grain finish, this clock looks as good as it sounds. Some of us have it sitting atop a bookcase, others a fireplace mantle. There are no wires and its medium size allows it to be placed almost anywhere without being obtrusive. Although it does not have a second hand, which would have been nice, we can live without that. My only complaint with this product is the chintzy back panel covering access to the controls. For such a handsome clock to have such a cheap plastic cover on the back detracts from the entire aesthetic. This annoyance is not enough to remove a rating star, but is enough to be a big disappointment, an unnecessary one. Even if it cost a little more, I don't think many consumers would mind paying extra for a small, hinged wooden door instead of a black plastic square with a tab on it. Even a hinged plastic door would be better. Anything but a square piece of plastic which pops off completely and then requires a little maneuvering to snap back into place. I am surprised at such a slipshod yet necessary accessory for an otherwise classy product and dismayed that Bulova's design and quality control people allowed it to go into production this way. Now the other reason for my five star rating...my entire family loves this clock. I have seven siblings with families of their own. One of my brothers found this clock and gave it to my mother for her birthday in September 2019. He bought one for himself, too. When I visited her, I fell in love with its dulcet tones, too. Called and asked my brother where he got it and then bought one for myself. As Christmas approached, my mother and I thought it would be a fun idea to get everyone in the family one of these clocks as a gift...a gift which would tie us all together every time it bonged. The hours might be different but we would know that everyone else was hearing at least one chime wherever they were....my brother in Japan, my brother in New York, my brother in Boston, my sister near Hartford, etc... It really is a treat to be talking to a family member on Skype or, even better, a group of us holding a Zoom meeting, and then in the background you can hear everyone's clock start to chime at the same time at the top of the hour. It is something special which ties us all together even though we are miles apart.

Only one personal preference disappointment, but first....... The price was extremely reasonable compared to the rest, but the mixed reviews worried me. I usually stick with the rational rule of thumb; "you get what you pay for", but this time, I defied my better judgement and took the leap since my budget was limited. I was pleasantly surprised. Literally took only a few minutes to set up, very easy, and of course, the anticipation of hearing the chime was exciting. Surely, I thought the chiming would sound like one of those cheap musical birthday cards, as one review stated, but... "WRONG!" Mine has a VERY rich, clear, DEEP throaty chime, that sounds like the top expensive ones. "YAYE"! ! ! ! However.....my only disappointment on a personal level, was... it "does not" have a "constant" all day tick tock sound. : > ( Some people prefer that, but I do not. I really wanted that charming cozy constant ticking sound, like Grandma had in her exquisite quiet farmhouse. Other than that, I'm VERY pleased with this clock for the price..... and...... it's a handsome looking piece as well. with gold, (not silver) accents. Not cheesy. The chimes do have a volume control to your preference. From very soft, to VERY LOUD, and I do mean "LOUD" ! ! Also, you can control the chime to automatically shut off at night time. Requires (2) "C" batteries for the chimes, and (1) "AA" battery for the time, (not provided). Keeps PERFECT time. I'm very picky, but this "TIME", very pleased.

First... read the instructions before you do ANYTHING! Second, set up was way easier than I was led to believe. If you understand that the preset time is 6:50AM -- set up your clock as close to that time as possible (like at 7AM), and it will be quick and painless LOL. NEVER set the time backwards... always forward. I bought this to replace a floor grandfather clock that I never liked because the chimes were so loud. Absolutely love the convenience of having a volume control for the chimes, and the night feature where the chimes are off as I wake at the sound of a cricket. I have this set with the Westminster chimes on the hour only, daytime only, and the volume is loud enough to hear it when I'm close by, but it doesn't drown out the television. The style is great for my decor. The only 2 deficits is (1) it is in a room with a ton of windows/sunlight and reading the time with the glare is difficult (I will move it to another location after I move -- current spot is temporary) and (2) it is lightweight enough that I cannot put it where I originally wanted because I can see my cat deciding those lovely sharp edges are meant for her to rub her jaw against and she would knock it to the floor -- so that limits my options to places the cat can't get (oh the things we pet owners compromise on). But neither of these deficits are really a manufacturer's issue. I will add that I got this on sale drastically reduced ($120), which makes me even more enthusiastic.

Original 5 star review-- This clock uses 1 C-cell battery to operate the clock and chimes. Choice of Westminster or Whittington chimes, and they do chime on the quarter-hour (I hoped so but wasn't sure). I got this clock for my large bookshelf and it is exactly what I was hoping for. The wood is very beautiful and the face is just as pretty in real life as it is in the picture. The brass plaque comes separately, in case you want it to be personalized. The chimes have a beautiful, authentic sound with a volume control dial. There is a night-time switch but I haven't messed with it yet. I'll figure that out tomorrow. The way the bottom of the clock is made, prevents the clock from scratching your shelf or mantel. I have wanted a Westminster clock for a very long time, and I am so glad I got this one. The shipping was expensive but this delicate clock came in perfect condition so it was well worth the shipping. I would definitely buy this clock again for myself or for a gift. My whole family loves it. 10 days later-- The chimes aren't perfect in sound, but it is still a very nice clock.

This clock is beautiful. My initial review, which I am attempting to replace with this one, explained the extensive problems that we had when we had to replace the batteries or switch to daylight savings time or back out of it. We could not get the clock to chime again no matter what we did. However, at one point, for some unknown reason, it did start chiming again. We had this problem on two separate occasions. I had decided not to attempt to change the time when daylight savings ended last year, since it was chiming nicely and at the proper volume for our room. My husband didn't like having the wrong time on it. He managed to get it reset and chiming again after a few tries. I am editing this review to reflect the fact that while we have found it difficult to get the clock to resume normal function after we attempt to change batteries or time, we do enjoy the clock. Quite a bit later, another edit....Ok, we figured out how to set it and have had no problems. Don't touch the hands setting, do it all with the battery. To "fall back' for daylight savings, take the battery out, wait an hour, put it back in and you are done. Best to stop it at 5 till the hour, we find. To "spring forward," if you have it set to not chime at night, you need to leave the battery out overnight and put it back in when the clock will be right. Don't mess with any other settings. We have been doing this for quite a while, through many settings, and it always works.

Beautiful clock! I cannot say enough good things about this clock. It is gorgeous, beyond my expectations and looks even better than it shows in the web photo. If I could rate it more than five stars I would. It arrived very promptly and well packed. The dimensions are exactly as stated. I searched many clocks before selecting this one as I wanted one that was not too big on the mantel. Most mantel clocks are very wide, and I didn't want the mantel to look "all clock." I also wanted one that had some brass to match the brass around my glass fireplace doors. I also wanted one that wasn't too cherry color and had some decoration on it. This one met all my specifications and actually was the first one I had looked at. But I hesitated because a couple of reviewers said the clock face was not very readable and had a glare. I haven't found that to be a problem. My mantel faces the living room window that has sun coming in but the clock face is very clear, both the hands and the numbers are readable. The chimes are beautiful,, too. The instructions seemed a bit complicated at first to set up, but after reading them a couple of time and taking each step slowly the set up wasn't bad. I am really pleased I selected this clock. If you are looking for one that is not too large, has good workmanship and looks beautiful - this is the one!

Nice mantle clock. The chimes are adjustable and sound decent at mid to low level, Nice tone. Nice appearance. The clock face is approximaetly 6" across which is the reason I purchased this one. I didn't want to spend the amount I did but now happy I did. Using the instructions everything worked as intended.

Relógio muito bom, som extraordinário, amamos.

Love this clock. Nice finish great sound. I stick with Westminster chimes but others sounds are available. Sound loudness is adjustable and you can turn the sound off at night. I like to leave it on 24/7! Had a regular grandfather clock but it was expensive to maintain and required weekly wind up. This beauty just needs a few batteries. I change them out every January but not because the clock needs new batteries but just as a routine. Highly recommend this clock. Very aesthetic looking and beautiful sound. I’ve had this clock since 2022 and was going to buy another for my sister but it’s unavailable at this time.

Estoy fascinada con la compra del reloj, suena maravilloso !!

I bought this after we got our living room decorated in our new house because I wanted to replace my ageing mechanical striking clock which had seen better days and to be honest I was getting tired of having to wind it. To describe this clock as beautiful is an understatement. It is exceptionally well made, with a walnut veneer body and expertly crafted face and hands. The quartz movement inside seems to be pretty accurate so far, but best of all I LOVE the chimes! My old clock never chimed, just sounded the hour and half hour, but this one plays the Westminster chime on the quarters and on the hour. It also has an hourly only Westminster chime, an Ave Maria chime and something called “Bim Bam” which is just a simple two note chime on the hour. The chime volume can be adjusted - it is really VERY loud at full volume so you are likely going to want to turn it down, and chime can either be silenced completely, left on 24/7, or silenced between 11pm and 5.45am. The only thing I will miss about my older clock is the louder ticking sound - as a quartz clock this one is a lot quieter, but I think I can live with that.

This is a superb, very high-quality looking clock that fits beautifully on my mantlepiece of similar wood color. Can't fault it and everyone who sees it says how lovely it is. Very pleasing to the eye. Other reviewers have said it all! Being in Australia I decided to risk buying it for the long journey and it arrived safely and no damage. I purchased it not only for it's lovely design, chimes, solid wood quality, and surprisingly reasonable price but on the strength of the fabulous reviews. It is exactly what I wanted. Couldn't be happier!!