A Clock That Bridges Time

Wall clocks, desk clocks, and wristwatches have been declining in popularity for years. Everyone already carries a phone around with them everywhere, so what need do we have for additional clocks? Or at least that is how the argument goes. But utility isn’t everything. We also need beauty surrounding us or our lives will begin to feel dull.

This isn’t to say that we should go back to using the technology of the past — but it might not hurt to borrow some of the style of yesteryear. I mean, little black rectangles aren’t the peak of design, after all. It is in this spirit that Instructables user Edison4k built a modern digital-analog desk clock. It has the appearance of a beautiful, old analog alarm clock, but the internals are all digital to keep accurate time. It also has an E Ink display to bring in some more modern features.

The clock’s exterior is a custom wooden case, cut from 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch boards, then slotted and glued together to form a snug housing for the main clock frame. A long groove carved into the top panel hides an LED strip that provides gentle illumination at night, in a nod to the glow of vintage alarm clocks.

Behind the analog-style clock face is an entirely digital timing system driven by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. Instead of relying on quartz oscillators that drift over time, this clock uses network-synchronized digital timekeeping. That signal is translated into physical movement through a stepper motor that is controlled by a ULN2003 driver board. A set of 3D-printed gears (some at 100% infill to withstand constant torque) translates each tiny motor step into smooth hour and minute hand motion. Because the hands can be physically repositioned using a calibration mode, the mechanical and digital systems stay perfectly aligned.

A rotary encoder lets users set alarms or calibrate the hands, while a latching Chromatek RGB button indicates whether the alarm is on. A small active piezo buzzer provides the morning wake-up tone, and a diffused status LED glows subtly beneath the face. Meanwhile, the 2.13-inch E Ink display offers hourly weather forecasts fetched from OpenWeather’s free API, combining timeless analog visuals with slow-refresh, power-efficient digital data.

Edison4k’s creation proves that modern technology and classic aesthetics don’t have to be at odds. With the right combination of code, craftsmanship, and creativity, even a simple desk clock can become a work of art.