BALMUDA's The Clock takes a bedside staple and strips it back to a block of aluminium, a backlit display with no hands, and sound. Time is shown through illuminated numerals with a ring marking the minutes, and the body is precisely carved from aluminium in the manner of a pocket watch scaled for a table, palm-sized at 3.0 by 2.5 by 4.1 inches including the crown. It made the cut because the reduction is functional, not merely visual. A gentle fade-in alarm is designed to wake without a jolt, ambient sound modes are built in for winding down in the evening and for focus during the day, and settings for alarms, sounds and dial illumination are handled through the BALMUDA Connect app on iOS and Android. The clock is USB-C rechargeable, runs for up to 24 hours on a charge, has built-in stereo speakers, and ships with a soft fabric pouch, which makes it as much a travel clock as a bedside one. Note that the AC adapter and USB cable are not included, a decision buyers should factor in rather than discover. US pricing on BALMUDA's own store is US$499 in silver, with a champagne edition at US$519 in limited quantities, both shown available at this check. Verdict: A great deal of money for a clock, and a coherent one if calm mornings are the actual purchase
