Tips & know-how

Our advice

Our tips for choosing, hanging, and maintaining your Black Forest cuckoo.

Mechanical or quartz cuckoo clock: how to choose? Mechanical or quartz cuckoo clock: how to choose? Choosing between a mechanical cuckoo clock and a quartz cuckoo clock is first and foremost choosing how you want to live with your clock. Both come in the same... Read the guide Musical cuckoo clocks: melodies, music box and figures Musical cuckoo clocks: melodies, music box and figures A musical cuckoo clock does more than call the hour: after the bird’s call, a melody rises and figures start to move. Here is how these little shows work, on me... Read the guide Genuine Black Forest cuckoo clock: the VdS certificate Genuine Black Forest cuckoo clock: the VdS certificate The success of the Black Forest cuckoo clock has given rise to many copies. Yet a few clues help you recognize a genuine cuckoo clock, starting with its VdS cer... Read the guide What size cuckoo clock should you choose? What size cuckoo clock should you choose? Before falling for a model, check that it will fit in your home. The size of a cuckoo clock is not just about its case: on a mechanical model, you also need to... Read the guide Cuckoo clock troubleshooting: stopped or not calling? Cuckoo clock troubleshooting: stopped or not calling? Most minor faults on a mechanical cuckoo clock can be fixed in a few minutes, without tools. Before calling a clockmaker, go through these common problems and t... Read the guide Quartz cuckoo clock: how it works and its advantages Quartz cuckoo clock: how it works and its advantages A quartz cuckoo clock offers the call, the music and the animations of a Black Forest cuckoo clock, with no winding at all. Here is how it works and what it cha... Read the guide How does a mechanical cuckoo clock work? How does a mechanical cuckoo clock work? A mechanical cuckoo clock works without batteries or electricity: everything it does, from moving the hands to the bird’s call, comes from its weights. Here is... Read the guide Properly Hanging Your Cuckoo Clock Properly Hanging Your Cuckoo Clock A properly installed cuckoo clock runs better and lasts longer. All you need is a solid wall, a screw at the right height and a few minutes to free the mechanis... Read the guide Understanding Black Forest Movements Understanding Black Forest Movements Beneath the dial of every mechanical cuckoo clock beats a clock movement. There are two main families, the 1-day movement and the 8-day movement, each available... Read the guide Maintaining and Winding Your Cuckoo Clock Maintaining and Winding Your Cuckoo Clock A Black Forest cuckoo clock can last for generations. All it takes is a few simple habits: regular winding, setting the time without forcing it and a service by... Read the guide