Hönes and Engstler, Black Forest cuckoo clock makers
Every cuckoo clock in our catalog comes from one of two Black Forest workshops: Hönes, in Titisee-Neustadt, and Engstler, in Villingen-Schwenningen. Both of these cuckoo clock makers were founded in the early 1950s. They share the same region and the same wood, but not quite the same specialty.
Hönes, in Titisee-Neustadt since 1950
The company was founded in 1950 by Daniel Hönes, a master clockmaker. Since 1984, it has been run by Wolfgang Trenkle, who also comes from a family of clockmakers and designs the new models himself. Based in Titisee-Neustadt, it employs nearly 60 people and offers more than 450 models, from small 20 cm (8 in) cuckoo clocks to grandfather clocks.
At Hönes, all carvings and cases are made by hand. The mechanical movements come from the Black Forest, and the musical movements draw on Swiss expertise. One detail makes the brand easy to recognize: its logo replaces the number 12 on the dial. Since 2015, a golden quality seal and the VdS seal have also been set into the back of the cases.
On our site, all Hönes cuckoo clocks are mechanical, 1-day or 8-day, and most are VdS certified. The range runs from carved models, such as this 8-day carved hunting trophy, to animated musical chalets. On one of them, a hiker with a long staff moves beside a water wheel while couples dance on the balcony. Discover all our Hönes cuckoo clocks.
Engstler, in Villingen-Schwenningen since 1952
The company was founded in 1952 in Villingen by Josef Engstler. Today it is run by Gerold Engstler, the third generation of the family, with around twenty employees and a team of decorators. The cases are made from local linden wood, and the figurines come from Val Gardena, a valley in South Tyrol renowned for woodcarving.
Engstler holds a special place in the recent history of the cuckoo clock. The company helped develop the first quartz movement for cuckoo clocks, and for a long time it was the only maker to offer them. It also makes mechanical models, but those in our catalog are all quartz. The recorded call is often followed by an echo, then one of twelve melodies, and a light sensor silences the sound at night.
On this chalet with a half-timbered facade, a woodchopper raises his arm, the water wheel turns and dancers spin with each melody. Discover all our Engstler cuckoo clocks.
Hönes or Engstler: how to choose?
The two makers share the essentials: the Black Forest, linden wood, and the two main styles, animated chalet and traditional carved. Our tips for choosing between chalet or carved therefore apply to both brands. All their cuckoo clocks come with a 2-year warranty.
The real difference lies in the movement:
Hönes, for the charm of mechanics: weights to wind every day or every week, a genuine bellows-driven call and the VdS certificate, reserved for mechanical movements.
Engstler, for the simplicity of quartz: batteries, no winding, adjustable volume on some models and automatic night shut-off.
Our guide mechanical or quartz helps you decide based on your daily routine.
