These days, everything from ovens to telephones silently mark the minutes in glowing red and green letters, rendering the “tick tock” of the mechanical clock increasingly unnecessary. Digital clocks might be more convenient and accessible, but they will never hold our affection the way a good old-fashioned round-faced clock does.

Antique grandfather clocks are not collected for their time-keeping ability, they are a treasured piece of history, an heirloom to pass down to future generations. These classic timepieces are part of our lives, our homes, our families even. They are decorations and sometimes act as the design focal point of a room.

Antique clocks from the mid 1600s still exist. Some of these are worth well over $70,000. Some extremely rare models are worth over $100,000. A wise consumer, before spending this type of money, would have any prospective clock appraised before purchase.

These timeless treasures are available at flea markets, estate sales, local auctions, and through newspaper ads. Antique grandfather clocks can also sometimes be found at online auction sites. To be certain of a clock’s authenticity, you should only buy from a trusted and reputable seller. Read any listing carefully to ensure that the product you are buying is truly an antique. In addition to online auctions, established auction houses hold auctions for antique grandfather clocks, although these may happen only twice a year.

Antiques are a significant purchase, and should not be taken lightly. When buying an antique grandfather clock, there are several things to consider:

•Does the seller offer any guarantee of authenticity?

•What is the total price of the clock? Be sure to figure in shipping charges, tax, financing charges, etc.

•What is the clock’s condition? Obviously, a clock in excellent condition is considerably more valuable than one that is in poor form. A clock with all of its original components intact is worth more than one that has been restored.

•What are your intentions for the clock? If you intend to sell the clock, you need to find it at the absolute lowest price so that you can make a profit. On the other hand, if you are buying the clock purely for enjoyment, you might not be as concerned about original components, identifying marks, etc.

•How much is the clock really worth in today’s market. Knowledge of recent sales of similar clocks is extremely helpful in deciding how much to pay for a clock. If you do not have this knowledge, you should have a professional, unbiased appraisal done.

For those desiring the look of antique grandfather clocks without the hefty price tag, reproductions are available.

No matter how ubiquitous and prevalent digital clocks become, a stately grandfather clock will always have a place in our hearts—and our homes.