Mechanical Table Clock with Westminster Chime — the Big Ben Melody
A contemporary table clock in a polished walnut case, glazed on top, rear and sides so the movement is visible from every angle. But what sets the Chigwell apart is not how it looks — it is how it sounds.
Westminster Chime, on Four Bells
On the quarter hour the Chigwell strikes the Westminster chime — the same melody Big Ben has sounded over London since 1859. It plays that melody on four polished brass bells, not through an electronic speaker, so the note rings from metal that genuinely resonates.
And It Falls Silent When You Want
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Chime silencing lever — stop the melody whenever you wish while the clock keeps running
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Automatic night-time shut-off — it quiets itself through sleeping hours without you touching it
Specifications
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Movement: 8-day brass mechanical Westminster chime movement
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Escapement: 11-jewel platform escapement — the jewelling technique of fine wristwatches, reducing friction and extending working life
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Bells: Four polished brass bells
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Dial: Engine-turned silver dial with a polished silver chapter ring
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Hands: Breguet blued-style hands with a separate seconds hand
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Silencing: Manual chime silencing lever plus automatic night shut-off
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Case: Polished walnut, glazed on top, rear and sides
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Dimensions: 30 × 25 × 21 cm (H × W × D)
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Origin: Made in Germany
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Reference: 22801-030352
Care Instructions
- Wind the movement at the interval stated for the model, always at the same time of day.
- Move the hands forward only, pausing at every chime or strike until it completes.
- Dust the case with a soft, dry cloth; use a wood-appropriate polish on wooden cases only.
- Clean the glass with a cloth lightly dampened with glass cleaner — never spray directly onto the clock.
- Keep away from radiators, direct sunlight, and humidity, and have the movement serviced by a specialist every few years.
Perfect Gift For
A gift that marks time itself — fitting for weddings, retirements, corporate anniversaries, and the handing over of an office or a home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Westminster chime?
A sequence of four musical phrases played on the quarter hour, best known as the melody of Big Ben in London, first sounded in 1859. The Chigwell plays it on four polished brass bells inside the case.
Can the chime be switched off?
Yes — in two ways. A manual silencing lever stops the melody at any time while the clock continues to keep time, and an automatic night-time shut-off quiets it through sleeping hours on its own.
What does an 11-jewel escapement mean?
Synthetic ruby bearings are set at the points of greatest friction in the movement, exactly as in fine wristwatches. They reduce wear, hold accuracy, and extend the working life of the mechanism — uncommon in a table clock.
What are Breguet blued hands?
A classic signature of fine horology: slender hands finished in a deep blue, named after Abraham-Louis Breguet. They read cleanly against a silver dial and are a mark of traditional watchmaking.
How often does it need winding?
Every 8 days — a full week of running on a single winding.
Does it need servicing?
Yes, like any precision mechanical movement — a specialist clockmaker should inspect and oil it every few years. That is what keeps it running for decades.
How does it differ from the skeleton clocks in this collection?
The skeleton clocks display their mechanism openly and mark the hour with a single passing bell. The Chigwell is a chiming clock: an enclosed walnut case, a jewelled 8-day movement, and the full Westminster melody on four bells — with the option to silence it.
About Hermle
Franz Hermle & Sohn was founded in 1922 in Gosheim, in Germany's clockmaking heartland near the Black Forest. Within a decade it had become one of the most advanced makers of clock movements in Europe, and it remains among the world's largest manufacturers of mechanical movements. Now in its third generation, Hermle builds every movement in Germany and supplies clockmakers across the globe.
