While researching weird tourist sites in Paris, I noticed several clocks located around the city. What some might consider an outdated feature in an age of smartphones and cheap Casio watches, these clocks stand more as part of the city’s aesthetics and historic character. But which will come out on top of this incredibly arbitrary ranking system? My methodology is three-fold, judging each timepiece by its appearance, readability, and historic context. Each category is scored out of 5 points, for a total of 15. A rubric can be found down below.
Salvador Dali Sundial
Appearance 3/5
Readability 2/5
Context 2/5
Total 10/15
After dragging my classmates around in a loop, we finally located this feature on a corner of an unassuming bakery. Even for sundials, this is a hot mess. The surrealist elements are one thing to view from an art museum or boring gen-ed class, but quite another to view while enjoying the outdoor seating of El Sol & El Luna. Having only one hand that shows some of the hours and being completely powerless against a night sky or large cloud, Salvador demonstrates why he should’ve stuck to other forms of artistic expression.
Palais de la Cité
Appearance 1/5
Readability 4/5
Context 2/5
Total 7/15
This gift to the citizens of Paris should’ve come with a return policy. The French monarchy’s clock didn’t improve their material conditions in any meaningful way, but it certainly was a daily reminder of how rich the King was. Simultaneously boring and obnoxious to look at, it does at least provide the benefit of being a fully functional clock. And while it’s certainly prominently displayed, the side it’s placed doesn’t face the city, which severely limits its ability as a public modern timepiece.
Palais du Luxembourg
Appearance 3/5
Readability 4/5
Context 5/5
Total 12/15
While I cannot deny its merits, this is undoubtedly the most boring on my list. A standard clock face on a well-designed building, facing one of the most beautiful places in the city. Ultimately, it’s merit falls in it’s strong positioning, centrally located and high enough to be seen from a long distance, if not necessarily readable.
Defender of Time
Appearance 5/5
Readability 0/5
Context 3/5
Total 8/15
Rubric aside, this is be my favorite of all the clocks I’ve seen so far, and quite possibly my favorite clock of all time. I absolutely love the design and it’s impressed almost every person I’ve shown it to (“[The clock is] very extra.”- Tim Bova, notably not an amateur clock reviewer). Unfortunately, the clock doesn’t currently move, and its location in a narrow street does it the disservice in the other two categories. Hopefully, Notre Dame’s spire can be replaced with a functioning replica of this gorgeous timekeeper.
Part 2 coming soon?
Rubric
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Appearance | Interesting
and appealing
|
Somewhat interesting and somewhat appealing | Somewhat interesting or somewhat appealing | Somewhat uninteresting or somewhat unappealing | Uninteresting and unappealing |
| Readability | I can understand it down to the second | I can read it down to the minute | I can tell what hour it is | I can tell if it’s morning or afternoon | I have no clue |
| Context | Blends with the scenery and easy to locate | Somewhat blends with the scenery and somewhat locatable | Somewhat blends with the scenery or somewhat locatable | Somewhat contrasts with scenery or somewhat difficult to locatable | Contrasts with scenery and difficult to locate. |