By Michelle Zhang (Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2007-10-24 09:59

Chinese people have long been known as lovers of clocks and watches. Mechanical clocks and watches were once the Chinese emperors' favorite gifts from the West, while one's pocket watch used to be indicative of one's social status.

Today, clocks are still considered as a kind of treasure to ward off evil forces and bring about good fortune, according to Wei Guangwen, director of Time Lord, a Guangzhou-based high-end mechanical chime clock manufacturer and distributor. That explains why most Chinese people will buy a new clock - usually big in size - when they move to a new house. "Clocks are not just decorative," he says. "They are art pieces. Each features its own story, history and culture and thus represents a certain luxury lifestyle reflecting the owner's taste."

The company has recently opened its flagship store in Shanghai at Jiuguang City Plaza. Covering an area of 189 square meters, the store sells a variety of the world's top clock brands including Germany's Hermle and Hubert Herr, Switzerland's Reuge as well as England's Comitti and Sinclair Harding.

The clocks are priced between 10,000 yuan (US$1,332) and 50,000 yuan. Some unique pieces include Hubert Herr's renowned Black Forest cuckoo clock, a collection of exquisite Reuge music boxes as well as the one-of-a-kind Sinclair Harding clock which was hand crafted by the brand owner, Robert Bray, in London.

Apart from being the first and the biggest distributor of the world's leading mechanical clocks in China, Time Lord also designs and manufactures clocks under its own brand "Tianlun."

Inspired by the preferences of the Chinese emperors of the olden times, the clocks are traditionally crafted, using high quality mahogany. The exterior patterns are hand engraved and polished by skilled craftsman. Each of the time pieces features the movement provided by Hermle.

Ongoing Department Store
Location: No. 1618, Nanjing West Road, Jing'an District
Tel: 021- 64794851