Analog Flip Clock Wall Models: 6 Retro Picks, Sizes, Prices

The best analog flip clock wall option for most Australian homes is a mid-sized analogue dial with a built-in flip calendar, such as the Jadco Horizon at 33cm (about $305). If you want the full retro flip look, the Jadco Mack digital model suits you. For a bedside, a flip card alarm clock like the Jadco rotating dial model is the better fit. If your budget stops at $50, the Leni Flipper is the cheap way in.

The trouble is that flip clocks are a niche, and listings blur the details. Two clocks that both say "flip" can be an analogue dial with a calendar inset or a fully digital flip display. Sizes run from 12cm to 51cm, and prices run from about $48 to nearly $1,000. It is hard to tell what you are actually paying for.

This guide sorts six models by type, with size, price and who each one suits. Clocks Central is a Melbourne clock specialist, so we also say when a retro-styled clock without flip cards is the smarter buy. Prices are those listed by Australian retailers for these models. Check the current price before you order.

How to choose an analog flip clock for your wall

Choose by display type first, then size, then noise and power. Those three decisions explain almost every price gap and most buyer regret.

How the flip mechanism works

A flip clock uses carousel rollers that drop printed cards into place. According to Jadco, which has sold flip card clocks since 1970, the cards turn every minute, every hour or every 24 hours, depending on what they show. The movement behind them is ordinary quartz, so these are battery clocks, not wind-up mechanical ones.

The same mechanism lets makers build two main layouts. One is an analogue dial with a flip calendar inset. The other is a fully "digital" flip face showing day, date and time. Jadco notes that flip cards stay easy to read in any light and from any angle, unlike many LCD displays.

Size, power and noise

Match the clock to the viewing distance, then check the practical details below.

• Size: 30 to 38cm reads well across a lounge or hallway. 20cm and under belongs on a desk, shelf or bedside.
• Power: Jadco says its German movements can run up to 18 months on one battery, because flipping a card needs little power.
• Noise: Expect a soft click when cards drop. Keep a flip clock away from the head of the bed if you sleep lightly.
• Light: Flip cards are not lit by themselves. For a bedside clock, check the listing for a backlight.

What to pay

The table sets the six picks side by side. Prices are rounded from Australian retail listings.

A worked example shows how this plays out. With about $500, you can buy a Jadco Horizon (about $305) and a compact Jadco Wylie 20cm digital flip clock (about $187). That totals roughly $492, which gives you a wall clock for the hallway and a flip clock for the desk.

Decide on display type and size first, because those two choices set the price more than brand does.

When a retro look is enough

Some buyers want the nostalgic feel without the click or the price. Clocks Central stocks TFA Germany retro clocks for that: the CLARA Vintage Wall Clock, 34cm ($64.50), the NANCY Retro Kitchen Wall Clock with Timer, 20cm ($142), and the LEONARD Retro Alarm Clock, 11cm ($72).

They do not flip, but they are quiet and suit the same rooms. If you only want the retro mood, start there. If the flipping card is the whole point, read on.

1. Jadco Horizon analogue flip calendar clock, 33cm

The Jadco Horizon is the safest all-round choice for a wall. It combines an analogue dial with a flip calendar in a 33cm case made for wall or desk.

What you get

The Horizon follows Jadco's classic layout, with a clock face and a calendar inset driven by the same mechanism. Australian retailers list it in white, green, grey and navy blue.

• Size: 33cm
• Display: analogue dial plus flip calendar
• Mounting: wall or desk
• Approx. price: $305

Who it suits

This one suits a hallway, study or kitchen where you want a conversation piece that still tells the time at a glance. At 33cm, the dial is large enough to read from across a room without dominating the wall. The four colours make it easy to match a palette.

The trade-off is cost. At about $305 you pay several times what a plain quartz wall clock costs, and you pay for the calendar whether or not you use it. If you want the flip calendar, though, this is the price point where the range starts to make sense.

The Horizon is the flip clock to buy if you want one good wall piece and no fuss.

2. TWEMCO BQ-38 analogue flip calendar clock

The TWEMCO BQ-38 is the slim alternative to a round wall clock. It pairs an analogue clock with an automatic flip calendar showing day, date and month.

What you get

TWEMCO is a Hong Kong brand founded in 1968, and this model is made there. Australian retailers list it at about $325 for use on a desk or a wall.

• Size: 380 x 110 x 75mm as listed
• Display: analogue clock plus day, date and month calendar
• Mounting: desk or wall
• Approx. price: $325

Who it suits

Choose the BQ-38 for a shelf, a mantel or a narrow stretch of wall above a desk, where a round 33cm clock would feel too deep. It also suits anyone who wants the month shown as well as the day and date.

If you want a larger face, the TWEMCO BQ-12A measures 350 x 380 x 75mm and lists at about $450. It has an ABS case and a German quartz movement, and it comes with an English or Chinese calendar. That language choice is a genuine reason to pick it. Check the listing to confirm the variant before you order.

Pick the BQ-38 when shelf space is tight or you want the month on show.

3. Jadco Mack digital flip calendar clock, 31cm

The Jadco Mack is the pick for the full retro look. It is a digital flip clock for wall or desk, listed at about $470 in orange, white and grey.

What you get

Instead of a dial, the Mack shows day, date and time on flip cards. This is the style Jadco describes as a fully "digital" flip layout, and it is the one most people picture when they search for a retro digital flip clock.

• Size: 31cm
• Display: digital flip, day, date and time
• Mounting: wall or desk
• Approx. price: $470

Who it suits

The Mack suits a loungeroom, office or workshop where the cards are the feature. The orange version in particular gives a 1970s look without any other decoration.

The price is steep for the size. If you like the style but not the cost, the compact Jadco Wylie is a 20cm digital flip card wall and desk clock at about $187 in several colours. It is a better fit for a desk or small wall. Both are quartz clocks that run on batteries, so there is no cord to hide.

The Mack is the flip clock for people who want the cards to be the whole design.

4. Jadco Giant analogue flip calendar clock, 51cm

The Jadco Giant is the statement piece, a 51cm analogue wall clock with a flip calendar. Retailers list it at about $1,000.

What you get

This is the largest flip clock in Jadco's range that Australian stores list. It follows the same analogue-plus-calendar layout as the smaller models, but at a size that works as wall art.

• Size: 51cm
• Display: analogue dial plus flip calendar
• Mounting: wall
• Approx. price: $1,000

Who it suits

Buy it for a double-height wall, a large open-plan living area or a reception space. At 51cm the clock is readable from the far end of a big room. Plan the fixing before you order. Check the weight on the listing, then fix it into a stud or use anchors rated for it.

For most homes, this is more clock than the wall needs. A 38cm white analogue flip calendar model from the same range lists at about $470, which gives you a similar look for less than half the price. Go for the Giant only if the room genuinely needs the scale.

Only buy the 51cm Giant if the wall is big enough to carry it.

5. Jadco rotating dial flip alarm desk clock, 20cm

This Jadco is the best retro digital flip desk alarm clock for a bedside or desk. It is a 20cm flip card clock with a rotating dial, listed at about $215.

What you get

Retailers list it in orange, green, beige, light blue, brown, black and grey, which is the widest colour range of any pick here. The rotating dial is part of its retro character.

• Size: 20cm
• Display: flip card time with alarm
• Mounting: desk
• Approx. price: $215

Who it suits

It suits a bedside table or a home office desk where you want a flip clock that doubles as an alarm. The wide colour range makes it a good gift choice too.

Check two things before you buy. First, flip cards are not lit by themselves, so look for a backlight if you will use it in the dark. The TWEMCO AL-30 (200 x 105 x 70mm, about $285) lists a 12-hour flip display with alarm and backlight and a German quartz movement. Second, remember the flip click if you sleep lightly. The smaller TWEMCO AP-28 (about $185) is a more compact alarm option.

For a bedside flip clock, check the backlight and the click before the colour.

6. Leni Flipper retro day-date alarm clock, 20cm

The Leni Flipper is the budget way into retro flip style. It is listed at about $48 and is the cheapest pick here by a wide margin.

What you get

Retailers list it as a retro manual day-date alarm clock, 20cm, in black, white, dusty pink, forest green, smokey blue and mint. The "manual" in the name points to day and date set by hand, so check the listing for exactly how the time is displayed.

• Size: 20cm
• Display: retro day-date alarm clock
• Mounting: desk
• Approx. price: $48

Who it suits

It suits a kids' room, a spare room or anyone who wants to try the flip style cheaply before spending $200 or more. It is also a reasonable gift when you are not sure the recipient will keep a clock on display.

At this price, expect trade-offs in build and features compared with the Jadco and TWEMCO models, so read the product page carefully. The cheapest Jadco digital flip clock lists at about $187, nearly four times as much.

At under $50, the Leni Flipper is a low-risk way to find out whether you like flip clocks.

Picking the right flip clock

Pick by display type, then size. Choose the Jadco Horizon or TWEMCO BQ-38 for an analogue dial with a calendar, the Mack or Wylie for a full digital flip face, the Giant for a very large wall, and the Jadco alarm, TWEMCO AL-30 or Leni Flipper for a desk or bedside. Check the backlight, the weight and the current price before you buy.

If you decide a quiet retro clock suits your room better than flipping cards, browse our retro and classic wall clocks. Clocks Central ships Australia-wide from Melbourne, with free shipping on orders over $100 and easy returns.