A travel clock is a small, portable clock designed to be carried while travelling, usually in a protective case that folds or closes to shield the dial and movement. The term is most often used for twentieth-century clocks, while the larger nineteenth-century French and English portable clocks are generally known as carriage clocks.
Travel clocks became popular in the early twentieth century as railway, steamship and later air travel grew. Typical forms include compact clocks in leather, silver or enamel folding cases that open to stand on a bedside table, and small boxed alarm clocks. Swiss and French makers dominated the higher end of the market, and luxury houses including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier and other jewellers produced fine examples, sometimes with eight-day movements, alarms or calendar functions. Art Deco travel clocks in silver, enamel, shagreen and lacquer are particularly attractive to collectors. Value depends on the maker, the quality of the movement, the materials of the case and condition, with original cases, keys, boxes and working alarms all adding interest. Many examples remain practical and are a pleasing addition to a desk or dressing table.
