A Bell Chime is a clock mechanism that plays a sequence of musical notes or melodic patterns using multiple bells before or on the hour. Unlike a simple bell strike, a bell chime produces a recognisable tune, often associated with quarter-hour intervals. Early examples were found in prestigious longcase, bracket and turret clocks, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship and mechanical complexity. Antique clocks retaining their original bell chime mechanisms are highly sought after by collectors.