Welcome

Welcome to all our national and international investors with an eye for beauty.The current global economic climate is an opportune time to acquire investments at "good value".  With the addition of a currency converter to our site, one is able to determine the best possible price on a product. It translates into our customers benefitting from the weaker ZAR.

THE ASTROLABE (see Products, Mantel Clocks, Hermle)The astrolabe is a historical astronomical instrument used by classical astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses included locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars; determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa; surveying; and triangulation.  

At first mechanical astronomical clocks were influenced by the astrolabe; in many ways they could be seen as clockwork astrolabes designed to produce a continual display of the current position of the sun, stars, and planets. Ibn al-Shatir constructed the earliest astrolabic clock in the early 14th century. At around the same time, Richard of Wallingford's clock (c. 1330) consisted essentially of a star map rotating behind a fixed rete, similar to that of an astrolabe.

Many astronomical clocks, such as the famous clock at Prague, use an astrolabe-style display, adopting a stereographic projection of the ecliptic plane.
 In 1985 Swiss watchmaker Dr. Ludwig Oechslin designed and built an astrolabe wristwatch in conjunction with Ulysse Nardin.

Hermle has produced a whole range of these clocks which reproduce the annual orbit of the earth around the sun, with the earth rotating around its own axis once in 24 hours. The moon, in turn, revolves around the earth in 29.5 days completing a full rotation around its axis. This allows the reproduction of the different moon phases as they are visible from earth. In the course of one year, the earth passes all 12 zodiac signs, months and individual days which are indicted on the flat disc. These astrolabes have reproductions of the sun, earth and moon, incorporating the day/month indicator.

REUGE MUSIC BOXES
REUGE has outdone past achievements with Diamond pavé Byzance. It is made to the traditional Byzance specs, but with one difference ... the columns and base are covered with the highest grade fine diamonds. It has a total of 737 diamonds and weighs over 16,5 carat. By just pressing a button, the lucky owner of this masterpiece will wake a bird which will sing the most beautiful melody, before hiding again in its see-through box. This unique mechanism is made up of a total of 250 pieces. The bird is covered with real feathers from a variety of birds. This exclusive singing bird box has been an eye-catcher at HARROD’S “Luxury Gifts” section at the Knightsbridge Store in London.
  
REUGE is known for their appetite for Personalisation as in the case of the CEO of REUGE, Mr. Kurt Kupper’s latest acquisition - a Mercedes Benz C220 which has a Reverse music box set into the backseat armrest. A small microphone hidden in the armrest makes the sound flow throughout the vehicle. Feel free to contact us for any personalised REUGE products – let your imagination go wild.
 

We at Holtzhausen believe that Clocks like Mountains are Icons of Beauty, Witnessing the Passage of Time.  Our base is here in the Boland, meaning higher country in relation to the ocean-surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountains the eye will see. Looking at these mountains looking at us,  it dawned on me that they have been bearing witness to our lives on this continent through the millennia. Not a word-just silent witness. Like a clock, standing quietly, or not so quietly, ticking away in a corner for 200-300 years.

As introduction to "What Do We Offer" the question: What will I find on this site? I am fascinated by mechanical movements, producing acoustic sound-be it a clock or music box. Specifically because of the deep sense of peace and ensuing reflection that a chiming clock or playing music box bring to a home. It turns the inside of your dwelling into a sanctuary... More about this another day. On our site one will find the best examples of these items-where possible in high resolution.

Herman

"Clocks like mountains, are icons of beauty, witnessing the passage of time"

WHERE DO WE COME FROM?

Established in 1974, Tick Tock Time was started by Nicolaas Holtzhausen, advocate of the Johannesburg Bar, South Africa. Nic Holtzhausen was not only a barrister, but pursued woodwork as a hobby making fine items of furniture for his family home. In addition to his talents, he also had a great sense of social responsibility. Every Sunday in the local newspaper, Nic Holtzhausen would run a crossword competition that raised money for charities. Entrants would send him their crosswords and their money. He would then gather his children, Herman and Sulia, around the dining-room table, and they would open envelope after envelope, putting the money on one side and the crossword on another. One of the institutions that Nic helped was a school that was raising funds to build tennis courts.

Once the courts were built the school thanked Nic Holtzhausen with the gift of a fully imported German grandfather clock. The welcoming of this German masterpiece into our family home filled us with wonder and opened a new chapter in the Holtzhausen's appreciation of their ancestral roots. A journey into Germany followed where forgotten family stories where discovered, new relationships were formed and Nic returned with a passion to make clocks by hand, like the Holtzhausens before him. The first one was made for his mother's birthday. Very soon he had people queuing up for clocks, and the business of Tick Tock Time was born.

In 1998 Herman Holtzhausen, Nic’s son, took over Tick Tock Time and started trading as Holtzhausen Clocks & Music Boxes. The company grew from a small sideline family business into the most successful grandfather clock company in South Africa. He married Catherine Smetherham and together they have been developing Holtzhausen Clocks ever since.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING GUARANTEED PRODUCTS:

HOLTZHAUSEN LIMITED EDITION CLOCKS (RSA) offers a range of hand built long-case, wall and mantel clocks in a variety of readily available; exotic and rare hardwoods, fitted with top quality German mechanisms. We build our clocks at a rate of 40 per year. Each clock is numbered as one of a limited 50 per style and wood-type. You will also receive a certificate of authenticity featuring your clock’s number and wood-type. The elegant designs and construction of these clocks have been refined over more than 30 years to form part of our flagship selection at prices so low you may wonder why.

HERMLE’S (Germany) range consists of clocks like the Astrolabium and Tellurium III which indicate the paths of the sun and moon and a yearly calendar, to very affordable floor, wall and “Napolean’s Hat” mantel clocks.

HOWARD MILLER (USA) is the largest floor clock (grandfather/grandmother and modern hall clocks) manufacturer in the world. On offer on this website you will find a selection of their clocks, display cabinets and wine & spirit furnishings. Most Howard Miller products are immediately available for shipping. We are their sole agents in South Africa.

HUBERT HERR (Germany) is the world’s oldest surviving cuckoo clock manufacturer. Each cuckoo clocks mechanism and case are hand build in the Black Forest.

KIENINGER (Germany) is the world’s oldest clock manufacturer, renowned for their outstanding movements. The contemporary grandfather, wall and mantel clocks available are trendsetters. We are their sole agents in South Africa.

REUGE (Switzerland) is the last surviving Swiss music box manufacturer. This has pushed their creativeness to the limit. A variety of melodies and designs make for one of the world’s best kept gift secrets. We are their sole agents in South Africa and Namibia.