Arne Jacobsen Table Clocks Ø11: One Case, Four Dials Compared

Arne Jacobsen's table clock comes in four dials, Bankers, City Hall, Roman and Station, and every one of them sits in exactly the same case. So the choice is not about size or build: it is about which face you want to read first thing in the morning and last thing at night. This guide compares the four dials at desk and bedside scale, and explains when the case's shallow footprint matters.

One case, four faces

Start with what does not change. All four clocks measure 12 cm high, 11.3 cm wide and 6.7 cm deep, with an 11 cm dial, and each weighs 0.27 kg. The body is ABS plastic, the dial sits behind a PMMA lens, and the round case rests on a bent chrome wire stand. That stand is the detail design followers recognise: its thin, splayed legs echo the steel legs of Jacobsen's own Ant and No. 7 chairs.

The movement is also shared. Every version is an alarm clock with a snooze function and a light sensor, and it runs on a battery (not always included in the box). The design itself is dated to 1939. In other words, whichever dial you choose, you get the same object on your desk. What you are really deciding is typography, contrast and colour.

The four dials compared

At 11 cm across, a dial is read from roughly arm's length on a desk, or from the pillow on a bedside table. That short distance is kind to all four designs, but each one reads in its own way.

Bankers

The Bankers Table clock Ø11 cm is the most abstract of the four. There are no numerals at all: each hour is marked by a short row of tiny squares, with a red cap at the centre of the hands. It reads less like a clock face than a small architectural drawing. It comes in White or Dark grey. The white version, white dial in a white case, is the lightest object of the range and nearly disappears on a pale desk. Reading the time relies on position rather than numbers, which most people learn within a day.

City Hall

The City Hall Table clock Ø11 cm carries a dial that takes its name from a town hall commission. Slim baton markers stand at each hour, with a fine dotted track for the minutes and light hands. In Black it is the most graphic silhouette of the four, a dark disc with thin white lines. In Sandy beige it softens into a warm, low-contrast object that sits well against oak, linen and stone. The same dial is also made in Pale Orange for a stronger note of colour.

Roman

The Roman Table clock Ø11 cm white/black is the one traditional face in the family. Serif Roman numerals run around a white dial, framed by a black case, with pointed leaf-shaped hands and a dotted minute ring. It is offered in a single colourway, white/black. It suits rooms with older furniture, bookshelves or a writing desk, where a purely modern dial might feel too cool. Numerals are larger here than you might expect at 11 cm, so legibility is good, though at a glance Roman figures take a fraction longer to read than Arabic ones.

Station

The Station Table clock Ø11 cm is the most practical dial. Large Arabic numerals from 1 to 12, a thin inner circle and a minute track make it the fastest to read, which is why it tends to win on a bedside table. It also has the widest colour range: White/Black, Grey/White, Bordeaux/White, Green/White and Teal/White. The white dial stays constant, so every colour keeps the same clarity; only the ring around it changes.

Bedside or desk: where 6.7 cm matters

Because every version shares a 6.7 cm depth, the clock fits places a deeper alarm clock cannot. A narrow floating shelf, a slim bedside ledge, or the strip of desk between keyboard and wall is often only 10 to 15 cm deep, and a 6.7 cm footprint leaves room for a phone, a glass of water or a small lamp beside it. The 11.3 cm width is modest too, so it can share a bedside table with a reading lamp without crowding it.

For a bedside, prioritise legibility in low light. Station and Roman, with white dials and dark numerals, are the easiest to read with half-open eyes. City Hall in Black reverses the contrast and reads well once your eyes adjust, while Sandy beige is the gentlest choice if you want the clock to recede. The light sensor is common to all four, and the snooze function makes the alarm usable as a daily wake-up rather than a backup.

For a desk, think about what surrounds the clock. On a white or light oak desk, Bankers in White becomes an almost invisible graphic element, while Bankers in Dark grey or City Hall in Black gives the surface a clear focal point. On a busy desk with books and papers, the calmer City Hall dial reduces visual noise. If you share the desk with a monitor and cables, a coloured Station ring such as Teal/White or Green/White can add one deliberate accent.

Matching the table clock to your wall clocks

Many homes pair the table clock with a wall clock in the same dial, and it works because the four dials share one graphic language across sizes. A Station wall clock in the kitchen and a Station table clock in the bedroom, or City Hall on both hall wall and desk, gives a flat a consistent visual language. If you are planning a wall version as well, our guide to the Arne Jacobsen wall clocks covers the same four dials at larger sizes.

Mixing dials also works, provided you keep one variable steady. Keep the case colours matched and let the dials vary, or keep one dial throughout and play with colour. What tends to jar is three strong colours and three different dials in view at once.

How to choose

• You want the clearest possible reading at night: Station, in any of its five colours.
• You want a quiet, minimal object: City Hall, in Black for contrast or Sandy beige for warmth.
• You want the most distinctive design piece: Bankers, in White or Dark grey.
• You want a classic face that suits older furniture: Roman in white/black.

Care is the same for all four: wipe the case and lens with a dry, soft cloth, and avoid solvents on the PMMA lens. Since the case is identical, you can also buy two dials for different rooms without worrying about one looking bigger or heavier than the other.

To compare these with the wall clocks and other table clocks side by side, see the full Clocks collection.