Manufacturing partners
Series 01: technical overview
What a Sidereal Clock is made of, what each partner would supply, and what a quotation should include. This overview is enough to judge fit and give indicative prices; the full specification and test software go to shortlisted partners.
The product in one paragraph
A Sidereal Clock is a round wall display in a fine frame that runs a live astronomical clock face: a twelve-hour clock over the real night sky, with a fourth hand through the Southern Cross (or, on the Northern faces, the Big Dipper and Polaris). The software is finished and runs today as a self-contained web application. It needs no internet connection to keep running: the ephemeris is built in. Each clock can wear several faces, chosen by the owner. See them live on The Faces.
Editions and target sizes
| Edition | Visible dial | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| 600 mm Salon | Circle of about 600 mm | Residences, galleries, boardroom walls |
| 900 mm Architectural | Circle of about 900 mm | Atriums, hotel lobbies, installation-scale interiors |
| The Twin Clocks | Two matched dials | A Southern and a Northern face as a pair |
| Desk or small sizes | Proposals welcome | Studies, offices, gifts |
1. The display
We are open to any approach that shows a crisp, round dial with deep blacks. Please say which you propose and why:
- Native round panel (TFT/LCD or OLED), where available at the size.
- Fine-pitch LED built to a circle, likely for the 900 mm edition.
- Rectangular panel behind a circular mask, where the frame hides the corners.
| Requirement | Target |
|---|---|
| Resolution | At least 1080 pixels across the visible circle; 1440 or more preferred for the 900 mm edition |
| Contrast | Deep, even blacks: the dial is mostly a dark night sky |
| Brightness | Comfortable indoors, with dimming for evening rooms; automatic dimming welcome |
| Surface | Anti-glare or anti-reflective front glazing |
| Duty | Continuous 24/7 running over years; please state rated life and burn-in or image-retention behaviour |
| Noise | Silent (fanless) strongly preferred |
2. The movement: computer and timekeeping
| Part | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Player | An embedded computer able to run a modern web browser full-screen (kiosk mode) and render a live HTML5/SVG dial smoothly at the panel’s native resolution |
| Offline running | The dial runs entirely on the device; no internet connection is needed to keep time or show the sky |
| Timekeeping | Battery-backed real-time clock, so the time is right after a power cut; network time (NTP) when online; GPS optional, for sites without a network |
| Updates | Secure remote updates when connected, for new faces and the yearly astronomical recalibration |
| Start-up | Boots straight to the dial after power loss, with no screens or prompts shown |
| Power | Mains powered with a concealed supply; please state consumption and heat output |
3. The frame
- Finishes: dark anodised aluminium, brushed brass or bronze, and fine timbers such as American walnut, oak and ebony. Frame studies are on the home page.
- Construction: protective front glazing, a serviceable rear for the display and computer, ventilation for a sealed silent unit, and concealed cabling.
- Mounting: secure wall mounting suited to the weight (for example a French cleat), with levelling.
- Branding: discreet Sidereal Clocks marking on the frame, packaging and documentation.
4. Calibration and testing
- Set the edition. Standard clocks keep their time zone’s midnight-zero meridian; commissioned clocks are calibrated to the latitude and longitude of the client’s property, set in one line of the software.
- Reference test. The software has a fixed-time test mode. At the reference moment, standard-time midnight on 31 March 2026, every hand must stand at XII. A second check at a known date confirms the month reading.
- Soak test. A burn-in of continuous running before dispatch, checking time drift, display uniformity and restart after power loss.
- Record. A short calibration record travels with each clock.
5. Compliance, packing and delivery
- Electrical safety and compliance for each market served, for example RCM (Australia and New Zealand), CE and UKCA (Europe and the UK), FCC (United States).
- Packing suited to a framed glass display travelling to a private residence, with Sidereal Clocks branded outer and inner packaging.
- Delivery direct to the client, with installation support where the region allows.
What to include in your quotation
Indicative unit prices
At 1, 10 and 50 units for each size you can make, with tooling or set-up costs listed separately.
Lead times and MOQ
Sample lead time, production lead time and any minimum order quantity.
Samples and references
Photos of comparable work, the clients you already serve, and the cost of an evaluation sample (credited against the first order).
Warranty and service
Warranty terms, spare parts, repair process and the regions you can support.
Send your expression of interest through the partners form, or write to concierge@siderealclocks.com. Commercial details are treated in confidence.