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This article is about the in-game item. For the Redstone circuit, see Redstone_circuits § Clock_generators.

Clocks were added in the Halloween Update on October 31st, 2010. They are created by using one Redstone and four Gold Ingots (see formation below).

The clock works like the compass, in the sense that you cannot use it, but its image changes depending on the circumstance. The clock displays where the sun or moon's position is in relation to the horizon.

The clock crafting recipe is as follows:

File:Watch crafting.png

Telling the time

Below is a gif explaining how the clock works. The clock consists of two halves with a day side and a night side. These spin slowly to tell you the time of day, corresponding to what is at the top most point.

WatchCycle

Alternatives

If you do not have a clock, you can approximate the time by looking at the position of the Sun or Moon in the sky. When underground, or in an area without a view of the sky, you can use the sounds of nearby enemies as a cue to the current time; if you hear zombie/skeleton sounds you can assume it's night, and if you hear the sounds of enemies taking damage, you can assume it's dawn and they're on fire.

Furthermore, one quick trick to tell the current time while underground is to toggle the view distance (F key). Doing this redraws all blocks around you, which may give you just enough time to see if the the sun or moon is out.

You may also try mining a long tunnel, of 2 blocks high and 1 block wide, and looking down it from a distance with the shortest view distance selected (Press F). You should notice how the lighting in the hallway will become a lighter whitish color during the daytime, and will be a darker blue hue during the night. This technique will work at any level in the earth.

Textures

Unlike most items the clock combines 2 textures, one being the actual clock, and the other, the dial. So you may change the clock without worrying about breaking the dial, as long as you do not change the transparency.

Notes

  • When switching Anaglyph mode on or off in the options menu, the clock face will appear purple or bright pink respectively when either in the hot bar or held.
  • When the recipe for a clock is laid out on a workbench, the clock displayed in the output field will be functional; thus you can tell the time without permanently crafting the gold and redstone into a clock.
  • Clocks do not work in The Nether. When a clock is in the Nether, no matter what container it's in, it will turn in any direction randomly at varying speeds, as if it was broken. The clock will work again on the surface, out of the Nether.
  • Unlike most tools, clocks are stackable. This makes multiple clocks easier to store.
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