Maybe it is because of our similar backgrounds in IT but I can completely understand your fascination with clocks. Spending multiple hours every day manipulating intangible bits and bytes, sometimes without anything concrete to show for it, makes the tangible really appealing. Plus the concept of a clock are pretty much universally understood. Talking to anyone outside of my industry about what I do usually bores or confuses, sometimes both, the heck out of them within 5 minutes. Being able to pick up a clock and explain that it didn’t work when you bought but it keeps proper time now is something that most people can understand and appreciate. There is added bonus of actually feeling like you accomplished something. Plus clocks have a precision about them that is lacking in a lot of hand-on work/hobbies. I am not sure if it because of 30 years of working with computers or something in my personality, probably both, but I prefer nice, neat yes or no (0 or 1) kinds of answers to my questions. Clocks, even the purely mechanical no quartz crystals in sight kind, are precise instruments. You can’t change the size of a gear to be more ascetically pleasing and still expect it to work. There is a rhyme and a reason for everything intrinsic to the function of the clock. Sure a clock can be stylish and decorative but if it doesn’t keep time then it isn’t a clock, it is art.