The Ocean by Vera Clocks is an analog alarm clock with no alarm hand. A deep-blue sunray disc at the center of the ocean-blue dial sets the alarm, a nod to the mechanical alarm watches of the mid-century. At 3.5 inches across, the round case uses its small footprint efficiently. Vera was founded in Stockholm by Federico Casado, who engineered and co-designed a vintage-inspired alarm clock for another Swedish brand and spent twenty years managing one of the Nordics’ leading watch boutiques. Today, Federico designs and assembles every Vera clock by hand in his Stockholm workshop.
HOW IT WORKS
Vera uses a silent sweep quartz movement, so there is no ticking to disturb sleep. Two knobs on the back set the time and alarm, with an on/off alarm switch beside them. The alarm builds in four steps, starting with a soft beep-beep that grows louder with each step. The light/snooze button at the top of the back does two things: it pauses the alarm for about four minutes, and it lights the face and hands with a warm LED while you hold it. The clock runs on a single AA battery, and we install a lithium battery before it ships.
CHOOSING YOURS
The case is precision-machined stainless steel. The solid brass dial and hands sit behind hardened mineral glass chosen for its scratch resistance, and the back is finished in vegetable-tanned Italian leather. On the Ocean, the dial is ocean blue with a deep-blue disc and blue leather at the back. The collection comes in five colors: Ocean, Havana, Verde, Ivory, and Salmon, and we keep all five in stock. If reading the time at a glance is a priority, the Ocean is the one to choose: it has the most contrast of the five, followed by Havana and Verde. We can engrave the back battery cover or the base; allow one to two weeks.
DEALER’S NOTES
We are Vera’s exclusive US dealer and work closely with Federico. We like that every Vera is still assembled by the person who designed it. Each clock runs for a couple of weeks before it ships, and Federico works directly with a single movement maker to keep the clocks consistent. He is also open to client feedback, which we value. We like the object itself too: the round brass dial, the leather back, and the way its weight feels in the hand. The clock moves easily between the nightstand, desk, and suitcase, and makes a practical gift with some presence. Every part of a Vera can be repaired or replaced, and the movement carries a five-year warranty.
Download manufacturer manual
Vera Alarm Clock Manual (pdf)
Getting started
Your clock arrives with a leak proof lithium battery already installed. Pull out the plastic tab from the battery compartment to start it, then set the time, set the alarm, and slide the alarm switch on if you want it to sound. Each step is below.
Setting the time
Turn the time knob clockwise until the hands show the correct time. With the back of the clock facing you, it is the single knob furthest from the alarm controls.
Setting the alarm time
Turn the alarm knob clockwise until the small center disc points to the time you want. It is the knob beside the alarm switch. The alarm runs on a 12-hour cycle; there is no a.m./p.m. setting.
Activating / deactivating the alarm
To turn the alarm on, slide the alarm switch outward, toward the edge of the clock.
To turn it off, slide it back toward the center. This is also how you stop the alarm once it is sounding; the light/snooze button only pauses it.
Activating snooze
Once the alarm sounds, press the light/snooze button gently. It sits at the top center of the back. The alarm pauses for about four minutes and then resumes, and it will keep repeating until you slide the alarm switch back toward the center.
Using the light
Press the light/snooze button at the top center of the back to light the face with a warm LED. It stays lit when pressed only. The hands and markers are luminous, but their glow fades over the course of the night.
Battery type
The clock runs on a single AA 1.5V battery, and we install one before shipping. We recommend Duracell, Duracell Procell Constant, or Energizer Ultimate Lithium (non-rechargeable). With a standard alkaline, change it when your clock begins to lose time or once a year (whichever is sooner) to help prolong the life of the movement. The Ultimate Lithium is leakproof, so you can simply run it until the clock begins to lose time.
Changing the battery
Open the battery compartment and insert the battery flat negative (−) side first. With the back of the clock facing you, the negative (springier) contact is on the left. To take a battery out, pry it from the negative side.
Close the compartment when you're done.
Accuracy
Expect the clock to stay within about ± 30 seconds per month of the correct time. A small drift over several months is normal for a quartz movement and easily corrected with the time knob. If it begins losing time noticeably, the battery is usually the cause.
The alarm didn't go off
Check that the alarm switch is slid outward, toward the edge of the clock. Because the alarm runs on a 12-hour cycle, it sounds the next time the hour hand reaches the alarm setting, so an alarm set at 6 p.m. for 7 o'clock will sound at 7 p.m.--and then again at 7 a.m if the alarm button remains on.
Packing for travel
The box your clock arrives in is a good way to store it or carry it while traveling.
Care and maintenance
Wipe the clock occasionally with a soft microfiber cloth, slightly dampened if necessary. Avoid solvents and abrasive cleaners, which will damage the materials. Follow the battery schedule above, and if you're storing the clock for a long stretch, remove the battery.
Warranty and repairs
Vera alarm clocks are guaranteed against defects under normal use for two years from the date of purchase, and the movement for five years. Normal wear and tear is not covered. Replacement parts ship from us in the US, and repairs are carried out in Sweden.