Wms&Co. | Japanese & European Homewares and Stationery

Kehai Clocks

Kehai Clocks - Main image
$90 $180 In stock

Category: The Desktop

"We sometimes find the presence of a clock unpleasant. And sometimes the existence of time is also unpleasant. So a slightly ambiguous sign of time is just fine."
-Makoto Koizumi

The Kehai Clock transforms our relationship with time through elegant ambiguity. Named for the Japanese concept of 気配 (kehai) - "the presence of something in the vicinity" - it renders time as a subtle suggestion behind frosted glass. Hour and minute hands move like shadows across the translucent surface, while a solitary red dot traces its path with quiet intention.

At just over 5 inches in diameter, the clock's minimal aluminum frame appears to float, creating a delicate tension between presence and absence. Available in three tonal variations that either dissolve into their surroundings or create gentle contrast against the wall.

White, Butter Yellow, or Gray variations

Through decades of refined practice, Koizumi has explored the poetry within functional objects. Winner of the 2012 Mainichi Design Award and 2015 Grand Prize at the Japan Crafts Exhibition, Koizumi creates pieces that invite us to reconsider our relationship with the ordinary, transforming utility into contemplation.

Part of our Clocks and Japanese Minimalism collection.

Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Ryan G. ★★★★★

The way it blurs the line between time and suggestion is oddly calming—I catch myself glancing at it just to feel the ambiguity, not to check the hour. The display is faint enough that it never shouts at you from the desk, which is exactly what I wanted for late-night work sessions.

Aurora ★★★★★

The minimalist face is so subtle that I catch myself double-checking whether it's actually telling me anything—and that hesitation is exactly what I wanted on my desk. It’s a quiet little presence that makes time feel less like a deadline and more like a suggestion.

Matthew S. ★★★★★

The way it blurs the line between time and stillness is oddly calming—I catch myself just watching the display shift instead of checking my phone. It's made my desk feel less urgent somehow, and I didn't expect a clock to do that.