7 Stylish Clock Face Tattoo Designs and Their Significance

October 28, 2021 - 4 years ago

One hand of the clock ticks by every second, the other changes every minute. Clocks even lose and gain an hour on separate occasions throughout the year. Yet, clock face tattoo designs are unchanging, capturing a permanent moment in time.

Not only is a stylish design in itself, but a clock tattoo is also often symbolic and can include elements such as roses, dates, and names. Below, we take a look at a variety of stylish clock face tattoo designs—because who doesn't have time for that?

Plus, if you're on the market for a new tattoo, make sure to swing by our tattoo aftercare section to pick up some supplies. If you're short on TIME, you can get yourself a Tattoo Goo 3-in-1 Kit here, which contains all the products you may need to keep your tattoo looking its best.

Rose and Clock Tattoo

A rose is one of the most popular elements to combine with a clock face tattoo. This particular flower can be incredibly symbolic: it is often seen as an image of life and love, but also of death. When paired with a clock image, this tattoo design becomes incredibly meaningful. A rose-and-clock tattoo is a great way to convey everlasting love for someone. Depending on the clock's design, they can also be an effective way to highlight one's own mortality.

Rose and clock tattoo by Sponsored Artist Troy Tuck (@troytucktattoo)

Birth Clock Tattoos

Clock face tattoo designs often explore the meanings of time and life. Birth clock tattoos are specifically intended to commemorate a person's birthday. Usually, they contain the name and date of birth of a loved one, while the clock face is designed to reflect the time of their birth. Other elements may be included further to highlight the significance of this moment in their lives. For example, the rose motif appears frequently in these clock tattoo designs, and some even include images of baby feet or hands. Birth clock tattoos are an excellent way to celebrate a loved one's birth date.

Birth clock tattoo by Dan Philips (@danphillipstattoo)

Compass and Clock Tattoo

Combining the image of a clock, a symbol of time, with a compass, an indicator of direction, is another popular tattoo design concept. The clock face suggests fixed notions of time, while the compass represents the fluidity of life's direction. Adding any number of items to this design can enhance its symbolic meaning. For example, including images of maps, arrows, or even birds, indicates movement and a sense of freedom and liberation. A compass-and-clock tattoo can serve as a great reminder to stay on the right path, both in the present and in the future.

Compass and clock tattoo by Sponsored Artist Peter 'Lord' Nelson (@lordnelsontattoo)

Eye Clock Tattoo

An eye clock tattoo is another popular clock design. In many cases, the clock face is replaced with an eye image, but in others, the eye is depicted alongside the clock. A clock-and-eye tattoo can represent a variety of things, ranging from the meeting of man and machine to a symbol of protection as the eye watches over.

Hourglass Clock Tattoo

If you want a clock tattoo that really stands out from the crowd, choose an hourglass design instead. An hourglass, or sand clock tattoo, can be an incredibly poignant image. It symbolises the delicate balance between life and death, as each grain of sand represents the elapsed and remaining time. A sand clock tattoo is a great reminder to live every moment to the fullest.

Hourglass clock tattoo by Sponsored Artist Danny Taylor (@dannytaylortattoo)

Skull and Clock Tattoo

If you are looking for clock tattoo ideas about death and mortality, the most obvious design is a skull-and-clock tattoo. This clock face tattoo design is often completely black, to indicate the darkness of death. It can also be combined with other clock designs to create a more complex composition. For instance, clock tattoos featuring rose or compass designs are sometimes paired with skull imagery to symbolise conflicting ideas about life and death. The meaning,, however, does not always have to be morbid; instead,, a skull-and-clock tattoo can serve as a meaningful reminder to live each day to the fullest.

Heart-Shaped Clock Tattoo

Opting for a heart-shaped, rather than a classic circular, clock face tattoo design is a great way to depict everlasting love for someone. The clock hands can be customised with personal touches or left as is for a more rustic effect.

Heart-shaped clock tattoo by Sponsored Artist Peter 'Lord' Nelson (@lordnelsontattoo)

Choosing the ideal location for your clock tattoo is also important. We recommend selecting an area large enough, such as the chest or arms, so that the entire clock face may be seen. This will prevent the clock face from becoming distorted and ensure that your clock tattoo remains clearly recognisable.

This is only a small selection of potential clock face tattoo designs, so feel free to combine any number of elements to give your tattoo the significance you're looking for.

Check out our other blog posts for more inspiration, or treat yourself to some tattoo aftercare today.