Whether it's making sure you're on time for an appointment or a hot date, an accessible clock or watch can help to keep you on track.
These are common features to consider when finding the right timepiece for your needs:
Radio-controlled
We can't stop young children or pets ignoring the clock change in March and October, but a radio-controlled clock or watch will reset itself automatically to the correct time, saving you the hassle. (If you are outside the range of the radio signal – while on holiday abroad, for example – you will need to adjust the time manually.)
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Easy-to-see
If you have low vision, there are both analogue and digital clocks and watches designed to be easy to see. Look for large faces with bold, clear numbers (and hands on an analogue clock or watch), and consider a clock that can be illuminated at night (either with a built-in light, or a glow-in-the-dark face).
An easy-to-see digital clock may offer a choice of high contrast colour settings – black on white, yellow on black, white on black – which will allow you to make the most of your vision.
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Talking
Talking clocks and watches are often designed with an easy-to-see face as well, but some clocks are designed without a face at all. These will often be designed with a single, large, tactile button that announces the time in a clear voice when pressed.
Talking watches are available as both analogue and digital, giving you more choice. If you also have hearing loss, it may be beneficial to try out a selection of watches before purchase – RNIB's Products and Advice Centres, local societies, and events like Sight Village may be able to help.
Browse talking clocks and watches
Tactile
Most tactile watches have raised bars and dots on the face instead of numbers (commonly, a double bar at 12 o'clock, single bars to mark 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, and dots to mark the hours in between), sturdy metal hands that can be felt, and a hinged glass lid over the face which is lifted when you want to tell the time.
You may find tactile watches described as 'braille watches', even if they don't have braille on their face, so it's always worth checking the description of the product to find out how suitable (or unsuitable) it is for you.
Haptic
Haptic watches vibrate to tell you the time and are great option for those who don't want a talking or tactile watch. You can find specially designed haptic watches, or choose a smartwatch and use the haptic setting.
Our guide to accessible fitness watches has a lot more detail if you're interested in a smartwatch for fitness. If you're looking for a basic, accessible smartwatch, the Synapptic Smartwatch LITE talks, is easy-to-see and has a haptic setting. Designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people, it's customisable (faces and straps) and has a selection of basic functions, including an alarm and a timer.
For children
In addition to choosing a watch that best meets the needs of a child with vision impairment, other things to consider are a silent mode (to prevent a talking watch disrupting learning in class) and easy-to-use straps, so that a child can put on, and take off, the watch without assistance.
