Clock Tattoos: Check the Time, Numerals and Missing Pieces

If your clock tattoo needs to show 7:20, write down 7:20. Do not leave a meaningful time for the artist to infer from a screenshot. Check the hands and numerals alongside the drawing, especially where cracks or missing sections interrupt the dial.

Which time should the hands show?

Write the intended time clearly rather than asking the artist to infer it from a small screenshot. Check which hand is the hour hand and which is the minute hand in the drawing. If a particular real clock is your reference, provide a clear view of its face.

William's Fractured Roman numeral clock study is a drawing with a broken outer edge and separated fragments. Check which parts of the dial remain visible. An exact time would need to fit within that arrangement, or the drawing would need to change around it.

What should you check around the dial?

Follow the numerals in order and compare them with the approved reference. Also look at the size of the numeral area and its contrast with cracks or decorative lines. A circular arrangement can appear correct at a glance while containing a detail that matters to you.

Decide whether a missing section is part of the story or simply a visual effect. If a date, name or separate phrase is included, give it a clear place rather than treating the clock's empty spaces as automatic text boxes.

When an exact time is optional

You can choose a clock as an image without attaching a personal event to it. Tell the artist whether the face needs to function as a readable clock or as an intentionally altered composition.

Bring the exact time and any lettering to your consultation with William. Check them again on the drawing before you approve it.