In the Black Forest of Germany, winters are long and cold and in the 1600s, clock-making started to occupy the time of several enterprising residents. Legend has it that around 1738, the first cuckoo clock was invented, which quickly became a symbol for the region. Using a pendulum and small bellows and cuckoo-bird-like whistles, the clocks were intricate, beautifully crafted, and quickly became sought after by many.

Today the tradition of the Black Forest continues and cuckoo clocks remain a favorite collectible for people all over the world. Most regional clock makers still put the same amount of expert craftsmanship into their cuckoo clocks that their ancestors did. For collectors, the clocks' Old-World look and sound harken back to a simpler time and never fail to put a smile on people's faces.

Whether you're thinking of buying your first cuckoo clock or your ninth, there are some choices you'll need to make up front. The first is what sort of 'movement,' you want. Most collectible cuckoos have mechanical, or wind-able, movements in either one or eight-day configurations and prices vary accordingly. There are also two primary styles to cuckoos: Black Forest or Swiss chalet. Each has its own charm, so the choice is a matter of personal taste.

Music, figurines, and automaton beer drinkers and woodcutters abound, so your choices are many and fun to make. For some of the finest cuckoo clocks available, look for the websites of European cuckoo craftspeople, as well as several of independent collectors. You'll find the same beautiful work on the old and new artisan-created clocks that original admirers found back in the 18th century.