Satellite
-Time to 5 Minutes-
A single 12 LED NeoPixel Ring (displaying hourly time to 5 minutes) is attached to a stepper motor driven metal disc. The disc rotates in steps of 30 degrees at the top of each hour.
Clock case is shown covered with Dragon Plate carbon fiber veneer (https://dragonplate.com/carbon-fiber-veneer-sheets#/orderby=5&sFilters=7!15)
Time-loop animation starting at 12:00 and ending at 2:55. Each time the disc moves to a new hour the NeoPixel ring has to reset the 12:00 position by 30 degrees in the counterclockwise direction.
Satellite Eclipse
Essentially a modified Lux. Instead of a slit on the disc there is an open circle. Placed behind the glass is an opaque black template that has 12 circles located at each hour position. The rest is self explanatory.
RTC
I definitely prefer an RTC. But, I might see fit to eliminating it so long as the coding could keep the clock to within 1 minute per 24 hour period. I know getting this kind of accuracy can be challenging but maybe not so much if you use the chip that has a better clock (I think that's what I mean to say). Still, even this approach is time consuming because it's iterative as you have to tweak the code and then measure the accuracy using time lapse over a 12hr period. So I'm not sure which approach is more labor intensive for you; with or w/ the RTC.
NeoPixel Ring
I'm curious if you think it will be difficult to code the ring given that you'll need to "reassign" the 12 position to a new LED (30 degrees counterclockwise) each time the disc advances an hour.
How will you wire the NeoPixel Ring so it doesn't tangle as the disc rotates. This is purely an engineering matter and I'm sure you've encountered a similar challenge on at least one occasion.
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13064
Stepper Motor Control of Disc
What makes this a simpler clock from the standpoint of moving the disc is that it will advance just 12 times per hour in steps of 300 (3,600/12).
Code for the stepper and neo-pixel is all very simple really it's just about the RTC and integrating that which is never fun, but it's worth doing I think.
Case
Always a design challenge and perhaps where I most frustrate you with my shotgun approach to design. Of course you realize that I default to this approach because I have no design training or inherent/natural design intelligence. If it was the only clock I had it wouldn't be so hard. But as you know I require that each clock have a unique cabinet so that my collection doesn't get mundane and I am low on new ideas. I still want to keep with my minimalist aesthetic and I now the disc will be round. But beyond that I am stumped.
"DABs Clocks is a unique business that focuses on finding ways to display time in unconventional ways. The goal is to create time pieces that are both functionally and aesthetically pleasing. Please explore the gallery and contact me if you have any questions.