VdS Cuckoo Clock of the Year — Every Winner Since 2001

VdS Black Forest Clock of the Year — Complete Winner List

The VdS has awarded its “Black Forest Clock of the Year” title every year since 2001. The prize goes to whichever member manufacturer produces the clock judged best in that year’s public exhibition. Originally a board vote among VdS members, the award became a public vote from 2004 onwards, with exhibitions rotating through regional venues in Baden-Württemberg. Since 2021, online voting has been added alongside the in-person exhibition.

The award gives buyers a straightforward shortcut: an exhibition of 12–14 of the best clocks from certified Black Forest makers, narrowed to a single winner by public vote. All entries are mechanically authenticated by the VdS and carry the VdS certificate of authenticity.

Winners at a glance: August Schwer leads with 8 wins, followed by Rombach Haas with 5 and Hönes with 4. Anton Schneider has 3 wins (including 2025), and Hekas 2 wins (2018 and 2020). Hubert Herr — a traditional Black Forest maker from Triberg, now discontinued — won twice (2011 and 2013); their brand and production was taken over by Hekas in 2020. All winners were mechanical movement clocks — chalet style in most years, with Rombach Haas winning three consecutive years (2001–2003) with railroad-style antique replicas. Browse all Black Forest cuckoo clocks or all cuckoo clocks.

About the Black Forest Clock of the Year Award

The VdS launched the competition in 2001 with a board vote — meaning the association’s own members, who know the technical and craft standards of Black Forest clockmaking, selected the winner. That process ran until around 2003–2004, when public exhibitions began in earnest. The first major public election was held at the local history museum in Triberg in 2004. Since then, the exhibition has rotated through different venues each year: breweries, museums, hiking centres, and clock factories across Baden-Württemberg.

The shift from board vote to public vote changed the weight given to different factors. Board members prioritised movement quality, wood carving precision, finishing, and mechanical reliability. A public audience — often visiting a brewery or museum on a day out — responds more directly to scale, animation, the number of moving figurines, and visual detail. This is reflected in the results: chalet-style clocks with complex mechanical animations have dominated the public-vote era. The exception is Rombach Haas, whose antique-style railroad clocks won repeatedly under both systems.

Since 2017, the event has been organised in partnership with Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH, expanding outreach and attendance. The 2014 exhibition at Rothaus Brauerei attracted around 80,000 visitors over the voting period, with approximately 8,000 ballots cast. Since 2021, online voting via the Schwarzwald Tourismus platform means anyone can participate without travelling to the Black Forest.

What the Award Means for Buyers

A VdS Clock of the Year win is a signal of exceptional design and build quality, but it does not make a clock more authentic than others in the range. Every clock entered in the competition already carries the VdS certificate — the award is a further distinction within that already-certified group.

For buyers, the win year matters less than the underlying quality of the maker. August Schwer has won more than any other manufacturer, but their non-award-winning models are made to the same standard in the same Schönwald facility. The same applies to Rombach Haas, Hönes, and Anton Schneider. For buyers specifically looking for an award-winning clock, the full range from award-winning makers is linked below.

For broader questions about Black Forest cuckoo clocks — movement types, VdS certification requirements, what to look for when buying, and how different makers compare — the Cuckoo Clocks FAQ is the starting point.