Clockpunk, or less well known as Machine punk, has its origins in Steampunk that takes inspiration from the Victorian era and is a sub genre of that, though is unique also. It is set 100 years previous to the Victorian industrial revolution and for its own inspiration it takes this from the Renaissance and Baroque eras with their less developed technology.
This older Renaissance technology involves most importantly clocks and then keys, padlocks, phonographs, typewriters and anything that runs just on cogs and gears. Style at the time was more predominant than science and technology so all machinery has beautiful art, patterns and designs engraved on it foremost, Da Vincian machinery designs are referenced a lot.
Clockpunk vs Steampunk
In Clockpunk steam has not yet been harnessed to power machinery like in Steampunk and it relies more on wind and water used to turn over mills in Renaissance times. Being able to wind up small pieces of mechanical technology for power is the cutting edge norm like with mechanical pocket watches along with the use of magic occasionally to animate and power.
The invention of the pocket watch was during the renaissance and began around 1510 AD. The pocket watch was invented out of the need for a better standard of timekeeping. It paved the way for the clocks of today with the mechanisms created. This is a fantasy fashion too and it does draw on function magic sometimes to power the small devices. Most usually the machines must be wound with a key to get their power.
If you have a Clockpunk cosplay idea see our range of mechanical pocket watches perfect for the aesthetic.
Clockpunk Cosplay
Clockpunk takes it inspiration from before the Victorian period in the Renaissance it is a stylish period the rich had expensive and over the top clothing and were very cliche. The poor had very basic set fashions. You can draw from any of the archetypes whether that be a soldier, king or peasant and add clock work.
This is a ‘Clockpunk masquerade Cosplay’ you can see the over top long dress with massive skirt wore below the bodice. They have wigs often wore by the more upper class female citizen. You can not see the shoes though you can wear leather flat platform or high heels. Throw in a beautiful Renaissance mask that covers the face though allowing you to see often held by the trademark stick with a feather fascinator and you are complete.
This ‘Clock Punk lady’ is more modest, though no less beautiful with a smaller bustle skirt dress lined with white lace and head piece. She has a gold mask for some artistic flair and a magical power source on her chest.
The main feature of this ‘Clock work doll Cosplay” is obviously the huge key. This represents the more fantasy element of the Clock punk costume and the massive role clock work plays in the aesthetic. All you need is someone to wind you up and the world is your oyster.
This is a clock punk gent see the pocket watch pattern waistcoat a homage to gears and cogs and mechanical winding. He is wearing a great Renaissance style long coat with cravat, medals, keys, goggles and top hat with feather.
This is a more basic renaissance costume with less fantasy involved that could be the basis of a Clock Punk Cosplay. All you would need for this is some Clock punk staple pieces like a pocket watch and maybe a telescope or other relevant era gadget.
Another amazing Cosplay with a ticking insides window to give the feel of magic animating this automaton character for its power, no steam because that is Steampunk not Clockpunk. A beautiful Renaissance style dress with high collar to accompany it.
Some examples of Renaissance clothing;
Clockpunk jewellery
Brooches
Gears and cogs earrings
Gears and cogs bracelet
Ring gears and cogs
Resin cogs and gears cufflinks
Cogs and gears necklace
Clock punk creatures
Clock punk creatures are common in the setting they are made completely of metal and can animated if they are small on being wound or by magic if they are large and vice versa. Below we show some of the popular creatures.
Clockwork Dragon
Clockwork Spider
Clock work scorpion
Clockpunk anime
The clockpunk universe translates perfectly for anime it being able to explore all its grand opulence for clockwork machinery and big beautiful renaissance settings as well as an assortment of characters.
Unbreakable machine
Unbreakable Machine- Doll is a Japanese light new series written by Reiji Kaitō and illustrated by Ruroo. Media Factory has published seventeen volumes under their MF Bunko J imprint from November 2009
Clock punk planet
Clockwork Planet is a Japanese light novel series, written by Yuu Kamiya and Tsubaki Himana, and illustrated by Shino. Kodansha has published four volumes since April 2, 2013 under their Kodansha Ranobe Bunko imprint.
Bibliophile Stalker
It’s set in the Meiji era and instead of robots, you get marionettes which are powered by clockwork.
Clockpunk Games
As with the anime, games are able to really showcase the settings of the Clock punk aesthetic more so than movies being in a virtual world that can be completely constructed from the imagination easily. There are a lot of games that delve into the Clock punk aesthetic beautiful as it is with their settings, art and characters even being able to control automaton characters made and powered by gears and cogs. Below we show our top Clock punk inspired games.
Clock Work Empire
Syberia
The Syberia Adventure Game duology revels in all kinds of clockwork mechanisms: from a Cool Train that has to be rewound at each station, to quasi-sentient clockwork automatons.
Clockpunk gadgets
Nautical compass
Pocket watch mechanical
Typewriters
Clockwork Soldiers
Clockpunk Movies
Movies are not able to explore the overall realm as good as games though we get a little closer to the characters and the clothing and gadgets. Some movies below with think you should see to experience the Clock punk world:
The Hellboy
The first movie has a Russian tomb with clockwork deathtraps. One of the villains, Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, is a clockwork zombie Cyborg Nazi homicide.
Hellboy II
The Golden Army, there is Wink, an ogre with a chained clockwork Rocket Fist. And the eponymous army is made up of clockwork robots; indeed the crown that controls them fits together like clockwork. And at the end, Hellboy and Prince Nuada fight on mammoth, moving cogs.
Hugo
Aesthetic is grounded heavily on clockwork. Justified in that it’s set in a road station erected in the late 19th century.
Clockpunk novels
The Clock Work Game
Main Spring
Alchemy of Stone
Clockpunk tattoo
Cogs and gears
Clocks
Padlock
Type writer
Now with this insight in to the inner ticking and turning of the Clock punk universe you can begin your exploration of the fashion. If you would like to start your Clock punk Cosplay costume a Steampunk pocket watch is the perfect first accessory to build upon. We have a wonderful selection see here