Now and Zen Tibetan Digital Zen Alarm Clock, Walnut Finish, E-Tone Review (2026)

A furniture grade chime clock

This clock is built around a solid walnut case with a brass faceplate, giving it a look closer to a small piece of bedroom furniture than a typical plastic digital alarm clock. Now and Zen specializes specifically in this style of gentle chime clock, and the walnut and brass combination is one of several finish options the brand offers across its Digital Zen Alarm Clock line, which also includes bamboo, maple and black lacquer versions. For anyone who wants their meditation timer or bedside clock to look intentional on a nightstand rather than purely utilitarian, the material choice here is a meaningful part of the appeal.

Size and display

The clock measures about 9 inches long and 2 inches square, a compact footprint next to most bedside clocks, and it has a lighted digital display that stays lit continuously when the clock is plugged in using the included AC adapter. It can also run on two AA batteries, which serve as backup power so the clock and its alarm keep working through a power outage rather than resetting or going dark. That combination of always on display when powered and battery backup when not is a practical detail for anyone who wants a dependable clock rather than one that needs resetting after every outage.

The E-Tone chime

The defining feature of this clock is its acoustic style chime, which builds gradually in a progression rather than sounding all at once, intended to wake a sleeper gently instead of startling them the way a sudden buzzer or beep would. That same chime doubles as a timing signal for yoga, meditation or bodywork sessions, giving it a dual purpose as both an alarm clock and a session timer built around one consistent sound. The E-Tone designation refers to the specific chime tone used in this version, distinguishing it from other tone options Now and Zen offers across the same clock line.

Premium pricing versus simpler timers

Because this clock combines furniture grade materials with a specialized chime mechanism from a brand that focuses specifically on this niche, it costs more than a basic plastic digital timer that offers a similar countdown function without the same finish or chime design. That premium reflects the walnut case, brass faceplate and the gradually building chime mechanism itself, which is more complex to produce than a standard electronic beep. Buyers who mainly want a no frills countdown timer for practice may not need this level of finish, while those who want a chime clock they are happy to have visible on a nightstand get more direct value from the materials and sound design.

Where it ranks against rivals

In this site's meditation timer guide, this clock ranks second out of eight, just behind the Awake Mindfulness Clock and ahead of a Pomodoro style cube timer, a Sycamore timer from Sage Meditation, an LED visual timer and hourglass, and a simpler digital Zen alarm clock. Its strength relative to that field is the combination of a distinctive acoustic chime and premium walnut and brass construction, which most of the more basic digital and cube style timers in the same guide do not attempt to match, even though some of those rivals may offer a lower price or a wider range of programmable timer modes.

Frequently asked questions