which was an absolute bad buy! I had bought the alarm clock because I'm very sensitive to noise during sleep. but unfortunately the sweep movement is anything but quiet. one hears no ticking, as in other alarm clock would be the case, but unfortunately a permanent-abrasive and somewhat hectic noise caused by the second hand. Although the sound is really very quiet, but in a completely silent room (as it just usually the case in the bedroom) you can hear the simple very clearly. that bothers me more clearly than any tick sounds alarm clocks from others. I have the alarm immediately removed from my bedroom, but kept it anyway because I design to be very funny find. He now acts as a clock in another room. for noise-sensitive people, I would rather advise to a radio-alarm clock without a second hand.