As I said, the design of this small table clock is perfect and inspired me at once when I saw the photo on the Amazon product page. Here you can see the numbers (date and time) almost not at all, if you so sets up the clock, as it was originally designed, ie with an obliquely inclined rearward display. More visible are the numbers, when the display is at right angles, which is similar by placing the rear-mounted metal box with a matchbox can accomplish. A light background is definitely required. As an alarm clock, I will certainly not use the clock since the alarm sound - a faint, high cheeping, would take me almost from sleep. Despite these limitations, I would not give up the clock if only because of their ultra-chic appearance again :) I bought the clock at Amazon Marketplace. It was delivered quickly and conveniently.