The clock itself is thick hard wood or perhaps compressed cardboard, but it's just as it's described in the coupon ad. My only issue is that the clockwork itself meaning the clock mechanism and the arms are super delicate and prone to breaking very easily. Just from taking a clock out of the box, gently, one of the arms fell off and I found it on the floor a few minutes later. I think if I replace the clock mechanism with a quality mechanism I'll have a very nice clock but the fact that I have to purchase the clock mechanism negates the great deal I received on this item.