Living by the Tide
My name is Greg Rae. I was born in Jersey, and today I live overlooking the beach in St. Clement. Here, you don’t just watch the ocean; you live by it. With one of the largest tidal ranges in the world—swinging up to 12 metres between high and low water—the rhythm of the tide dictates everything from our dog walks to our boat launches.
I am a qualified commercial skipper, a keen kayaker, and a lifelong boat owner. Having lived in the UK, the Isle of Man, and Australia, I have spent my life charting coastlines, but the pull of Jersey always brought me back.
MTJ Designs was born out of a simple observation during my previous career in finance. Most tide clocks on the market were either plastic novelties or old-fashioned brass instruments that felt out of place in a modern home. I wanted to create something different—a precision instrument that doubled as a piece of contemporary art.
I started designing the clocks I wanted on my own wall—clean lines, accurate hydrographic data, and a deep respect for the coastline. As their popularity grew, I took the leap, leaving the finance world behind to focus entirely on the craft.
Today, supported by my wife Chrissy (my long-suffering crafter's wife!) and accompanied by our four beach-loving dogs, what started as a project in St. Clement has grown into a collection covering coastlines from the Australian Reefs to the shores of New York.
Inspired by the coast of St. Clement and beyond.
The Craft
Skipper's Eye
Every map is drawn with a commercial skipper's understanding of the coast. We verify our designs against local charts to ensure the geography feels right to those who sail it.
Hand Finished
These are not mass-produced in a factory. Each clock is assembled, tested, and finished by hand here in Jersey before being shipped worldwide.
Lunar Precision
Our quartz movements are tuned to the lunar cycle of 12 hours 25 minutes, keeping you in sync with the natural rhythm of the sea.