diff --git a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
index fbf006b2..c53976ba 100644
--- a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ qt_add_library(quickshell-core STATIC
 	popupanchor.cpp
 	types.cpp
 	qsmenuanchor.cpp
+	clock.cpp
 )
 
 set_source_files_properties(main.cpp PROPERTIES COMPILE_DEFINITIONS GIT_REVISION="${GIT_REVISION}")
diff --git a/src/core/clock.cpp b/src/core/clock.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b232d0b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/clock.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#include "clock.hpp"
+
+#include <qdatetime.h>
+#include <qobject.h>
+#include <qtimer.h>
+#include <qtmetamacros.h>
+
+#include "util.hpp"
+
+SystemClock::SystemClock(QObject* parent): QObject(parent) {
+	QObject::connect(&this->timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &SystemClock::update);
+	this->update();
+}
+
+bool SystemClock::enabled() const { return this->mEnabled; }
+
+void SystemClock::setEnabled(bool enabled) {
+	if (enabled == this->mEnabled) return;
+	this->mEnabled = enabled;
+	emit this->enabledChanged();
+	this->update();
+}
+
+SystemClock::Enum SystemClock::precision() const { return this->mPrecision; }
+
+void SystemClock::setPrecision(SystemClock::Enum precision) {
+	if (precision == this->mPrecision) return;
+	this->mPrecision = precision;
+	emit this->precisionChanged();
+	this->update();
+}
+
+void SystemClock::update() {
+	auto time = QTime::currentTime();
+
+	if (this->mEnabled) {
+		auto secondPrecision = this->mPrecision >= SystemClock::Seconds;
+		auto secondChanged = this->setSeconds(secondPrecision ? time.second() : 0);
+
+		auto minutePrecision = this->mPrecision >= SystemClock::Minutes;
+		auto minuteChanged = this->setMinutes(minutePrecision ? time.minute() : 0);
+
+		auto hourPrecision = this->mPrecision >= SystemClock::Hours;
+		auto hourChanged = this->setHours(hourPrecision ? time.hour() : 0);
+
+		DropEmitter::call(secondChanged, minuteChanged, hourChanged);
+
+		auto nextTime = QTime(
+		    hourPrecision ? time.hour() : 0,
+		    minutePrecision ? time.minute() : 0,
+		    secondPrecision ? time.second() : 0
+		);
+
+		if (secondPrecision) nextTime = nextTime.addSecs(1);
+		else if (minutePrecision) nextTime = nextTime.addSecs(60);
+		else if (hourPrecision) nextTime = nextTime.addSecs(3600);
+
+		this->timer.start(time.msecsTo(nextTime));
+	} else {
+		this->timer.stop();
+	}
+}
+
+DEFINE_MEMBER_GETSET(SystemClock, hours, setHours);
+DEFINE_MEMBER_GETSET(SystemClock, minutes, setMinutes);
+DEFINE_MEMBER_GETSET(SystemClock, seconds, setSeconds);
diff --git a/src/core/clock.hpp b/src/core/clock.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3ac1228
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/clock.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <qobject.h>
+#include <qqmlintegration.h>
+#include <qtimer.h>
+#include <qtmetamacros.h>
+
+#include "util.hpp"
+
+///! System clock accessor.
+class SystemClock: public QObject {
+	Q_OBJECT;
+	/// If the clock should update. Defaults to true.
+	///
+	/// Setting enabled to false pauses the clock.
+	Q_PROPERTY(bool enabled READ enabled WRITE setEnabled NOTIFY enabledChanged);
+	/// The precision the clock should measure at. Defaults to `SystemClock.Seconds`.
+	Q_PROPERTY(SystemClock::Enum precision READ precision WRITE setPrecision NOTIFY precisionChanged);
+	/// The current hour.
+	Q_PROPERTY(quint32 hours READ hours NOTIFY hoursChanged);
+	/// The current minute, or 0 if @@precision is `SystemClock.Hours`.
+	Q_PROPERTY(quint32 minutes READ minutes NOTIFY minutesChanged);
+	/// The current second, or 0 if @@precision is `SystemClock.Hours` or `SystemClock.Minutes`.
+	Q_PROPERTY(quint32 seconds READ seconds NOTIFY secondsChanged);
+	QML_ELEMENT;
+
+public:
+	// must be named enum until docgen is ready to handle member enums better
+	enum Enum {
+		Hours = 1,
+		Minutes = 2,
+		Seconds = 3,
+	};
+	Q_ENUM(Enum);
+
+	explicit SystemClock(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+
+	[[nodiscard]] bool enabled() const;
+	void setEnabled(bool enabled);
+
+	[[nodiscard]] SystemClock::Enum precision() const;
+	void setPrecision(SystemClock::Enum precision);
+
+signals:
+	void enabledChanged();
+	void precisionChanged();
+	void hoursChanged();
+	void minutesChanged();
+	void secondsChanged();
+
+private slots:
+	void update();
+
+private:
+	bool mEnabled = true;
+	SystemClock::Enum mPrecision = SystemClock::Seconds;
+	quint32 mHours = 0;
+	quint32 mMinutes = 0;
+	quint32 mSeconds = 0;
+	QTimer timer;
+
+	DECLARE_PRIVATE_MEMBER(SystemClock, hours, setHours, mHours, hoursChanged);
+	DECLARE_PRIVATE_MEMBER(SystemClock, minutes, setMinutes, mMinutes, minutesChanged);
+	DECLARE_PRIVATE_MEMBER(SystemClock, seconds, setSeconds, mSeconds, secondsChanged);
+};
diff --git a/src/core/module.md b/src/core/module.md
index 411b1d49..060aca9f 100644
--- a/src/core/module.md
+++ b/src/core/module.md
@@ -27,5 +27,6 @@ headers = [
 	"popupanchor.hpp",
 	"types.hpp",
 	"qsmenuanchor.hpp",
+	"clock.hpp",
 ]
 -----