Great little device, really quite fun and functional. However, know the parts are plastic (easily broken) and require careful assembly using enclosed instructions. I recommend using a little vaseline or whatever to aid in assemling tight fitting plastic parts. You could also warm the plastic in hot water but this tends to cause some expansion--not sure it would benefit some parts. As long as great care is taken with assembly it is not particularly complicated. It goes together quickly once started but you may have to ponder the illustrations a bit before jumping right in. Otherwise, great bargain for what is essentially a perpetually winding/swinging sort of functional novelty work of miniature tech art. It makes very little noise but there is a faint or muffled clock-like tick each time the pendulum swings verticle, where the magnet passes just over the electrified base. Nothing that would prevent me from sleeping even located on a bedside table...and I'm a light sleeper. But I also normally wear earplugs which eliminate the sound completely for me. I say, buy with confidence if your like me with enough patience to assemble carefully. Very well designed though naturally somewhat fragile given mostly plastic parts. The bushings or bearings are metal, work smoothly, and are pressure fitted.