It's a kitchen timer, as you might use in a kitchen. Twisting the top half winds the mechanism to the desired time, and it ticks away until the mark reaches zero and a bell is rung. A common kitchen timer.
What sets the Louvre Timer apart is that underneath its clear plastic exterior are a series of coloured stripes that can overlap each other. They are connected to the ticking mechanism in such a way that if the bell has not yet rung, the whole timer appears green; post-ringing, the timer appears red.
The overall effect is that a multitasking cook can, at a glance and from some considerable distance, ascertain if the timer has yet rung or not.-- mitxela, Oct 05 2015 Similar. http://www.aliexpre...1010208.8.76.VYRr80 [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 05 2015] (+) Here's one you can use until you build yours. [link]-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 05 2015 Mrs. Maxwell Buchanan has something similar. It's a saucepan from which smoke billows when a critical time has been exceeded.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 05 2015 Personally I'd be happier with less.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 05 2015 Ha, MB. Ha.-- blissmiss, Oct 05 2015 I live to amuse. At least that was the verdict at my last career review.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 05 2015 Stoves should come equipped with overhead smoke alarms which turn off the stove.-- 4and20, Oct 06 2015 I think the time should be indicated by the number of moiré stripes (apropos of which, I'd like to see a reworked version of the musical "Oliver!" in which the eponymous orphan hero asks "Please sir, may I have some moiré?")-- hippo, Oct 06 2015 I really like this idea, and believe it should be baked.-- Voice, Oct 07 2015 random, halfbakery