A trio of colored sand hourglasses give you timing on 3, 4, or 5 minutes. And by extension, you can get 1 or 2 minutes. Simply run the sand until the 3-minute glass is empty, and turn it on its side to suspend the timing. What remains in the 4-minute and 5-minute glasses is 1-minute and 2-minutes, respectively.
A very convenient, compact, and beautiful timer to use with your tea set. Also good for soft-boiled eggs. Makes a great gift!