The starting time on the clock is random and the goal of the puzzle is to
get the clock to 12. The way the puzzle works is each ball has a different
value, the Crystal ball is worth +1, the Obsidian Ball is worth +2, and the
Amber Ball is worth +3. Placeing the balls in the past makes them
negative(-1,-2,-3), palceing them in the present leaves their value the
same(+1,+2,+3), and placeing then in the future doubles their
value(+2,+4,+6). Since the puzzle is random you just need to do the math.
Example: if the clock reads 5:00 you need to advance the clock 7 hours there
for you place the Amber ball in the future(+6), the Obsidian ball in the
present(+2), and the Crystal in the past(-1). This gives you 7 hours and the
clock then strikes midnight. Again I say that the puzzle is randomized and
will not always be on 5:00 o'clock so you just need to do the simple math to
solve the puzzle.