For instance, a quarter repeater strikes the hours on one tone and then the quarter hours on another. There are different types of repeaters, chiming simply the hours or striking time down to the minute. RepeatersДЄ repeater is a mechanical watch that chimes the time on demand, by activating a trigger or push button. Its hammer (1) strikes a gong coiled around the movement (2). The Blancpain 1241 calibre powering the Leman RГ©veil GMT with automatic winding. The alarm mechanism is coupled to the movement, with a wheel commanding a cam to trigger the signal, at the desired time. Traditional mechanical alarm watches ring by means of a mainspring, tensioned to power a hammer striking on resounding parts: a bell, a gong or the case of the watch itself. The two brands also produced dive watches (respectively the Nautical and the Polaris) featuring mechanisms audible underwater, to help monitor the ascent back to the surface.

Among the other undeniable references is Jaeger-Lecoultre, with the Memovox, the first automatic alarm watch, released in the early 1950s. The first alarm wristwatch was patented in 1908 by Eterna, but success really spread after the creation in 1947 of the legendary Vulcain Cricket calibre, which truly raised the bar for such watches. With the development of exchange and travels, these mechanisms were included into pocket watches, as of the 16 th century.

It is probably one of the oldest horological complications. Everyone probably has cursed their alarm once, but few people can deny their usefulness. Modern versions of two of the most iconic alarm wristwatches, the Vulcain Cricket and the Jaeger-LeCoultre MemovoxДЄn alarm watch is designed to ring a signal at a defined time.

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