Additionally, because they are mechanical pieces, they are very reliable and one never needs to worry that a battery will die. They can sit bedside on a business trip to act as a wake-up call, and can ring on the wrist to remind one to make that all-important call or meeting.
Alarm watches have roots dating back just about a century. While the first alarms were used in clocks, the mechanisms were finally miniaturized enough to fit into a wristwatch in the early 1900s. Eterna Watch Company patented the first alarm wristwatch in 1908, though it didn't go into production until 1914 and when it did, its volume was not very loud.
It was a few decades later, in 1947, that Vulcain unveiled its first mechanical alarm wristwatches that were loud enough to wake a person. The loudly audible sound was achieved by a hammer striking a pin attached to a thin metal membrane inside the watch case. Small holes in the case back ensured that the sound would not be muffled. Vulcain named the alarm watch the Cricket (indicative of the loud sounds of crickets). That same year, President Harry Truman donned the watch – bringing the brand much acclaim. Thereafter many presidents wore Vulcain (including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and LB Johnson), and the Vulcain Cricket is often referred to as the “President's Watch.”
Today, just a couple of handfuls of watch brands build mechanical alarm wristwatches. Among the most difficult challenges to overcome in the making of an alarm wristwatch is establishing a loud enough, and long enough sound, and being able to pre-set the alarm for a period further off than the next 24 hours. Some brands offer alarms that sound for 10, 20 or 30 seconds.
Thus, depending on what your lifestyle is like, and what your needs are, you can find an alarm right for your busy schedule. Vulcain offers an alarm that rings loudly for 25 seconds, Breguet's Marine Royale offers an alarm that functions under water to remind divers about oxygen time, and Zenith's Pilot Doublematic watch offers a 30-second alarm with world timer and chronograph functions.
