Wrist watches have many different types of complications: chronographs, GMTs, perpetual calendars , day and dates. One compilation that is not very common is an alarm in your watch. Alarms are common in digital quartz watches but somewhat rare on a mechanical watch.

Alarm watches have been around since the early part of the 1900’s when Eterna first patented an alarm wristwatch in 1908. That patent was put into use when the watch was manufactured and sold in 1914.

It wasn’t until the Vulcain Cricket line in the 1940’s that the alarm would gain in popularity. Earlier offerings were either too complicated, inaccurate or just not loud enough. Vulcain was able to overcome these shortcomings to produce more desirable alarm watches.

Cricket movement showing 2 mainspring barrells
vintage Cricket alarm

 

The Vulcain Cricket is  equipped with two barrels, one for the movement and the other for the alarm, emitting a sound reminiscent of the chirping of a cricket – hence its name.

LeCoultre Memmovox

Jaeger-LeCoultre got in on the game in the late 1940’s and progressing the style with the development of the Memovox, the first automatic watch with an alarm.

The Presidents’ Watch

President Truman and his Cricket

In the 1950’s, President Harry Truman was gifted the Vulcain cricket alarm watch by the White House photographers.The tradition continued with Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and most recently Barack Obama.

President Obama’s Cricket

 

 

Below are other notable mechanical alarm watches

Omega Seamaster Memomatic
Tudor Advisor 7926
Seiko BellMatic
Seiko BellMatic movement
Bulova alarm
Technos
Poljot Russian alarm

Information found on the following sites:

http://wornandwound.com/the-under-appreciated-alarm-watch/https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/video-a-vintage-mechanical-alarm-watch-in-action-as-requestehttps://www.hodinkee.com/articles/four-cool-vintage-alarms-at-antiquorum-hong-kong