Horological Meandering

Alex83
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Alarm Watches: a test

Alarm watches, to me one of the most practical complications as I use it on daily basis when wearing one of these pieces.

Actually I often use this function twice over 24hrs, once for wake-up and then I like to wind it again and set it for the afternoon without concreting too much the time…and I just let it surprise me (and eventually others) during the day. It’s like a reminder that she’s there, under your shirt. I normally let it ring at all its length, unless unappropriated circumstances.

I recently posted about the GP Traveller II alarm and a fellow Purist mentioned that it would be cool to compare with the JLC Memovox which I happen to own among other few alarm watches. That made me realize that I had never done a proper comparison exercise between the 6 of them!

I started taking a few pictures and then understood that I would contribute better to this forum by complicating a bit and making a video. This is my first one so please disregard the quality, still haven’t figured how to keep the original quality while cutting, pasting and converting…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXqdM-B2O9U

To complete the exercice I would have needed a decibel reader, well that was a bit too much

This are the main differences that I noted:

-JLC Memovox: Ring length of 18 seconds approx.; high pitched tone with great resonance and volume.

-Breguet Reveil du Tzar: 19 seconds approx.; high pitched tone with good resonance and volume; very similar to the JLC, a bit lower tone.

-GP Traveller II: 10 seconds approx.; deep low tone. Does not really sound like metal strike, it’s more like a buzz (or a big fly).

-Vulcain Cricket: 20 seconds approx.; vigorous low tone without much resonance but high volume.

I have been trying to establish a winner, without success I am afraid, not an easy task as they are quite different.

If I had to I would say that JLC and the Breguet would win under the “harmony” category, and the Cricket under the “Energy” one. 

I could be biaised biased as the SS cricket is definitely the one that has gotten more wrist-time, not only of this 6 watches but of my entire collection; and still does!

Enjoy!

Alex