This is a wonderful example of a vintage ARSA “Alertic” mechanical alarm watch, combining a substantial cushion-shaped case with one of the more charming complications of the mechanical era: an independent alarm that rings using a mechanical hammer inside the watch.
At 36.8mm across, 41.7mm lug-to-lug and 13.1mm thick, it has a surprisingly modern presence for a 1970s vintage watch. The compact lug-to-lug keeps the watch from feeling oversized, while the additional thickness is necessary to accommodate the separate alarm mechanism. The gold-plated base-metal case shows honest wear across its sharper facets, paired with a stainless steel snap-on caseback.
The silver sunburst dial has a wonderfully period-correct look, with bold gold-and-black hour markers and matching baton hands. The red “Alertic” script adds a great splash of colour, while the date window sits neatly at 3 o'clock. The central red-arrow hand is used to indicate the alarm setting, giving the dial an immediately recognizable alarm-watch layout.
Inside is the 17-jewel ARSA Calibre 1568, based on the Adolf Schild AS 1568/1931 alarm movement family. The clever part of the design is its two independent mainspring barrels: one powers the timekeeping mechanism while the other powers the alarm. The crown at 4 o'clock winds the watch, while the crown at 2 o'clock winds the separate alarm spring. When activated, the stored energy drives an independent hammer to produce the alarm.
ARSA—Auguste Reymond S.A.—was an established Swiss manufacturer with a long history stretching back to the 19th century. The company was also closely associated with the Unitas movement business, and its watches and movements found their way into a wide range of Swiss timepieces.
Mechanical alarm watches are particularly fun examples of pre-electronic watchmaking because the complication is completely self-contained: no battery, electronics or external mechanism is required. Everything from setting the alarm to winding its spring and producing the actual ringing sound is accomplished mechanically.
With its large cushion case, dual crowns, date display, distinctive Alertic dial and independent mechanical alarm, this ARSA is a fantastic piece of 1970s Swiss watchmaking and a great example of just how inventive mechanical watches could be before quartz took over the alarm-watch market.
This is a wonderful example of a vintage ARSA “Alertic” mechanical alarm watch, combining a substantial cushion-shaped case with one of the more charming complications of the mechanical era: an independent alarm that rings using a mechanical hammer inside the watch.
At 36.8mm across, 41.7mm lug-to-lug and 13.1mm thick, it has a surprisingly modern presence for a 1970s vintage watch. The compact lug-to-lug keeps the watch from feeling oversized, while the additional thickness is necessary to accommodate the separate alarm mechanism. The gold-plated base-metal case shows honest wear across its sharper facets, paired with a stainless steel snap-on caseback.
The silver sunburst dial has a wonderfully period-correct look, with bold gold-and-black hour markers and matching baton hands. The red “Alertic” script adds a great splash of colour, while the date window sits neatly at 3 o'clock. The central red-arrow hand is used to indicate the alarm setting, giving the dial an immediately recognizable alarm-watch layout.
Inside is the 17-jewel ARSA Calibre 1568, based on the Adolf Schild AS 1568/1931 alarm movement family. The clever part of the design is its two independent mainspring barrels: one powers the timekeeping mechanism while the other powers the alarm. The crown at 4 o'clock winds the watch, while the crown at 2 o'clock winds the separate alarm spring. When activated, the stored energy drives an independent hammer to produce the alarm.
ARSA—Auguste Reymond S.A.—was an established Swiss manufacturer with a long history stretching back to the 19th century. The company was also closely associated with the Unitas movement business, and its watches and movements found their way into a wide range of Swiss timepieces.
Mechanical alarm watches are particularly fun examples of pre-electronic watchmaking because the complication is completely self-contained: no battery, electronics or external mechanism is required. Everything from setting the alarm to winding its spring and producing the actual ringing sound is accomplished mechanically.
With its large cushion case, dual crowns, date display, distinctive Alertic dial and independent mechanical alarm, this ARSA is a fantastic piece of 1970s Swiss watchmaking and a great example of just how inventive mechanical watches could be before quartz took over the alarm-watch market.