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Of all the great mechanical complications, the alarm is, without question, one of the most charming and genuinely useful. In the mid-20th century, before the advent of digital everything, the mechanical wrist alarm was a marvel of engineering, a personal, portable reminder powered by an intricate dance of springs and gears. While brands like Vulcain and Jaeger-LeCoultre are famous for their alarm watches, the American powerhouse Bulova also produced a fantastic and robust version, and this example is one of the most soulful and character-rich we have ever seen.
The Bulova Wrist Alarm, introduced in the 1950s, was a direct competitor to the famous Swiss models. It operated on a similar principle, utilizing a complex, double-barreled movement. The Caliber 11AERC inside this watch is a fantastic piece of engineering, featuring two separate mainsprings, one for the timekeeping function and one for the alarm, which are wound and set independently by the two crowns. The top crown winds and sets the time, while the bottom crown winds the alarm’s mainspring and sets the alarm time via the red-tipped fourth hand. When the designated time arrives, an internal hammer strikes a post, creating a distinct buzzing vibration on the wrist. It’s a wonderfully tactile and clever complication.
This particular Wrist Alarm is a watch that has truly lived a life, and it wears its history with incredible grace. The 34mm stainless steel case is in honest, strong condition, but the dial is the absolute star of the show. The original two-tone dial has aged to a spectacular, heavy “tropical” patina. The surface has developed a stunning, mottled texture in varying shades of cream, sand, and tobacco. This is the kind of organic, natural aging that collectors dream of; it’s a unique fingerprint of time that is impossible to replicate. Beneath this gorgeous patina, the applied, stylized Arabic and coffin-shaped markers are still visible, and the original dauphine handset retains a beautifully aged character.
This is what we call a “survivor.” It’s a watch that was clearly worn and used as the tool it was intended to be, and it has the scars and soul to prove it. The case is sharp, the dual signed crowns are correct, and the movement is running well, with the alarm function performing its duty perfectly. This is not a watch for someone seeking a pristine, sterile timepiece. This is a watch for the connoisseur who understands the poetry of patina, who sees the beauty in a life well-lived.
