Alarm Watch
An alarm watch is a watch that sounds an audible alert at a time you set ahead. In mechanical alarm calibres a small hammer strikes the case or a gong, whereas digital watches use a tiny buzzer. You set the alarm time and switch it on or off with a second crown or a button.
At a glance
- Function type
- Audible alert complication
- Mechanical sound
- Hammer strikes case or gong
- Digital sound
- Piezo buzzer tone
The idea behind an alarm watch is simple: as well as telling the time, it should nudge you at a moment you choose. You get that function in two very different ways, and the two feel nothing alike.
How a mechanical alarm works
In a mechanical alarm calibre, a second spring powers the alarm beside the mainspring. When it triggers, a small hammer vibrates rapidly and strikes the case, a pin, or a gong, producing a buzzing tone.
- Separate winding: the alarm spring is often wound by a second crown, independent of the movement
- Centre disc: you choose the alarm time by setting a rotating arrow in the middle of the dial to the desired hour
- Limited run: the sound lasts a few seconds, until the alarm spring unwinds
The digital alarm
In a digital watch, a tiny piezo element makes the alarm tone instead. Multiple alarms, countdowns, and different signals are easy to set, since everything is controlled electronically. For someone after a first watch this is a practical entry point; our guide to the best watches for beginners shows good examples. The alarm often sits alongside other useful complications such as a world timer.
Examples
Classic digital watches like the Casio A168W pair an alarm and a stopwatch driven by one small piezo element, making the alarm function easy and dependable in daily use.
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Comparison
A mechanical alarm and a digital alarm do the same job in different ways.
| Option A | Option B | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical alarm | Digital alarm | A mechanical alarm is wound by a second spring and its hammer tone lasts a few seconds, whereas a digital alarm sounds through a piezo and makes multiple alarms and countdowns easy to set. |
Related terms
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Frequently asked questions
How does a mechanical alarm watch make its sound?
In a mechanical alarm watch, a second spring powers the alarm beside the mainspring. When it triggers, a small hammer vibrates rapidly and strikes the case, a pin, or a gong to make a buzzing tone. The sound lasts a few seconds, until the alarm spring unwinds.
How do I set the alarm time on an alarm watch?
On mechanical watches you usually wind the alarm with a second crown and set it by turning a rotating arrow in the centre of the dial to the hour you want. On digital watches you open the alarm mode, enter the hour and minute with the buttons, then switch the alarm on.
Is a digital alarm more useful than a mechanical one?
For everyday practicality a digital alarm wins: multiple alarms, countdowns, and different signals are easy to set electronically. A mechanical alarm gives a single alert and its sound is brief, but it holds a charm of its own for those who enjoy the act of winding and hearing it ring.