Letter from the Publisher

THe DAWn of A neW erA
Vulcain and Jaeger-leCoultre are not the only ones
to work in the alarm-watch field. for the last few
years, this horological classic has been enjoying a return
to popularity among brands and customers alike. In
2008, oris—known in the 1940s for its small alarm
clocks—launched the Artelier Alarm wristwatch. In 2009,
Alfex—a brand based in the Ticino region of switzerland
that is known for its prizewinning designs—celebrated
its 60th anniversary by presenting the Pazzola Giant
Alarm. The piece is technically and aesthetically
innovative: setting the time of the alarm is done with a
disc that is incorporated into a mechanism under the
dial. Two years earlier, Ulysse nardin garnered acclaim
with its very avant-garde sonata silicium limited
edition. endowed with a silicon lever and escapement
wheel, this timepiece was the first watch in a collection
to utilize several technical innovations introduced in
2007 within the framework of the InnoVision program.
By using two cams (one for the 24-hour indication,
the other for the minutes), the alarm mechanism—
equipped with cathedral gongs—could be programmed
with great precision up to 24 hours in advance.
• 496 Grand Complications, Vol. VII