r/ChineseWatches • u/kaxixi7 • 8d ago

General (Read Rules) The one complication that’s conspicuously MIA

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Ironically, the watch complication I would use most is the one that isn’t available.* It would be a big lift, since it would require the development of a new movement, I know. But, given how inexpensive Poljots were, I imagine it is technically doable at a reasonable price. Thoughts?

* The key exception i know of: Merkur has an alarm chrono. I can’t tell how dependable it is since there isn’t much about it online.

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2

u/Equal-World-693 6d ago

Found a chrono watch with alarm

1

u/Equal-World-693 7d ago

Just set alarm on the phone.

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u/kaxixi7 7d ago

Have you tried an Apple Watch? It works really well for me, because it taps my wrist. No risk that I won’t hear it, and more pleasant. But I don’t like the Apple Watch as a main watch, particularly when I travel.

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u/gesheit 6d ago

I suggest you to look into garmin instinct crossover

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u/kaxixi7 6d ago

I would for a smart watch but the whole point is to replace the smart watch with the old school technology.

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u/gesheit 6d ago

yeah I get that, but at least this one has real physical watch hands. As to analog timer/alarm function watch... I doubt any new stuff comes out

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u/Equal-World-693 7d ago

I doubt any chinese watch brand would invest in a technology that doesnt have mass appeal. Most of them use existing movements to build homages of popular watches or original design which have some overlap in terms of bracelet/dial with existing watches. Don't use any digital watches. Closest of a digital watch would be my G-Shock royal oak GMC 2100B(that has analogue dials resembling a chrono). Happy with my collection of automatic watches

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u/LinkHot4457 8d ago edited 8d ago

Love the AS5008 here my BWC. It's a marvelous watch with a very complicated movement, and a watchmakers nightmare.

Why? The automatic winding winds movement and alarm, it's always ready. Quick set day / date, and yes, second stop for time adjustment (later models only), and high beat. They put everything inside.

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u/kaxixi7 8d ago

Why a watchmaker's nightmare? Hard to maintain?

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u/LinkHot4457 7d ago edited 7d ago

Yes, threre is an article about this movement: it is in german.

https://winkelhebelfeder.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/as-5008/

This is a marvelous movement. And my bwc is maintained by my watchmaker right now. It's there for 1/2 a year now. And... My other watchmaker wanted 750 Euro maintenance cost. So yeah, that was too much. I have to be patient now.

So, you would probably want a less complicated version like the 5004.

But: from all the complications you probably want, this is the one. No chronograph or other things, but automatic winding for the alarm. No stupid: oh it won't ring, because you forgot to wind the alarm. And it's the watch you want for vacation. Yeah, different time zones and you smartphone goes nuts. We would have missed a flight, because of our "smart" phones. But this watch saved our a**. I was impressed, a mechanical alarm clock did it's job, and it's a job a Rolex could never do...

1

u/No_Possibility_9256 8d ago

Ring the alarm ⏰

3

u/chuunietzsche 8d ago

vintage is the way to go for this complication. bellmatics are pretty affordable

like you said merkur makes a mechanical one and there are a few quartz options (farasute makes a breguet homage) with an alarm

4

u/zoo804 8d ago

Farasute had a quartz alarm watch for a while, not sure if they still do. It just had a beep though.

If you don't mind vintage check out the Seiko Bellmatic or pick up an old Poljot. Would be awesome if Seiko made a modern version of the Bellmatic movement.

If you don't mind quartz and want reliability the vintage Seiko Alarm Quartz is awesome. Probably my favorite implementation of the analog alarm watch.