Swiss rare gold gentleman’s alarm pocket watch Circa 1920

Gold pocket watch with open face by Zenith
–
A rare Swiss, keyless winding gentleman’s pocket watch with alarm, model Mahatma Gandhi, circa 1920.
This rare watch has two horological complications: – Alarm on a steel gong (subsidiary dial at 12 o’clock with blued steel index; time setting by push pin on the right side of the pendant) – Twin barrel differential winding.
Round-shaped polished 18 Carat yellow gold case. Hinged case back, once deployed, serves as a base for the watch to stand on a nightstand or a desk. Enamel dial with luminous Arabic numerals, auxiliary seconds, subsidiary chapter ring with Arabic numerals for alarm and yellow luminous skeleton hands. Gilded brass movement with two going barrels, straight line lever escapement, compensated balance with gold poising screws, and blued steel hairspring with a terminal curve.
Movement based on the Swiss invention patent No. 63 623, delivered on March 11, 1913, to Fabriques des Montres Zénith, successeur de Fabriques des montres Zénith Georges Favre-Jacot & Cie, Le Locle, for a Montre-réveil perfectionnée. Dial, case and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 50 mm
–
Signed: Zenith
–
Zenith, Swiss watch manufacturer
A pioneer by nature, Zenith filed the first patent in 1913 for a sophisticated watch on which the alarm time could be set using a special bolt device. This first milestone paved the way for the pocket watches launched in 1915 and available in several versions, meaning with a gold, silver, blackened steel or white metal case. These pocket-watches have proven themselves highly functional since, in addition to the alarm function, the case features a hinged cover at noon, which, once deployed, serves as a base or carrier for the watch and makes the musical chiming the alarm more clearly audible. The latter is caused by a hammer striking the gong, independent of the case middle. With this model, Zenith offers a perfect alarm watch that is neither thicker nor bulkier than a classic pocket watch. The double-function crown cleverly winds the movement in the usual left to the right direction. In the other direction, it supplies the striking mechanism power reserve. The case middle is fitted with adjustment pushers framing the crown. The right hand pusher adjusts the time, and the left hand one adjusts the alarm time, which is read off on a subsidiary dial at 12 o’clock. This dial version features luminescent Arabic numerals. The sweep seconds hand is classically positioned at 6 o’clock as on most pocket watches, so that the dial remains uncluttered and the user is never disturbed in reading the time. The design of this alarm watch is intended to be understated and authentic, thus ensuring it is ready for any use its wearer may require, wherever he may find himself and in any situation.”