Power reserve of 44 hoursLike a Harley Davidson: IWC GST Automatic Alarm
In a world of electronically generated sound, where phones can be programmed to play a melody and mobiles announce their presence in any number of ways, there is a distinct need for a return to genuine sound. Thankfully, we now have it. In the GST automatic alarm from IWC. The third and latest addition to the new sports watch line from Schaffhausen comes with two distinctive crowns that immediately give the game away. A mechanical wrist alarm of the first water, in a completely new guise, rugged and ready for anything. As it almost visibly rolls up its sleeves and clatters into action, one comparison immediately suggest itself: a Harley- Davidson motor cycle. If you’ve never actually heard the sound emitted by the American-built cult machine, the “Harley” has a typical “clatter” that appeals to aficionados all over the world.
In much the same way, the alarm version of IWC’s new line of sports watches generates sound in a traditional manner: the alarm mechanism in the 917 calibre automatic movement has a hammer which strikes a pin. The pin is secured to the base of the watch and extends through the centre of the winding rotor to the heart of the movement, which means that the alarm signal is also transmitted to the wearer’s wrist as a vibration. With this useful additional function, the GST automatic alarm ideally rounds off the collection of striking new sports watches from IWC. Like the chronographs, it is available in gold, steel or titanium and comes with a silver-plated (gold version), black or silver-plated (steel), or black dial (titanium). The watch has two conspicuous crowns: the one at two o’clock, which does not screw down, is used to wind the alarm function, either partially or fully, as the user requires. This crown can also be pulled out to stop or deactivate the alarm and, when in this position, also serves to set the desired alarm time with the red hand. The screw-in crown at four o’clock adjusts the hands and date and is also used to wind up and restart the automatic movement if the watch has not been worn for some time. The 28,800-beat, 917 calibre movement is handmade and consists of 220 parts with 22 jewels. Fully wound, it has a power reserve of 44 hours.
Needless to say, the GST automatic alarm is fully equipped for any genuine emergency situation: the solid case (diameter 39 mm, height 14 mm) has a screw-in back and convex sapphire glass, is guaranteed waterresistant to 30 m and features an integrated metal bracelet with a push-button-release clasp.