Vintage Wakmann Steel Alarm Watch – Caliber As 1475 – 1950s

Vintage Wakmann wristwatch, dating from the second half of the 1950s, made of stainless steel on a black leather strap, equipped with a Swiss manual-winding mechanical movement with an alarm function.

Although relatively unknown to the general public today, Wakmann holds a special place in the history of 20th-century watchmaking. Founded in New York in 1946 by Icko Wakmann, the company specialized in the distribution of Swiss watches and timekeeping instruments, particularly those intended for aviation. As early as 1947, it forged a historic partnership with the Breitling manufacture for the American market. Its vintage timepieces, particularly its chronographs and watches with complications, are now prized by collectors and enthusiasts of vintage timepieces.

This watch stands out for its mechanical alarm function, a particularly interesting horological complication that allows the wearer to set an audible alarm directly on the wrist.

It is powered by the Swiss A. Schild AS 1475, a 17-jewel hand-wound movement developed starting in 1954 and featuring two independent barrels—one powering the timekeeping function and the other powering the striking mechanism.

Two crowns positioned at the 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions allow these functions to be controlled separately. The upper crown is used for winding, setting the time, and activating the alarm, while the lower crown is reserved for winding the movement and setting the time.

At the set time, the mechanism triggers a mechanical chime known as a “cricket,” recognizable by its distinctive sound, reminiscent of the chirping of this insect. This distinctive feature is what gives the mechanical alarm watches of this era their charm and originality.

Its round stainless steel case features a polished bezel and straight lugs, openwork at their base, which harmoniously extend the lines of the case.

The silver sunburst dial offers subtle, shifting reflections depending on the angle of the light. It is adorned with applied metallic baton hour markers, complemented by two large stylized Arabic numerals at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock, which are particularly representative of the watchmaking aesthetic of the 1950s.

The central hour and minute hands, accompanied by a slender second hand, ensure easy time-reading. An additional hand, tipped with a red arrow, allows you to view and set the alarm time. This subtle touch of color enlivens the dial without disrupting its balance.

Beneath the Wakmann signature are the inscriptions “17 Jewels” and “Incabloc,” the latter referring to the shock-absorption mechanism that protects the movement’s regulating organ.

The steel case back bears the inscriptions “Swiss Made,” “Waterproof,” “Antimagnetic,” and “Stainless Steel”—hallmarks of Swiss watchmaking from this period.

The watch is presented on a black leather strap with a pin buckle, whose understated design highlights the case’s silhouette and the timeless character of its dial.

Condition: a vintage watch retaining its original components, with the exception of the Plexiglas crystal, which has been replaced with a new one, as well as the leather strap and its pin buckle, which have also been replaced. It shows slight signs of wear and age, consistent with its vintage status.

Both a timekeeping instrument and a testament to a mechanical complication emblematic of the mid-20th century, this Wakmann combines the technical appeal of a genuine Swiss alarm watch with the graphic charm of 1950s watchmaking.

This watch comes with a one-year warranty, excluding damage resulting from impact or submersion.

Year: Circa 1950

Movement: mechanical, hand-wound

Caliber: 1475

Escapement: lever

Function: alarm

Dial: gray, featuring a mix of baton hour markers and applied numerals.

Case: polished steel

Strap: smooth black calfskin, replaced with a new one, mounted on lugs

Buckle: steel pin buckle, replaced

Crystal: Plexiglass (replaced with a new one)

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Our reference: ES4018