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Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater in 18K King Gold. Introduced in 2015 and housed in a 45mm diameter case, this watch features the alarm function and the display of a second time zone. The steel hammer of the alarm mechanism can be seen together with the gong on the dial side. Limited to 250 pieces for the King Gold ceramic version seen above and 250 pieces for the titanium ceramic version. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2015 BaselWorld. Photo taken with a Leica D-Lux 5

At first glance, one may mistake Hublot’s Big Bang Alarm repeater as a chronograph watch because of the two pushers and the two sub-dials.

This isn’t a chronograph watch but the brand’s new Alarm Repeater launched at the 2015 annual BaselWorld watch fair. This watch is not to be mistaken for the traditional minute repeater which chimes the time on demand.

Why is it called the “Alarm Repeater”? This, as the brand points out, is because “the alarm clock is a complication which belongs to the chiming clock category”.

While this alarm repeater function does not chime on demand (upon manual activation) of the current time, it instead chimes the programmed alarm time.

This programmed alarm time is set via the crown and it is indicated by the counter located between the four and five o’clock positions. This 24-hour counter has the hour and minute hand for easier reference of the set alarm time.

What’s more, the chiming mechanism uses the hammer that strikes the gong to sound the alarm. However, in this case, it is a repetitive alarm sound and not the actual time as provided in a minute repeater.

Hublot’s Alarm Repeater features the second time zone display as well. The time of the hour is displayed on the 24-hour counter located at 11 o’clock and this is normally set to home time (the time zone where one originated from).

Local time is shown on the larger off-centred dial and this is the time zone where one is currently at.

Another related article on alarm watches from timewerke.com that may be of interest:
Cyrus Klepcys Réveil: An Alarming Case

Longines Master Collection GMT Singapore – 50th Anniversary of Independence. Introduced in 2015, the 38.5mm 18K rose gold case houses the Calibre L635.6 automatic movement (ETA 2824/2) and is a world time watch with 24 time zones. The city of Singapore is in red. Not surprisingly, this commemorative timepiece paying tribute to Singapore’s 50th year of independence is limited to 50 pieces. Priced at SGD9,990. Photo: © Longines

With Singapore celebrating its 50th year of independence in 2015, Longines was among the first (and most likely the first) to launch a commemorative timepiece celebrating this Golden Jubilee.

The watch is known as its Master Collection GMT Singapore – 50th Anniversary of Independence.

This 38.5mm Longines GMT is in 18K rose gold and features Singapore as the representative city inscribed in red for the time zone UTC (Coordinated Universal Time or Universal Time Coordinated) + 8.00.

On the transparent display case back is the commemorative print inscribed “Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence 2015” and the image of the moon crescent with five stars which are symbols for Singapore’s flag.

Printed on the transparent sapphire case back: “Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence 2015” with the image of the moon crescent with five stars which are symbols for Singapore’s flag. Photo: © Longines

On 9 August 1965, Singapore officially separated from Malaysia to become an independent nation.

It was only on 31 August 1963 that Singapore became part of the Federation of Malaysia which comprised Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah).

Singapore’s separation and independence was announced on Radio Singapore on 9 August 1965 at 10am. The separation was simultaneously announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Rahman (1903 to 1990) to the federal parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Singapore therefore became an independent nation on 9 August 1965 which was first led by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (1923 to 2015).

THE ART OF TIME

Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater: Simple programming

Longines Master Collection GMT Singapore: Independence Day