Left: Traveller’s alarm watch in brass, by Daniel Quare; London, England, 17th century; dia. 2¼” (5.72 cm.).
Right: The Quare watch opened, showing the elaborate decoration of the movement; dia. 1¾” (4.45 cm.).
Increases in travel and the use of coaches made alarm watches invaluable. This example has a pierced case for the bell to sound: the alarm is set by rotating the numbered disc in the centre of the dial. The bezel is split in the middle of the hinge above the figure XII to allow the glass to be snapped in, and the little catch at the figure VI fastens the movement in the case. The dial is calibrated for quarter and half hours only.
The alarm spring has no fusee and is guarted by a decorated and pierced piece of metal. Even the foot of the balance cock is pierced. The pillars are of the ‘tulip’ pattern fashionable in the late 17th century, after the so-called ‘tulip mania’ of the middle of the century. Note the extreme thickness of the watch and the somewhat small pendant and ring.
