Blancpain

Here is the business side of the Blancpain Reveil movement.  This is a caliber which is shared between Blancpain and Breguet--it is identical for both brands except that each receives the style of decoration of house for the winding rotor and a very minor difference in the way the alarm "on/off" is shown (a hand for Blancpain; a window for Breguet).  One more difference has been added since the movement debuted for both houses:  Blancpain now indicates home time with a central hand reading on the chapter ring; Breguet uses a subdial (which Blancpain formerly used as well). 

A few of the features of the movement are particularly interesting.  For the alarm, there is a hammer visible in this shot at 10 o'clock which strikes a sounding ring running around the exterior of the movement.  In order to make the alarm on/off function in a creamy smooth way, the caliber is fitted with a column wheel!  Yes, the same type of system used in the best chronographs.  As well there is a clutch which disengages the alarm system when the crown is pulled to reset time.  Does not sound like much, but in fact it is a big deal.  With other alarm watches resetting the time disturbs the already set time for the alarm.  Not this watch as the clutch disengagements allows the alarm time to remain undisturbed.

And you eagle eyed forumners will notice that the balance is free sprung.

 

Jeff

doesn't match the accuracy of the alarm dial. I've found that the alarm is only accurate to approx 15 min, whereas the dial makes it look like it's good to 1 min.
A

even for a mechanical one...

Did you ask about having it adjusted?  Mine corresponds within about 2 minutes.  The way the alarm works is that there is a plate which turns with the hour hand.  It has 3 small holes in it.  Underneath is a disk with three small prongs.  When the prongs fall into the holes the alarm goes off.  If one of those plates is misaligned the alarm will be off.

Jeff

Due to other pieces becoming available (cough, Journe), I only played with it in the store a bit, but the alarm was distinctly off.  Not in one direction or the other, just not quite right.  Now 15 min may be a bit of exaggeration, but it was easily 4-5 min on either side (total of 8-10).  I expect that of a "hour-hand only" alarm, like a cricket or a memovox, since the hand indicating the alarm time is no more accurate than that, but when there is an hour and min hand for the alarm, I'd expect it to be better.  I guess I was looking for something more like an Omega Memomatic in terms of alarm accuracy based on the dial
A

Thanks for sharing. Since my next Blancpain is the most definitely a reveil.