These days, we’re overly reliant on our devices for daily task alerts.

Phones, tablets, computers, and smartwatches all bombard us with frequent beeps and pings to remind us of our next appointment, or when it’s time to wake up from a mid-afternoon power nap. Sure, they’re convenient. But wouldn’t it be nice to shed our digital alerts for a while and return to a more analog way of doing things? In the past, 'alerts' could come in a vastly more engaging mechanical form, such as a mechanical alarm.

A mechanical alarm complication makes use of an extra mainspring barrel whose energy powers a hammer. At the appointed time, the hammer beats against a small gong, which sounds the alarm. Popularized by the Vulcain Cricket — the watch of many U.S. Presidents — variations on this system were subsequently used by numerous brands.

Seiko released its first alarm watch, the Bell-Matic, in 1966, offering an affordable, Japanese-made alternative to the Swiss classics. Given its automatic movement architecture, the crown is able to serve four functions; time-setting, alarm-setting, alarm-winding, and day setting, while a small button at 2 o’clock puts the watch into alarm-setting mode. Compact yet robust, this mechanical, stainless steel tool watch is worlds away from the digital distraction of your phone.

Housed in a 39mm, tonneau-shaped stainless steel case with a polished bezel, an unsigned crown, an alarm-setting button, and an acrylic crystal, it features a black dial with an outer, rotating alarm-setting disc, applied steel hour indices, a day-date display at 3 o’clock with a red day wheel, and a lumed ‘baton’ handset with an orange seconds hand. Highly legible with a pleasing color scheme, it’s powered by a robust, automatic Seiko movement. Paired to a stainless steel multi-link bracelet, it’s ready to provide many more decades of faithful service.

Use your phone for phone calls. Use the Bell-Matic for everything else!