Let’s Make Some Noise! Four Watches That Do Just That

Most mechanical watches emit a sound of some sort. Some tick modestly, yet others quite noticeably. This is not really on purpose, but more a result of the way that they are constructed. There is, however, a category of watches that are designed to make a sound. Some chime the time, others have an audible alarm, but all are without exception fitted with a beautiful and complex movement, such as the following four watches.

Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Carbon
How can you make the world’s thinnest minute repeater look even better? Fit it with a carbon case and bracelet. This probably also earns the Bulgari another world title, that of the lightest minute repeater in the world. The case and bracelet parts are made from Carbon Thin Ply (CTP) which are carbon fibers that are soaked in a special epoxy resin to create a very light yet very tough and durable material. Another advantage is that it also sounds terrific, as it transmits the sound of the minute repeater in a vibrant and clear way.

Blancpain Villeret Carrousel Répétition Minutes
With a diameter of 45.7mm does this Blancpain pack quite a punch. As its name already indicates, does it feature not only a carrousel but also a minute repeater. Just as a tourbillon is a carrousel a construction designed to eliminate the influence of gravity on the precision of the watch. The beauty of this watch is that it not only shows this device in full glory but also the most exciting parts of the minute repeater. It is fitted with a cathedral gong, meaning that the wire that is hit by a hammer to create the sound is much longer than the traditional gong, resulting in a richer sound experience. This is all framed by a ring in white grand feu enamel fitted with red gold Roman numerals, and of course the classic Villeret case with the double-stepped bezel.

Jacob & Co Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti
When Jacob & Co joined forces with Bugatti, one of the creations that they launched to mark this special occasion was the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti. In complexity, it has no problem keeping up with his automotive counterpart. It combines its two multi-axis tourbillons not only with a chronograph but also with a decimal minute repeater. The difference with a ‘regular’ minute repeater is that it doesn’t indicate the quarters, but instead strikes once for every ten minutes when activated. Unique about this highly complicated Jacob & Co is that it is also water-resistant up to 200 meters, which is a rarity for a watch with a minute repeater.

Breguet La Marine Alarme Musicale 5547
The Breguet La Marine Alarme Musicale 5547 is one of those watches simply made to travel with. Its automatic movement not only features a power reserve indicator and second timezone, but also an alarm function. It is caliber 519/F1 that makes this possible, which is equipped with two barrels that are wound simultaneously. One barrel is dedicated to power the time-keeping, while the other is exclusive to the alarm function. Unlike most alarm watches does the hammer not strike the case, which often results in a bit of a raw and unrefined sound, but hits a gong instead. This sounds much more sophisticated and in-line with how we expect a Breguet to ‘make some noise’.