Here, we have a 1990s JLC Master Control Memovox Reveil Alarm 141.8.97/1. First Introduced in 1950, it was initially called the “Wrist Alarm” but was later changed to “Memovox” for the 1950 Basel watch fair. The name in Latin means “Memor” (Remember) and “Vox” (Memory), a clever play on words. It was a direct competitor of the 1949 Vulcain Cricket Alarm, and it was famously given to Charlie Chaplin in 1953 to celebrate his arrival in Switzerland, with a polished 38.5mm stainless steel round case that gently curves over your wrist thanks to the attractive concave lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 46.5mm and a case thickness of 13.5mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. Down the right side, we have the winding crown for the alarm at 2 o’clock, and the time-setting and winding crown sits at 4 o’clock. A stepped smooth bezel holds a domed sapphire crystal above a striking sector-style dial. An outer minute track has lume pips surrounding applied Arabic and dagger indexes marking the hours, at 3 o’clock, a framed date window, and the inner rotating Alarm disc has a useful arrow showing where it is set, elegant Dauphine hands are complemented by a tapered blued second hand. At 12 o’clock, we have the JLC motif and “Reveil” printed underneath, completing this vintage-inspired alarm timepiece. On the reverse, a screwed-down case back with the gold Master Control medallion in the centre, inside an automatic JLC Cal. 9180, 27 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour. It comes paired with a 20mm black leather quick-release strap by Fears with a JLC pin buckle and comes with its original JLC box and booklets.