Vintage mechanical watches come with a host of unique features, to include one the watch here, a serviced colorful 1960s Wittnauer Ref. HB-0494 mechanical watch, with loud vintage mechanical alarm  
 
The most outstanding feature on these mechanical watches? The alarm of course!  The alarm is wound and set using the crown and engaged using the alarm crown at the two o'clock position.  In addition to these functions, the alarm is "armed" by leaving the crown out.
 
Wittnauer was founded in 1885 by Swiss immigrant Albert Wittnauer in New Rochelle, New York.  Known for its durable timepieces used by early aviators, the brand is currently owned by the Japanese conglomerate Citizen through its subsidiary Bulova. 
 
The company began as a small family business, catering to the ever-growing world of both scientific and private exploration, which gained them a reputation for use by those who needed reliability: navigators, explorers, and astronomers – to include Neil Armstrong during the Gemini 8 mission.
 
The first Wittnauer watches were crafted starting in 1880, with the Wittnauer brand formally established 1888 when Wittnauer took over Eugene Robert’s company and renamed it the "A. Wittnauer Company."   Wittnauer movements were generally made by Swiss firms, while in later years Wittnauer used a number of different sources for their movements.  
 
Importing Swiss watches became expensive due to the heavy taxes placed on them so Wittnauer explored ideas for reducing the expense without losing the quality.  The watches could be produced by a subsidiary of their own in Switzerland or they could assemble the watches domestically.
 
Wittnauer became further involved with the United States Navy for early tests in the budding fields of aviation and navigation.  Of the Wittnauer Company and products, horologist Marvin E. Whitney wrote: "No one company has been more involved in the design and production of so many different types of navigational timepieces and been involved in so many history making expeditions...".
 
During World War I, Wittnauer produced instruments and watches for the early aviation units. The most famous model was probably the Wittnauer AllProof, produced for the first time in 1918, and one of the first all proof models ever used by daredevil Jimmie Mattern in his 1933 attempt to fly around the world in his Vega 5B, "Old Cromwell", and by Neil Armstrong during the Gemini 8 mission.  In 1926, NBC selected Wittnauer Company to provide the official timing for its radio broadcasting.
 
On May 20–21, 1932 Amelia Earhart made the first solo flight by a woman across the Atlantic with her Lockheed Vega-5B equipped with Wittnauer instruments.  
 
Wittnauer products were widely used in scientific expeditions and exploration,  and the company was - with Longines movements - one of three contenders for the first mission on the moon along with Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Daytona.
 
In 1995 Swatch broke the 125-year collaboration between Longines and Wittnauer and took over the Longines distribution. Regardless, Wittnauer retained its reputation for most of the 20th century.  However, after facing budget issues, it was eventually bought by Bulova for $11.6 million in September 2001.
 
This Wittnaur comes on its leather-backed canvas strap, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.