As early as 1915, the Zenith Manufacture had already understood the importance of making small, reliable and well-finished pocket watches, perfect for accompanying travellers on their journeys. The brand wanted to meet the growing demand of a market in search of innovation, taking into account the needs and difficulties of those facing long business trips or tourist itineraries without neglecting quality and comfort. The alarm function is still one of the most fascinating watch complications, as it allows the user to relax and enjoy rest without the worry of not being able to wake up in time. This practical function accompanies the traveller everywhere and on board any means of transport, whether by boat, plane or train. A pioneer by vocation, Zenith obtained a first patent in 1913 for a sophisticated watch in which it was possible to set the alarm by means of a special device. It was the first milestone in the fascinating history of pocket watches launched in 1915 and available in various versions, with cases in gold, silver, burnished steel or white metal. These pocket watches proved to be very functional: in addition to the alarm function, they feature a hinged cover at 12 o'clock which, when opened, acts as a stand, making the chime louder and more audible. The sound is produced by a hammer beating on an acoustic gong, free to oscillate inside the case. With this model, Zenith offers a practically perfect alarm clock whose dimensions do not exceed those of a classic pocket watch. The crown, which has a dual winding function, winds the movement in the usual left-to-right direction and the chime reserve in the opposite direction. The case is fitted with adjustment pushers on either side of the crown; the push-button on the right serves to set the time, the one on the left to set the alarm time, which is visible in a counter at 12 o'clock. The dial of this version has luminescent Arabic numerals and a seconds hand counter at 6 o'clock, as in most pocket watches, for better legibility of the time. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Zenith brand, based in Le Locle, began to expand internationally; from 1914, these timepieces were exported as far as India via its London subsidiary, the Zenith Watch Co. The new pocket watch with an alarm function was first advertised in Indian newspapers in 1916. Indira Nehru, India's Prime Minister in office from 1966 to 1977, donated one of these timepieces, a sterling silver one, to his friend Mahatma Gandhi.
The latter, who valued punctuality and precision, used the Zenith watch and alarm function daily, particularly for his prayers. To his great regret, the watch was stolen during a train journey to Kampur. Deeply regretting the loss of one of the material objects that he always carried with him and that punctuated his daily life, he wrote in a note on 28 May 1947, two days after the incident: "It also had a radio ring, and an alarm clock device. Six months later in New Delhi, the thief, who had meanwhile learned of the great displeasure he had caused Gandhi, tormented by remorse asked to meet him to return the stolen object and ask his forgiveness. The saga of the watch continued for many years, because before his death, Gandhi gave the watch to his niece and assistant Abha Gandhi; the piece then ended up in the hands of private collectors. In March 2009, the New York auction house Antiquorum Auctioneers offered Gandhi's famous round spectacles, a bowl and plate, an alarm clock and leather sandals in one lot for sale. These objects, all of which were faithful companions of Mahatma Gandhi, were returned home and sold for a record USD 1.8 million to Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.
