Japanese pocket watch – Quartz – engraved folding case – with crack in the glass

Identical in design to its counterpart, featuring the same full-surface engraving of rice ears, insects, and a crane medallion – here with a crack in the glass and a corresponding price.

The case flips open to serve as a stand; inside is a quartz movement with an alarm function. A new battery has been installed.

The pocket alarm clock as a category

Travel alarm clocks in folding cases were a standard item in Japan for decades – robust enough for a travel bag, small enough for the palm of the hand, and safe for the glass in luggage thanks to the folding mechanism. This piece belongs to the decorative class: the case is engraved across its entire surface rather than merely lacquered, as is the case with simpler versions.

Design

The engraving follows a classic Japanese pictorial order: a round medallion with a crane scene in the center, surrounded by heavy-hanging rice ears and two insects in the lower corners, cut into a finely satin-finished silvery background.

The dial is kept deliberately simple: pure white, black Arabic numerals, fine minute markers with square indicators at five-minute intervals, and a single red 12. The hands are slim and black.

Dating

The alarm clock carries no serial number or manufacturer signature. The design, engraving style, and movement execution classify it as part of Japanese souvenir and giftware production.

Condition

The alarm clock is running; a new battery has been installed. The dial is well-preserved, the imprints are complete, and the hands are undamaged.

The glass has a crack. We explicitly point this out. Readability is not significantly impaired by this, but the crack is clearly visible when light hits it. Replacing the glass is possible with this design.

The engraving is complete and sharp. The case shows signs of handling on the edges; the hinge and folding mechanism work cleanly.

Those looking for a flawless piece are better served by the identical counterpart. If you want the engraving and can live with the damaged glass, you get the same alarm clock here for significantly less.

The actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.

Technical Specifications

• Type: Pocket alarm clock in a folding case
• Movement: Quartz, battery-operated (new battery installed)
• Functions: Hour, minute, second, alarm
• Case: Metal, satin-finished, full-surface engraving
• Width: 45.5 mm
• Depth: 46.1 mm
• Height: 11.8 mm
• Dial diameter: 29.8 mm
• Weight: 54 g
• Dial: White with black numerals and a red 12
• Origin: Japan
• Special feature: Crack in the glass (see condition)

For whom?

For collectors of Japanese metal engraving for whom the motif is more important than flawless condition. For buyers looking for a working alarm clock at a low price. And for anyone who would have a new glass installed anyway.

Warranty (used items)

This is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects under the statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery. The crack in the glass described above is agreed upon as a quality of the item.

Note on water resistance

The alarm clock is not waterproof. It must not be exposed to water or moisture.