Vulcain Cricket

We're big fans of alarm watches — especially the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox — but Vulcain was the first to make a working model, and as we all know, vintage collectors love to own the first version of anything. 

It also happened that when Vulcain designed this innovative watch, they nailed it on the first go-around. The Cricket wasn’t some delicate novelty — in fact, it accompanied the first expedition to reach the peak of K2. Future advertisements would read, “The teams of all these expeditions have expressed their satisfaction and admiration of the record performance of their Vulcain Cricket, testifying that their running was as faultless and the ringing of the alarm as distinct on the summit of K2 as in the damp jungles of equatorial Africa.”

Pretty damned cool if you ask us.

This particular example of the Cricket features a 39mm 'oversized' case - housing a white and silver multi-tonal dial with a printer outer track and applied gold-tone indices, a matching gold-tone dauphine handset with a red-tipped alarm hand, and Vulcain's Calibre 120 hand-cranking alarm movement within.

Though its dial shows patina and wear throughout, such an oversized version of the famed Cricket is a rare specimen, and is brimming with character. 

And who doesn’t love a mechanical alarm? Perhaps only those who have not experienced one! The buzzing vibration positively oozes a certain old-world charm.

If you’ve heard of Vulcain, it’s no doubt because of the Cricket.
Vulcain unveiled the Cricket in 1947 at the famous Waldorf Astoria in New York City. It caused a media sensation, and for good reason: the Cricket was the first wristwatch to feature an alarm function. While other brands then developed their own alarm movements — most notably Jaeger-LeCoultre with its Memovox — the Cricket was the first working model, making it a true milestone in modern-day horology.
Indeed, in addition to being the world's first alarm caliber, the Calibre 120 was also among the most accurate. This was thanks to Vulcain's Exactomatic system, for which Vulcain secured the patent in 1946. The Exactomatic system achieved unprecedented equilibrium of the balance wheel in all positions, guaranteeing accuracy to within four or five seconds a day.
The Vulcain Calibre 120 would go on to power watches that would adorn the wrists of such august personages as every US President since Nixon (except George W. Bush). Despite this more regal association, the Cricket also found its way onto the wrists of mountaineers — in fact, the watch accompanied the first expedition to reach the 28,250 foot peak of K2, in the Himalayas.
The Cricket also found itself in a most unlikely place: under the ocean. In collaboration with underwater explorer Hannes Keller, Vulcain developed a submersible Cricket model. Keller had descended to a depth of 728 feet in the Italian Lake Maggiore in 1961, making him an ideal consultant for Vulcain. Along with diving instructor Arthur Droz and Max-Yves Brandly, noted explorer and film director, Vulcain began development of the Cricket Nautical.
Like the original of 1947, the 1961 Cricket Nautical made waves. It was the first wristwatch that could sustain a depth of 300 meters. Additionally, like the later Doxa Sub 300T, it featured decompression charts — in this case on the dial in concentric circles. Vulcain ensured the audibility of the alarm with a triple case back, while 1970s models would feature large 42mm cushion cases with brushed finishing.
Vulcain struggled through the Quartz Crisis in the 1970s and 1980s, and was subsequently sold toward the end of the 1990s. Rights to the brand were acquired by the PMH (Production et Marketing Horologer), and the Cricket V10 was introduced in 2001. Today, the firm continues to introduce new Cricket models and continues to equip sitting U.S. presidents with the famed alarm watch.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

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We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

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