The Iconic Vulcain Cricket Alarm Watch Returns with a Modern Version

Vulcain’s story began in 1858. Over the years, the luxury watch brand has gained wide recognition for creating minute repeaters, grande and petite sonneries and perpetual calendars. Now, the La Chaux-de-Fonds-based timepiece maker has revealed its latest version of the iconic Cricket Alarm watch, Vulcain Cricket ‘Style Moderne’ for Revolution and The Rake, limited to only 50 pieces. 

In 1947, Vulcain was introduced to the world as the first mechanical alarm watch, which used two barrels. The alarm worked with a hammer that struck an internal membrane incorporated into the watch’s double caseback. This kind of innovation impressed even the most powerful people in the world, including White House occupants. In fact, Harry S. Truman is said to be the first US president who sported a Vulcain Cricket watch. And thus the brand came to be known as ‘The Watch for Presidents’.

Drawing inspiration from the Art Deco movement, this limited-edition, 39 mm, stainless steel watch features a two-tone Bellini and anthracite-coloured dial, with a sector track on its outer periphery. The dial features Arabic 12 and 6 o’clock in a vertical layout while 3 and 9 o’clock get a horizontal one. The watch gets polished stainless steel hands, eight black markings for hour markers, an onion-shaped crown at 3 o'clock, and a stainless steel pump pusher at 2 o’clock for the alarm clock mechanism.

The 12 blocks on the outer periphery of the dial are numbered from 10 to 50 with an alarm hand that points at a peripheral track to set the time of the alarm. As mentioned earlier, the alarm functions with a hammer that strikes an internal membrane. Powering the watch is a manual-winding caliber V-10 from the previous variations, which in itself is a historic movement that was created in 1947. It offers 42 hours of power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the 12-sided double caseback with four resonance chambers for better sound clarity of the alarms.The Vulcain Cricket ‘Style Moderne’ for Revolution and The Rake gets a brown cal leather strap, along with a stainless steel pin buckle with a quick release system. 

From this launch, it’s clear that vintage watches are now making a comeback due to their strong storyline and relevance in watchmaking. Collectors and watch enthusiasts are now looking for watches that have stood the test of time. Modern watches offer robust features and state-of-the-art complications, but it is the minimalist approach of vintages that is still making a mark.

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