The Vulcain Cricket Returns with a Range of Dial Options in Two Case Sizes

Vulcain is a brand that will be familiar to many enthusiasts and collectors. Maybe you’re a vintage collector, or spend a lot of time browsing for under the radar bargains at Wind Vintage (Eric Wind is a notable fan of the brand). Or maybe you’re a fan of the alarm complication, which surely would have won the “Most Likely to Put a Smile on Your Face for Reasons We Can’t Quite Identify” senior superlative, if there were such a thing for watch complications. Whatever history you might have with Vulcain, or what what draws you to them now, their relaunch under the guidance of Guillaume Laidet (the watch entrepreneur responsible for reviving Nivada-Grenchen and Excelsior Park) is one of the more exciting developments in the space in recent memory. That’s largely due to the prospect of a new Cricket, the brand’s most iconic watch. If there’s an alarm watch resurgence on the way (one can dream…) the Cricket really needs to be a part of it. 

The Cricket is a watch with real history. It was the first mechanical alarm watch, and was quite popular for a time in part because it was worn by several United States presidents, who have been gifted Crickets since the Harry Truman administration (Eisenhower, Nixon, and Lyndon Johnson were also known to have worn Crickets). Because of its ties to both presidential and watchmaking history, the Cricket is still a favorite among collectors, and since it was mass produced during a time of great industrialization in the Swiss watch industry, there are a lot of them out there and the prices on vintage examples remain fair, at least compared to much of the rest of the market. But a new Cricket, made with modern manufacturing techniques and in a way that pays appropriate homage to early references, is something that even vintage lovers would surely appreciate, and that’s what we have here. 

Vulcain’s Cricket collection debuts with two models, the 36mm Cricket Classic and the 39mm Cricket Tradition. The Classic features Arabic numerals with a vaguely sector-like dial design and sharp sword hands. The Tradition’s dial has a more open and airy feel with a mix of numerals and arrow markers at the hours, and dauphine hands. Dials are available in khaki, eggshell, and black, as well as a limited edition salmon colorway, of which there will be 50 examples. 

The movement is hand wound, which is true to the heritage of the original crickets. Winding in one direction powers the alarm function, and winding in the other direction winds the mainspring, as it would in any other hand wound watch. The watch has 42 hours or power reserve, and the alarm will sound for around 20 seconds if fully wound. 

The 36mm Cricket Classic has a suggested retail price of CHF 3,600, and the 39mm Cricket Tradition will cost CHF 3,900. The new Crickets are available for pre-order right now on the Vulcain website. Vulcain