Watch manufacturer (brand)
Vulcain
Also recorded as: Vulcain Watch Company · Vulcain & Studio SA · Vulcain & Studio
Swiss watchmaker founded in 1858, best known for the Cricket, the alarm wristwatch it introduced in 1947.
Vulcain was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1858 by the Ditisheim family and in the 19th century made pocket watches, including complicated ones such as minute repeaters.
Its lasting fame came in 1947 with the Cricket, a mechanical wristwatch with an alarm loud enough to be useful. A second mainspring drives a hammer that strikes a membrane inside the case, and a double case back acts as a resonator, so the watch 'chirps' like a cricket; the alarm is wound and set from its own crown. The firm promoted the Cricket as 'the watch of presidents', and according to Vulcain several US presidents, beginning with Harry Truman, owned one. Diving versions such as the Cricket Nautical followed in the 1960s, when the alarm could be heard under water.
Like many Swiss brands Vulcain suffered in the quartz crisis of the 1970s and 1980s; the name was later revived and the Cricket remains in production.
How to recognise the work: a Cricket has two crowns, one for the time and one for the alarm, and a dial with a separate alarm hand or disc; the movement and case back are signed Vulcain. Early Crickets of the late 1940s and 1950s are often in gold or gold-plated cases.
- Country
- Switzerland
- City / centre
- La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Founded
- 1858
- Status
- Active brand
- Key people
- Ditisheim family (founders)
Innovations & specialities
- Cricket mechanical alarm wristwatch (1947)
- Resonating double case back for an audible alarm
- Alarm diving watch (Cricket Nautical, 1960s)
Timeline
- 1858Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1947Cricket alarm wristwatch
- 1960sCricket Nautical diving alarm watch
Works by Vulcain in the catalogue
All 19 records →
Pocket Watches · c. 1890s
18ct yellow gold Vulcain, engraved full hunter minute repeating pocket watch, circa 1890s
Somlo Antiques (dealer), London
Wristwatches · 1947–1953
Gold-plated club-tooth lever wrist-watch with centre-seconds and alarm with gold-plated expanding bracelet
British Museum
Wristwatches · c. 1950s
Vulcain wristwatch, Cricket, circa 1950's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Pocket Watches · 1957–1963
Gold-plated cased jewelled club-tooth lever alarm watch with date mechanism
British Museum
Wristwatches · c. 1960s
Vulcain 'Grand Prix' Dress Watch, c. 1960s
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 1960s
Vulcain Chronograph (Ref. 1376) Valjoux Cal. 7733, 1960s
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · c. 1960
Vulcain Steel Dress Watch, c. 1960
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · c. 1965
Vulcain Automatic, Textured Dial, Steel Case, ref. R3323A, Calibre ETA 2451, circa 1965
Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom
Wristwatches · 1970s
Vulcain Automatic Dive Watch, 1970s
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · early 1970
Vulcain Chronograph, early 1970
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 1970s
Vulcain Cricket Nautical, 1970s
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · originally sold in 2014 (per the lot record)
Vulcain wristwatch, ref. 100152080L, Cricket-Nautical Heritage, originally sold in 2014
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Linked through the Atlas maker authority list, which reconciles the spellings used by different institutions. Attributions are as stated by each holding institution or auction house.
