In a day and age when we can take our alarm clock(s) with us wherever we go, it’s difficult to imagine a time when this wasn’t so. In 1942, Swiss watchmaker Vulcain developed a prototype for the first working alarm watch. The biggest hurdle the horologists had to overcome was getting the actual alarm sound loud enough to be heard when sleeping. Finally dubbed the Cricket after the creature that inspired the stumped horologists, the timepiece was made available to consumers in 1947 and has since become an enigmatic model for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Beginning in 1953 with Harry Truman’s departure from office, nearly every United States President has been gifted a Cricket to commemorate their tenure. During the quartz crisis of the 1980s, Vulcain, like many other luxury watch brands, struggled to survive. Eventually, in the early ‘00s, the brand focused mainly on the iconic vintage pieces that had made them a household name. The Cricket itself has evolved considerably over the years, adjusting to modern aesthetics. Today, however, the Swiss firm has unveiled two new versions inspired by the earliest iterations.
The Cricket Tradition and Cricket Classic — sporting only slight variations on the vintage dial aesthetic — are the newest additions to the company’s range. Made available in either 36mm or 39mm case sizes, the timepieces are each constructed of 316L polished steel that houses a manufactured caliber V-10 hand-would movement with an alarm function. Once it goes off, the alarm will ring for up to 20 seconds unless the wearer presses the pusher first.
Both styles are made in four colorways: salmon, eggshell, black, and black with gold hour markers. Limited in production, the new Cricket Tradition and Cricket Classic are available now through Vulcain’s website starting at $3,738, with prices fluctuating based on case size and configurations.
