Why This Watch Matters Nothing chirps like a Cricket, ask nearly every United States President since Truman. The Full Story The Vulcain Cricket was introduced in 1947 at an event at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. It was one of the first wristwatches with a mechanical alarm built-in. It has a long history, highlighted by the fact that a Cricket has been gifted to every president from Truman to Biden (excluding George W. Bush), earning it the title of the "Watch of Presidents." You can read more about the history of the Vulcain Cricket here. The present example is in excellent condition and features a creamy white dial with applied hour markers and non-lume hands. When looking at the watch horizontally, the hour markers provide a stunningly attractive aesthetic. Despite the 34mm diameter, the Vulcain Cricket is well-known for having a substantial wrist presence with nicely elongated and curved lugs. We think it will wear suitably on most wrist sizes. Without lume on the dial or in the hands, you can wear this one relatively carefree for years to come. In order to set the alarm, the watch must first be wound (either forward or backward), then the pusher at two o'clock must be activated by pulling it out and ejecting the crown. The crown can then be rotated to set the alarm, with the fourth, black hand as an indicator, to the desired time. Simply push the crown back in and the alarm is set. We paired this Vulcain Cricket with our Beige Suede Watch Strap in Steel to keep the look clean and classy. The Fine Print Maker: VulcainModel: CricketReference: N/AYear: 1960sCase No: 303000Material: Stainless steelDimensions: 34mm diameter; 11mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: NoCaliber: Vulcain, manually-wound, caliber 120Bracelet/Strap: Beige Suede Watch StrapLug Width: 18mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - Mechanical "Cricket" alarm function- Creamy white dial tone- Non-lume hands and dial Things To Know: - Scratches on case- Lightly polished case This Vulcain Cricket is in overall excellent condition. The case is strong with scratches and some light nicks; it has likely been polished. The caseback shows some wear, but all the writing is visible. The facets on the lugs are clearly visible, as are the areas where the lugs meet the case. The rear of the lugs show some wear and scratching from strap changes over the years. The dial has some marks with a light patina. The hour markers have developed some patina but shine nicely. The hands have developed some patina. The crown is unsigned. The dial, case, and movement are all signed by Vulcain. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
