Vintage Vulcain Cricket Alarm watch W197446 Manual 1950s

SPECIFICATION

Reference : Vulcain Cricket W197446 
Movement : cal. 120
Age : Circa 1950s
Case Size : 34mm
Case Thickness : 12mm
Lug to Lug : 40mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Used Vulcain watch
Box & Papers : No
Case Material : Gold plated
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS OF MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with some wear from use
• Case and bezel have some light scratches
  
• Gold plated case
• Dial has some age related patina
• Fully serviced manual alarm movement
• Alarm function working beautifully
• Non shock protected movement
• Paired with an unworn brown leather strap

THE WATCH

Work on the Vulcain Cricket began in 1942, when Robert Ditisheim set out to create the first truly practical wristwatch alarm. Previous attempts had failed because the alarm either wasn’t loud enough or required compromising on timekeeping power. Vulcain solved this by introducing a movement with two separate mainsprings: one for timekeeping and another for the alarm. The ingenious crown allowed winding in different directions to power each barrel.

To make the alarm audible, a hammer struck a pin against a thin membrane acting as a resonator. The sound was amplified by a special double case back with openings, which let the sharp buzz escape more clearly. Once the alarm sounded, it would run for roughly 20–25 seconds unless manually stopped by the wearer.

The result was the Vulcain Cricket, named for its distinctive chirping sound. The hammer strikes hundreds of times during its alarm cycle, producing one of the most recognizable mechanical alarms ever created.

The Vulcain Cricket Cal. 120: A President’s Timepiece

The first production Cricket, powered by the Calibre 120, was released in 1947 after five years of development. The Cal. 120 became the benchmark for alarm watches thanks to its dual-barrel architecture and its resonating caseback, which gave the alarm both clarity and volume.

The Cricket also earned a unique place in American history. Vulcain began gifting the watch to U.S. presidents, starting with Harry S. Truman in the early 1950s. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson also received Crickets, with Johnson in particular known to wear his. In later decades, presidents including Barack Obama were presented with anniversary editions, reinforcing the nickname: “The President’s Watch.”

Vulcain expanded the line with several variations. The “Golden Voice” offered a smaller case size aimed at women, using a gold membrane to preserve alarm volume. In 1958, the Calibre 401 added a date and subsidiary seconds. However, the redesign shortened alarm duration, making it less popular among collectors compared to the original Cal. 120.

OUR THOUGHTS

The Vulcain Cricket is a wonderful watch with exceptional history. At over 60 years old, pieces in this condition are increasingly rare, making this Cricket particularly special. As watch enthusiasts ourselves, it has been an absolute joy having it around. When the alarm goes off, you can’t help but smile — and boy, can you hear it! Its age means it isn’t shock-protected and isn’t ideal for daily wear, but it’s absolutely a party piece that will turn heads and put a smile on everyone’s face. Any collector should remember: a watch that was good enough for a president is certainly good enough for me.