* In 1961, Vulcain could boast of being the only watch Manufacturer to offer a diver’s watch equipped with an aquatic alarm – in other words, an alarm that could also be heard underwater. Thanks to the ‘triple case back' that acted as a resonance chamber, the Cricket Nautical reliably signalled when it was time to head back up. The Cricket Nautical was the fruit of research conducted by three experts - Hannes Keller, a talented Swiss physicist/ mathematician and occasional pianist, deep-sea diving pioneer; Max-Yves Brandily, explorer and filmmaker; and Arthur Droz, a national certified diving instructor and representative of the C.I.A.S (Centre d'Investigations et d'Activités Sous-Marines – Center for Underwater Investigations and Activities) - pooled their knowledge and experience and, together with Manufacture Vulcain, developed the very first diver's watch that would not only feature a system for determining no-stop dive times built right into the dial, but also sound an alarm to signal to the diver “it's time to get back to the surface!".
* Like its forebear, the modern Cricket Nautical stands out with ample dimensions for its time, the diameter of 42mm makes it easy to use the watch and read the dial indications underwater. Two superimposed dials – one fixed and the other rotating, adjustable with a dedicated crown at 4 o'clock – serve to determine decompression times. Depending on the dive duration and depth set on the dials, the rectangular aperture displays the stop times required at the typical depths of 9, 6 and 3 meters when ascending back to the surface after an extended underwater excursion.
* Powered by Vulcain's in-house V10 manual wind calibre, offering a power reserve of 52-hours and alarm ring time of 20-seconds approx, the Cricket Nautical is a wonderful piece of dive watch history and serves as a fantastic example of the importance of mechanical dive watches to scuba professionals back in the 1960s.
Movement: Manual Wind with Mechanical Alarm
Case Dimensions: 42mm x 17mm, Stainless Steel
Dial: Black with Beige Patina
Glass: Domed Sapphire Crystal
Strap: 22mm x 18mm, Black Carbon Leather
Water Resistance: 30 ATM
Reference: 101252SB07.BAC149
The Vulcain watch manufacturer was founded in 1858 by Jacque Ditisheim and his three sons; Gaspard, Aaron and Maurice. Like many watchmakers during this time, Vulcain started out specialising in pocket watches before branching out into wristwatches.
One of Vulcain's most notable inventions was in 1947 with the release of the world's first mechanical wristwatch with alarm complication. This incredible piece of mechanical engineering won many plaudits and was awarded the International Chronometry Competition at the Neuchatel observatory. The watch was also adopted by a number of US Presidents, including Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson.
Based in Le Locle, Switzerland, Vulcain still today produce a collection of beautiful mechanical wristwatches, including chronographs, dive watches and their coveted Cricket model, which incorporates their in-house manufactured V10 mechanical movement with alarm complication.
With more than 150 years of history and innovation, Vulcain can be considered one of the unsung heroes of Swiss watchmaking and holds a distinctive place in the world of fine watchmaking thanks to its iconic models and unique mechanical movements.