Hands on The Historical Vulcain Cricket Nautical

Vulcain is a distinguished Swiss watch brand renowned for its rich heritage and innovative timepieces. Established in 1858, Vulcain has made significant contributions to the world of horology, particularly with its pioneering alarm watches. The brand was revived in the early 2000s, bringing back various historical models that had defined its legacy. Among these are the Monopusher, Grand Prix, and Skindiver Nautique collections, each reflecting Vulcain's commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. 

One of Vulcain's most iconic watches is the "Cricket," introduced in 1947 and powered by the Caliber 120. This movement used a hammer mechanism that would strike the gongs, producing a sound that resembled a cricket’s chirp, hence the name "Cricket." This feature became a signature element of many of the brand’s watches, and set Vulcain apart from other watchmakers, earning it a special place in the history of watchmaking. Today, we take a closer look at the Cricket Nautical, a diving watch that made its debut over six decades ago.

The Cricket was extremely popular between the 1950s and 1960s, with new models like the dive watch version the Cricket Nautical. It was one of the very few diver's watches equipped with an aquatic alarm that remained audible even underwater. This reliable signaling to ascend was made possible by its innovative 'triple case back,' which acted as a resonance chamber, making the alarm loud enough to be heard underwater. 

This model retains all the features of its 1960s vintage counterpart, including a 42mm steel case that is 17.35 mm thick. For the first time, it features a sapphire case back that still ensures 300m of water resistance. The dial is protected by an ultra-domed sapphire crystal. However, the Cricket Nautical offers much more. In addition to the alarm function, the watch boasts a specially designed dial that displays the diver’s decompression time.

The dial is available in two versions. Both feature a black hue but differ in their accents, one has faux-patina Super-LumiNova with an emerald green minute track, while the other has white Super-LumiNova with a blue minute track. Time is indicated by three central hands, while the alarm function is marked by its own red arrow-shaped hand, and the decompression scale is adjustable by a screw-in crown at 4 o'clock.

The watch is powered by the hand-wound calibre V-10, an in-house movement featuring twin barrels—one for timekeeping and the other for the alarm. It operates at 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz) and offers a 42-hour power reserve. The watch comes with a Black rubber and leather strap, and there is a choice of a stainless steel bracelet. It joins the permanent collection at a price of AED 22,150.  

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