VULCAIN 50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»
50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»
VULCAIN PAYs trIBUte to FrANCe
the Manufacture Vulcain pays tribute to France in a 50-piece limited edition of its famous alarm timepiece, the 50s Presidents’ Watch. A fine way of celebrating the long-established ties between the swiss brand and the land of luxury, elegance and refinement.
France has always held a special place in Vulcain’s history
since it was founded in 1858. Creations by the Manufacture
soon achieved impressive success on this market. In 1889,
at the World’s Fair held in Paris at the foot of the recently
erected Eiffel Tower, Vulcain attracted attention with its rich
range of simple or complicated pocket-watches. These in-
cluded the “La Vallée de l’Arve” Grande Complication model
with grand strike, minute repeater, perpetual calendar and
moon phases that won a bronze medal.
France also played a key role in the birth of the Cricket cali-
bre that earned Vulcain international fame. In 1943, at a time
when Vulcain’s Managing Director Robert Dittisheim was
seeking to develop the first genuinely functional wristwatch
capable of awakening even the deepest sleeper, French
physicist Paul Langevin paid him a visit in La Chaux-de-
Fonds.
During a stroll through the garden, the latter assured him
that of a tiny creature like the cricket could make a sound
that was audible from a distance of 30 metres, a small case
housing a complex mechanism must be able to match such
a performance. Buoyed by this scientific support, Robert Dit-
tisheim pursued his research that was to lead in 1947 to the
launch of the calibre with twin calibres (one for the move-
ment and the other for the alarm) named the Cricket as a
nod to the insect’s strident song.
Robert Ditisheim 1898 - 1987
VULCAIN PAYs trIBUte to FrANCe
The Cricket watch appealed to many prominent statesmen,
including Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon and Johnson – a fact
that earned it the famous moniker as “The watch of Presi-
dents” or “The Presidents’ Watch”.
It was also a great success in France, even starring on the
wrist of Eddie Constantine in Votre dévoué Blake, a film di-
rected by Jean Laviron and released in 1954.
Since Vulcain’s return to the forefront of the watchmaking
scene, the French market has always been among the lead-
ing followers of the brand and of its new models. French
retailers have also proven extremely active in supporting this
renewal, and the Manufacture is keenly aware of the daily
significance of their backing.
50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»
1947: Cricket, the first alarm watch with a strident chirping sound that amazed the world
Président Dwight Eisenhower
A stYLIsh LIMIted serIes
In homage to France and to the enthusiasm for the brand
shown by French customers, Vulcain is innovating by intro-
ducing its first ever watch specifically dedicated to a nation.
This 50-piece limited edition of the iconic 50s Presidents’
Watch features a 42 mm steel case housing the legendary
mechanical manually-wound Cricket V-16 alarm movement
equipped with the brand-patented Exactomatic system en-
suring improved rating regularity on the wrist. Particular care
has been lavished on the polished and satin-brushed finish
of the case that lends a chic and vintage touch. The sunburst
silver-toned dial with applied hour-markers is distinguished
by its aura of elegant understatement expressed through
hours, minutes and seconds hands along with a date window
at 6 o’clock. Finally, the owner of this limited-edition time-
piece can precisely adjust the alarm time thanks to a central
hand tipped with a black arrow gliding across the graduated
scale around the outer rim of the dial.
The case-back is engraved with the name of the watch, the
individual series number as well as a crown of laurels – a
symbol of strength, of victory and accomplishment – as well
as of peace, knowledge and creativity. One also notes the
choice of the colour blue for the Vulcain logo, the sweep
seconds hand and the alarm markings. The sapphire crystal
window provides an admirable view of the refined movement
finishing (Côtes de Genève, anthracite treatment, blued
screws and openworked ratchet-wheel), topped by the V for
Vulcain.
Each of the watches in this special edition comes with its
individual certificate.
AteLIer dU BrACeLet PArIsIeN - ABP
Paying tribute to French expertise, tradition and excellence,
the Manufacture Vulcain has chosen to associate with the
famous ABP company located in Paris on the Marché-Saint-
Honoré. “Leather artisan, time machine, zoo or travel agen-
cy”: the Atelier du Bracelet Parisien (ABP) is all of that rolled
into one. Above all, it is a firm dedicated to hand crafts-
manship.
All the straps and other products are entirely made in the
Parisian workshop. Enthusiasts can choose from a vast ar-
ray of hides, colours, shapes, tanning processes and thick-
nesses. Each strap is thus entirely hand-crafted according to
the most stringent quality criteria.
50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»
50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»50-piece limited edition
CAseCase: 316L steel
Case-back: sapphire crystal featuring the stylised
V for Vulcain
Dial: sunburst silver-toned with rhodiumed hour-markers
Diameter: 42.00 mm
Thickness: 12.40 mm
Glass: domed glareproofed sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 50 metres /5 ATM
MANUFACtUre VULCAIN CrICKet CALIBre V-16Movement: 12-lignes mechanical hand-wound movement
with date, finely crafted Côtes de Genève finishing, 22
jewels, 191 parts, twin barrels equipped with Exactomatic
system, 48° angle of lift
Decoration: meticulous finishing with anthracite treatment,
blued screws, openworked ratchet-wheel
Functions: central hours, minutes and seconds, alarm, date
window at 6 o’clock
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations per hour
Power reserve: 42 hours
Alarm duration: approx. 20 seconds
ABP strAPStrap: chestnut brown alligator leather with large scales,
seamless grained calfskin lining
Dimensions: 22/18 mm
Buckle: steel pin buckle
50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»
50s PresIdeNts’ WAtCh «edItIoN FrANCe»
50-piece limited edition160151.323L
PRESS CONTACT VULCAIN: Danielle Jordi
[email protected] / +41(0)32 930 80 10
Liens : ftp://vulcain.lgv.chLogin : presse-pmh Password : RoyalFTP2012
File : 50s Presidents’ Watch - Edition France - pictures