The Neuchatel-based company, Vulcain watches, has decided to launch a limited edition of watches which will recreate one of the most important pieces in the brand’s history. New Nautical Seventies Limited Edition timekeeper (made in 300 copies) recreates the watchmaker’s breakthrough product presented over four decades ago – the first watch with the alarm function loud enough to be heard under the water. Specialized for divers like the other Vulcain Nautical pieces, the timepiece with the mechanical movement is water resistant to 300 meters and provides information about the decompression stops. The commemorative product is made in the image of the diving watch from the seventies and replicates most of its features, all though it naturally includes several of technological advantages that became standard over the course of years.
The First Wristwatch with an Alarm Feature at the Core
The new limited edition of timekeepers by Vulcain is actually based on the second iteration of the innovative product. Vulcain actually first presented its Cricket Nautical watch in 1961. This was the first watch which was able to assist the diver during the adventure with audible signals. Not only that it was able to descend to the depths of 300 meters, but it also had an integrated alarm which was used to signify when it is the time to go back to the surface, as well as when to take decompression stops. (As all divers certainly already know, these short breaks are necessary because of the shifts of the pressure). Vulcain Cricket Nautical watch was based on the brand’s biggest horological breakthrough – the first wristwatch with an alarm function presented in 1947.
In order to adapt the innovative watch to diver’s needs, the technicians of the brand opted to collaboarate with three experts who had panache for diving: Arhut Droz (the representative of the French official center for marine research dubbed C.I.A.S.), Max-Yves Brandy (an explorer and a movie director) and Hannes Keller (a diver and a mathematician). This is how the iconic Cricket Nautical timekeeper was created. As it has been mentioned, the watch was redesigned and presented with an improved dial design in 1970 and this is exactly the version that the Swiss manufacturer decided to re-launch.
Manufacture Cricket V-10 Caliber. To make the new edition as close to the original as it is possible, it recreates the majority of its features, including famous hand-wound Cricket V-10 caliber which has an alarm that can be activated and be loud enough to be heard under water for 20 seconds. The hand-wound caliber with the diameter of 12 lignes consists of 157 components and has 25 jewels. Cricket V-10 runs on the frequency of 18,000 vph and has twin barrels; while the first one is used for the timekeeping feature (a power reserve of 42 hours), the other was necessary to power the alarm function. One of the modern features of the manufacture movement is the presence of Exactomatic system which secures enhanced precision. Speaking about the decorations on the caliber, it includes blued screws and nickel coating.As mentioned previously, apart from the cool alarm feature, the caliber likewise provides a scale with a decompression stops table on its grey dial with orange and white accents. This feature is operated with the use of a rotating inner bezel triggered by the pusher placed at the four o’clock position. Once again, the new limited edition by Vulcain has the same dimensions as the iconic watch it commemorates. Nautical Seventies Limited Edition piece is placed inside a round 316L steel housing with the width of 42 mm and the thickness of 17.6 mm. In order to be able to sound its alarm in deep waters, the watch has a triple case-back which is used as a resonance chamber. The glass is made of hesalite, while its black and orange wristlet is made of water-repellent leather and fastened with a steel pin buckle.
