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00:00:00 – 00:14:14
The video explores the historical and contemporary significance of the Vulcain Cricket watch, a notable mid-20th-century mechanical alarm watch renowned for its presidential heritage. Key highlights include its inception in 1947 and its tradition of being gifted to U.S. presidents, starting with Harry Truman in 1953. The video emphasizes its popularity with Lyndon B. Johnson and its revival in the 21st century under new ownership, especially through the Tradition collection's 136 and 139 models featuring the V10 movement.
The Cricket watch stands out for its unique chiming alarm complication, vintage design elements, and the exclusive, bespoke movement that retains classic features like 18,000 vibrations per hour frequency. The speaker explains the practical aspects of setting the alarm, along with noting its aesthetic qualities, including blued screws, polished edges, and various dial options. The design caters to fans of both vintage and contemporary styles, offering a 36mm and 39mm size with a domed sapphire crystal and anti-reflective coating.
Despite some drawbacks such as legibility issues and a high price tag, the Cricket watch is praised for its distinctive mechanical alarm, historical significance, and well-crafted finishing. The video concludes by urging viewers to consider the watch for its heritage and unique appeal, supported by a call to action to engage with the described content.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses lesser-known but influential mid-20th-century watches, specifically highlighting the Vulcain Cricket. This mechanical alarm watch is notable for its presidential heritage, manufacturer movement, and competitive price in 2023. The video explains the importance of watch jewels, debunking myths and emphasizing their role in timekeeping. The speaker appreciates the Vulcain Cricket for its complete package and significant history. They also mention Guillaume Laidet’s revival of Nevada Grenshin and Excelsior Park, before detailing Vulcain’s history, including its 1947 breakthrough with the Cricket, the first widely-produced functional alarm wristwatch.
00:03:00
In this segment, the video details the history and evolution of the Cricket watch, initially gifted to U.S. President Harry Truman in 1953, and its tradition of being presented to subsequent presidents. Unlike typical gifts, Truman actually wore his, starting a new practice. The Cricket watch became particularly favored by Lyndon B. Johnson, who often gifted them, totaling around 200. Despite its popularity, Vulcain, the maker of Cricket watches, struggled in the 1970s due to the quartz crisis but has seen a revival in the 21st century under new ownership. The video then examines modern versions of the Cricket watch, particularly the Tradition collection’s 136 and 139 models, highlighting their manufacturer movement and unique chiming alarm complication. The movement, known as the V10, features a two-barrel system for isolated power sources, enhanced balance for better performance, and is notable for retaining vintage elements like the 18,000 vibrations per hour frequency. The exclusive use of this bespoke movement by Vulcain showcases the brand’s commitment to tradition and innovation.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the speaker explains how to set the alarm on a watch by pressing the pusher at the 2 o’clock position and rotating the crown clockwise to adjust the alarm hand. The alarm, if fully wound, sounds for about 20 seconds and is effective enough to wake someone up. The alarm is louder on the closed case back version due to better reverberation. The video then notes the aesthetic details and movement finish of the watch, including blued screws and polished edges. Testing across five positions showed accuracy ranging from +4 to +12 seconds per day for the 36mm version and +5 to +10 seconds per day for the 39mm version.
The speaker highlights the watch’s domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and various dial variations in the Cricket collection. The tradition line watches feature printed scales for precise alarm setting and polished indices with Arabic numerals. The video also mentions the two available sizes: 36mm and 39mm, detailing their respective dimensions and wrist presence.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the Volcan Cricket watch, noting its appeal to both fans of smaller, vintage designs and those who prefer contemporary sizing. The watch is available with an alligator-textured leather strap that complements its dial shades and features simple signed buckles. The crown and pusher are designed in a vintage style and the watch offers a modest 50 meters of water resistance. The finishing is polished and gives the impression of a New Old Stock piece. Despite not expecting high viewership, the presenter praises the Volcan Cricket for its uniqueness and historical significance, especially as a mechanical alarm watch alongside the Memo Box. He notes some drawbacks, such as potential legibility issues depending on dial color, inability to toggle off the alarm easily, and the watch being somewhat costly. Nonetheless, he points out the value of its proprietary alarm movement compared to other watches with standard movements in the same price range.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the advisor discusses the Volcan Cricket watch, appreciating its tasteful design and authentic feel reminiscent of a New Old Stock example. The advisor highlights the watch’s unique champagne pink color and mechanical alarm feature, noting that while an alarm watch may not be a modern necessity, it is a distinctive and interesting addition for collectors. The advisor encourages viewers to consider this watch for its heritage and cool factor. Additionally, there is a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and purchase from teddybaldusto.com to support the creation of such content.