The Manufacture
Vulcain pays tribute to France in a 50-pieces
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 included the “La Vallée de l’Arve” Grande Complication model with
grand strike, minute repeater, perpetual calendar and moon phases that
won a bronze medal.
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France also played a key role in the birth of the Cricket calibre 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 Dittisheim pursued his research that was to lead in
1947 to the
launch of the calibre with twin calibres (one for the movement and the
other for the alarm) named the Cricket as a nod to the insect’s strident
song.
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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
Presidents” 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 directed 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 leading 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.
A STYLISH LIMITED SERIES
In homage to France and to the enthusiasm for the brand shown by French
customers,
Vulcain is innovating by introducing 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 ensuring 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 timepiece 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 agency”: the Atelier du Bracelet Parisien (ABP)
is all of that rolled into one.
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Above all, it is a firm dedicated to
hand craftsmanship.
All the straps and other products are entirely made in the Parisian
workshop. Enthusiasts can choose from a vast array of hides, colours,
shapes, tanning processes and thicknesses. Each strap is thus entirely
hand-crafted according to the most stringent quality criteria.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Ref: 160151.323
Case:
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
Movement:
Cricket V-11
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
Strap:
chestnut brown alligator leather with large scales, seamless
grained calfskin lining
Dimensions: 22/18 mm
Buckle: steel pin buckle
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Press Releases 2013
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