Vulcain is perhaps the one watch brand whose most famous and luxury model is a mechanical alarm watch. The Vulcain Cricket — a mechanical alarm watch named for the shrill, “chirping” sound of its alarm — was released in 1947, containing the revolutionary Caliber 120. The watch quickly became a hit and a favorite of several U.S. presidents, including Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson and Nixon, which inspired the company to give the Cricket the lofty nickname, “President’s Watch.” Vulcain has been creating new versions of the Cricket ever since, including this year’s notable limited edition, the Vulcain 50S Presidents’ Cricket “Pegasus,” whose ornate grand feu enamel dial pays tribute to the Chinese Year of the Horse with an image of the mythical winged steed.
The watch has a 42-mm-diameter rose gold case with a domed sapphire crystal and a see-through caseback. Inside is Vulcain’s modern-day Cricket movement, Caliber V-20, with automatic winding, 31 jewels, a frequency of 18,000 vph, and a 42-hour power reserve in two barrels. The movement boasts several decorative elements, including côtes de Genève, rhodium coating, and blued screws. The integrated alarm has a duration of 20 seconds. The price of the Vulcain 50S Presidents’ “Pegasus” (available with two dials, with Pegasus “On the Mountain,” pictured below, or “In the Sky,” each limited to only 18 pieces) is $55,560.
