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Sifu Whitey

Finally Caught a Vintage Vulcain Cricket

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Sifu Whitey

So lately I've been focusing on collecting vintage manual and automatic watches. I'm excited to have finally scooped up a vintage Vulcain Cricket. I need to do some more research but I'm fairly certain it dates from the early 1950's to very early 1960's, based on everything I've found to date. The second generation case back tells me it's not late 1940's because the first gen models, when first introduced in 1947, had the 4 elongated alarm vent holes. This does have the earliest calibre 120 movement (1947-1963), so that's what I'm basing my guesstimate on. During my research however, I scored a 7 page publication with exploded diagram and full labeled parts list from the late 1940's (one of the pages has a received date stamp of "Jun 14 '49"), which should help guide whomever I have do the work. I've dropped a couple pics of the pages here because I thought it was pretty cool too.

 

Unfortunately, I've read repeatedly that Vulcain is no help with manufacture date info if contacted, and I know of no known serial number database like many other brands have, so it's all I can go by. It needs a serious cleaning and probably would benefit from a vintage watch repair person taking it apart to ensure it's up to snuff and not needing anything. The old school jeweler who did that with my 14k 1940's Imperial I got at an estate sale either died or retired, but I think I have a line on a new place specializing in vintage watch repair and restoration, so I'm going in for a consultation. I'll keep you posted, for those interested..

 

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Diver Dave

Very very cool. An extremely historical watch, the choice of presidents for decades. Well done!

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Piccolo

Nice pick up - lots of history..!

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narikaa

That should scrub up really well

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dirkhunt

Thought you had catched a cricket when I read title. Vintage is nice.

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TheSav

That's a great find. Congrats.

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MAJ75

That's a really cool pick-up, good on you for making the hunt a prosperous one.

 

I think it is going to buff up wonderfully as the core material looks in pretty good shape.

 

I'll look forward to the updates.

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Sifu Whitey

That' s a nice watch you've got there. See if this link assists you any further with your research http://www.ranfft.de...swk&Vulcain_120

 

Yes, I had already found that web page and it was somewhat beneficial. Thanks.

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Sifu Whitey

So I found a vintage watch guy about a 30 minute drive from my house and paid him a visit. He's a watch maker, as well as a vintage repairer and re-seller of vintage pieces, and he specializes in vintage watches and Swiss movements. He was familiar with the vintage Vulcain Cricket watch line and he pretty much confirmed what I had found through my research, as far as approximate manufacture date and the like. It would be near impossible to narrow it down further than I have. He gave it a good looking over without taking anything apart (just with the back pulled off) and he was impressed with the condition of the movement and watch over all, and said he had just recently sold one from the same general era. I have to say, when I heard the cricket alarm going off for the first time I was a bit excited, especially knowing it was the first patented "alarm" function watch. I unsuccessfully tried posting a short video clip, but it didn't come through.

 

My only problem now is, despite the Vulcain Cricket being something of a grail watch for the vintage genre, I'm quite torn in deciding whether to do a catch and release of this because I've seen something else that I've wanted even more, for a longer period of time. Oh this addiction...

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RussP

Am I the only one that can't see OP's pictures?

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Sifu Whitey

The pics are there and visible in my original post. There are none added today.

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fatarms

Am I the only one that can't see OP's pictures?

 

Nope, they say third party hosting limit has been reached and to unlock the account to go to photobucket.com/p500. OP is probably seeing cached images.

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Sifu Whitey

There's more than one way to skin a cat! 'eff Photobucket.

 

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