A Tale of a Vulcain Cricket
My buddy Amit lives in Nigeria now and just bought a Vulcain Cricket GMT to celebrate a new job. He wrote a bit about his experience and it was quite moving.
I tell you what, buying the Vulcain was a real
extravagance but I didn’t do it on a whim. I’ve always known that I would
buy a nice watch at some point and when I saw the thing in a shop window I
knew that would be the one. I then made an agreement with Claire that I
would only buy it if/when I got my next job. So that watch waited for me
in that shop window for five months. In fact, although we then bought the
watch when my new job had been agreed in principle, I didn’t wear it until
the paperwork had been completed and that took another three months!! I
had my wife hide it in the house and then had to try and forget about it.
It was agony!!
People at our stage in life, with burgeoning
responsibilities/whatever/blah blah/ do need to be prudent about when and
how we spend money. But a nice watch does bring immeasurable pleasure to
someone who appreciates these things. So my advice is; give yourself a
meaningful goal, find a watch that grabs you by the balls, and then buy it
when you’ve reached your goal even if it takes a few years. And buy it
from a shop, not online, so you know for a fact that its legitimate and it
becomes a real occasion; And you can walk out with the thing on your wrist
or at least carry it out in its box. Better yet, go to Switzerland and buy
it there. Well, I say that but I don’t know what taxes are like there. So,
go to Dubai and buy it there….And once you’ve bought it, wear it all the goddamned time. Apart from
working out and showering, I basically wear mine all the time (yes, even
here in Nigeria). One thing that was key for me was buying one that I
loved regardless of how much cachet the brand has; I knew damn well when I
bought it that most people have never heard of Vulcain. I didn’t know much
about the company myself and only started to research them after I saw the
watch and it had already grabbed my nuts. To be honest, the thing is a
little fast; I’ve noticed that it gains a minute or two after a couple of
months but it doesn’t bother me in the least.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
The Vulcain eh? I have been meaning to look more closely at that brand because I don’t know much about it.
But I gotta say that particular model doesn’t appeal to me. The Orso (silver) of a few posts back though, was pipin’ hot!
–Watch n00b
May 11th, 2006 at 6:47 am
The Vulcain (mine is actually different from the photo) is gorgeous ‘in the metal’ in a way the photograph simply doesn’t convey. I didn’t buy it for other peoples’ opinions but I’ve had people stop in their tracks to take a look at it. Recently a guy stopped mid-sentence, during a meeting, to ask me what it was, and he was wearing an Omega Seamaster himself.
Vulcain created the first mechanical alarm wristwatch in 1947. President Eisenhower had one as did a few of his successors (Clinton recently purchased one apparently) so that early model became known as ‘The Presidents Watch’ for awhile. The company is very small and little-known nowadays, but that’s part of the appeal to me.
cheers,
Amit
May 11th, 2006 at 8:07 am
Nice, I’ve long liked those watches.
May 11th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
What puzzles me on this watch, is the strange bezel. It has duplicate numbers to what is already on the dial. Clearly the bezel must rotate as well–but why?
I think my taste in watches is just that they should have a really strong, simple, uncluttered look–with the hands strongly readable from a distance.
No diss on your treasure–I am sure it is far better than any picture can convey, especially if people stop mid-sentence to inquire about it. I am just saying this picture–while very nice–doesn’t grab me personally.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:25 am
The bezel does rotate (that’s what the bottom-most crown is for); in conjunction with the fourth-hand (which has a small, red arrow-head - larger and more clear in newer models) this allows for a second time-zone.
Mine has 24 cities of the world on the rotating bezel instead, which also has a red arrow-head marker indicating GMT/prime meridian (pointing to London).
No offence taken man. Taste in watches is a highly personal thing. I agree about the picture; that photo doesn’t make it look that special.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:53 am
Duh, I’m an idiot; the bezel is for a second time zone but the fourth hand is to set the alarm…
May 12th, 2006 at 9:43 am
i’ve changed the picture to better reflect young amit’s pride and joy.
May 12th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
New Picture–full props. Now THAT is a hot looking watch. I am also edified to learn of the different time zone trick–now, with the bezel explained, it makes good sense to me.
Kudos!
May 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Great looking watch. Timeless style that is both elegant and sophisticated. Congrats!
June 1st, 2006 at 12:14 am
Amit, that’s one hot watch! Reminds me of the Patek Philippe World Time platinum, which happens to retail at the pocket-change price of $35,000.
June 1st, 2006 at 12:15 am
Hey, a question: how big is the dial? Say, in comparison with a Omega Seamaster (full size)?
June 2nd, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Howdy, Thanks for the comments. As I said, the watch really stands out ‘in the metal’: even though the photograph is my model, its an over-exposed shot and sort of flattens the watch. The picture of the new Vulcain John has put up conveys the lovely depth of their watches a little better.
Mine is 42mm in diameter, not including the crowns. So, in today’s world, I suppose that is mid-size. Its quite thick though because the alarm mechanism requires a double case-back. Its substantial without being over-bearing.
June 7th, 2006 at 12:59 am
Hey just wanted to thank you for a such a great blog ..keep it up
Thanking You
Alicia Allen
June 14th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Hi it’s a nice watch really. Coz I have it also. The GMT one. I love it. It’s a very special watch. Very rare people wear it in my country. And it’s also a usefull watch when it comes to the alarm. It is loud. I love this watch.
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
need info for presentation of new product for marketing–sale. also verynice watch.