- Country of Manufacture - Switzerland
- Year - 1970's
- Serial - N/A
- Model - N/A
- Movement & caliber - Manual AS.1475.
- Case diameter - 34mm
A stainless steel Wakmann Datalarm. "The Vulcain Cricket is widely recognized as the timepiece that put alarm wristwatches on the map. Although Eterna made noise with the first alarm wristwatch in 1914, the Vulcain Cricket's voice was heard loud and clear with it's superior volume, reliability and accuracy. This also lead to an increase in other watch makers producing an alarm function due to the increasing demand for these watches, and it would be fair to say the alarm in this watch will not allow you to sleep through it!
This version was made by Wakmann Watch company in the 1970’s, The Wakmann Watch Company was founded in 1946 by Icko Wakmann, a Russian immigrant who started his watch business in Portugal in 1943. Wakmann sold high-end European watch brands, but moved his business to New York City in 1946 to take advantage of loopholes in the US's Swiss Watch Import Act. Wakmann was the US distributor of Breitling watches from the 1940s to the 1970s. Some watches were co-signed Breitling/Wakmann as well as just Wakmann but made by Breitling. This type of relationship was not uncommon at a time where heavy tariffs were imposed on pieces coming into the US from the European market, similar to the Longines/Wittnauer, Vacheron/leCoultre relationships. US distributors of Swiss brands also selling their own.
The watch is presented in wonderful original condition. The screw back stainless steel, unpolished, case has thick, well shaped lugs with the double crown set up to the right of the case. One for the time, one for the alarm. The dial is perhaps the most appealing element to this already handsome piece. It has Art Deco style numerals at the 12, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. Even the date window at 3 o’clock is shaped beautifully. They are all applied to the radiant silver sunburst dial. The serpent style alarm hand with red painted arrow head is a great counterbalance to the original Lume filled dauphine hands. The original luminous material is also present still on the hour markers.
The condition of the watch is excellent throughout. The case is unpolished and remains very strong with light wear and scratches, as one would expect from a watch that is now around sixty years old. The dial is also in excellent original condition. The movement is timing accurately and the alarm function works with pleasing effect.
