SPECIFICATIONS
Rare Vulcain Cricket “Golden Voice” with steel case and bracelet, manual winding alarm movement V 406, from early 60s.
Steel case measuring 22.2mm
Lug-to-lug measuring 29.7mm
Original logoed crowns
Stainless steel rigid bracelet
Manual winding alarm movement V 406
ANALYSIS
At the end of the Second World War, in the laboratories of the Vulcain Manufacture, the technicians had been busy for five years developing a wristwatch with an alarm complication. The idea of integrating an alarm mechanism into a wristwatch movement was not technically innovative but no model until then had solved the acoustic challenge: ensuring sufficient volume in a standard-sized caliber. The main engineering obstacle was the efficiency of the percussion system, since the resonance generated by traditional springs and hammers was insufficient for an effective alarm. The primary objective was therefore to optimize the transfer of energy to the sound component, while maintaining the reliability of the movement. The solution adopted by the engineers led by Robert Ditisheim – grandson of the founder Maurice Ditisheim – was the integration of a pin positioned on the case back that used the same case back as a resonance chamber to amplify the acoustic signal. This approach allowed for a more efficient transmission of the sound vibrations generated by the alarm mechanism, also thanks to the holes placed on a second, more external case back.
In 1947, the first truly functional alarm wristwatch came out of the Vulcain factories with the V 120 caliber (US patent 2,644,294): the “Cricket”. It was an immediate huge commercial success.
In the context of these studies on the development of micromechanics, Vulcain designers went further: they wanted to further miniaturize this complication. In 1958, the V 406 movement was born, which was housed in the women’s alarm watches called “Golden Voice”. This caliber was very compact, with a diameter of just 19.5 mm, and very thin, with a thickness of just 5.2 mm, but it produced a clean and prolonged sound for over 20 seconds. To further improve the extension of the sound waves, Vulcain experimented with a back case covered with gold foil, which proved to be the best material for amplifying the sound (this is why the model was named “Golden Voice”).
The “Golden Voice” was produced in few pieces and in the short period between 1958 and 1963, so it is a very rare bird. So this you are seeing could be the first one you look at up close.
The dial is clear with a “cuttlefish” surface. The minute track is centered to help setting the alarm with the appropriate pointer. Indicating the hours are parallelepiped-shaped steel indexes coupled with tritium dots. In the center of the dial at 12 is the Vulcain Cricket signature; further down at 6 is the elegant cursive signature “Golden Voice”. The hands are dauphine-shaped with a recess for the luminescent paste.
The case is circular and ends in long lugs with a faceted profile. The back is characterized by two casebacks: the inner one has the pin where the hammer strikes; the outer one is the resonance membrane with 6 holes to help the acoustic extension.
Inside there is the wonderful and rare manufacture caliber V 406 with double barrel and oversized alarm hammer.
