Vulcain is a Swiss watchmaker that was founded in 1858 by Maurice Ditisheim as Manufacture Ditisheim' in La Chaux-de-Fonds, being rebranded as Vulcain in 1894. In 1947, Vulcain developed the first alarm watch, the Vulcain Cricket.
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In parallel with the K918 an alarm watch with automatic winding and gong was offered - not as Memovox, but as Master Reveil. Both calibres were encased in stainless steel or red gold cases and equipped with white or black dials.
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In the early 1940s, Vulcain invented the idea of a mechanical alarm watch. There had been two prior attempts by other watchmakers in the early 19th century, but these projects were failures. In 1942, Vulcain had begun production of a prototype alarm movement, later named the 120. The Caliber 120 could sound for above 20 seconds when fully would through the invention of the 'dual barrel'.
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The Dual Direct escapement's wheels were made in silicium, another historical first in watchmaking history. In 2002, Schnyder launched the Genghis Khan, the world's first carillon Westminster minute repeater tourbillon with Jaquemarts. In the same year, the Freak won the Watch of the Year award. In 2003, Schnyder and Oechslin once again conspired to change the face of watchmaking with their Sonata, the world's first alarm watch that could be set 24 hours in advance and had a dual time function.
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Vulcain gained brand recognition from the early 1950s for their invention of the alarm watch – the Vulcain Cricket, which was presented at a Swiss Watch Fair in 1947. In 1953, The White House Press Photographer's Association presented Harry S. Truman with a 14k gold version of the watch on the eve of his leaving presidential office. Following from this, nearly every President has been gifted one to commemorate their leaving office. The Cricket also served as an adventurers watch, as the brand in Le Locle had partnered with multiple mountaineering and maritime expeditions.
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Memovox In 1950, the Manufacture released the Memovox (portmanteau of memoria and vox, “voice of memory”), a year after the model cricket was released by Vulcain. Its striking mechanism could be used as an alarm for waking up, appointments, timetables, etc. The first models were hand wound and equipped with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 489. In 1956, a Memovox featuring the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 815 became the first self-winding alarm watch in history, while shortly thereafter the company marked its 125th anniversary by releasing the Memovox Wordtime.
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The K919, as the world's first caliber, had a wake-up function with a gong and a perpetual calendar with a four-digit year display and a moon phase display in addition to the time function with automatic winding. Through the gong, the "buzz" of the early Memovox models gave way to a "ringing" sound. The Grand Réveil was offered in yellow gold, red gold or platinum cases. In 1994, the only ever Memovox and the world's first wrist alarm watch with a caseback made of sapphire crystal (with the hand- winding caliber K914) was released.
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Theodore remained on the board of directors after retirement until his death in 1950. Eterna produced many innovations in their history: the smallest production wristwatch with a Baguette movement in 1930, an eight-day alarm watch in the 1930s and their first automatic watch in 1938. In 1948, Eterna advanced self-winding watch technology with the development of the Eterna-matic automatic movement. The use of five strategically placed ball bearings made the movement very efficient and significantly reduced friction and resistance on the oscillating weight that wound the mainspring. This reduced the wear and tear on internal parts, increasing the watch’s accuracy and useful life. The new watch became popular soon, is probably the most famous Eterna watch and may be one of Eterna’s greatest designs.
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