Vulcain Cricket Owner Review : Endearing, original and iconic

Hello everyone, I think I'm not the only one here who has a list of iconic watches I want to own one day. Among them, there are those that are so inaccessible right now that they stick in my mind. And then there are the others, those for which a good deal might tempt me to take the plunge. The Vulcain Cricket falls into this second category for me. The modern models are magnificent, especially the one with a green dial. But starting at €3,800, it's clearly not within my budget today. So, naturally, I had an alert on Chrono24 for the following search: - Brand: Vulcain - Model: Cricket - Location: EU or USA - Price: <€1,000 Last week, a new result in my search: this little vintage watch from the 1970s. It seemed to be in impeccable condition, with an original buckle, and under €1,000. It's in the USA, where my sister lives. I contacted the seller, the watch had been serviced, and the seller was in New York. Bingo! The following week, I visited my sister who lives in Weehawken, just across the street from Manhattan. I informed the seller, and by coincidence, he also lives in Weehawken... I believe in destiny, and this sign was enough to make me fall in love. So, I met him last Sunday. A true enthusiast, he showed me part of his collection, about thirty watches, in his car. He asks me how many alarm watches I own, and I tell him it's my first. He owns about 15… After a demonstration of how the watch works and a brief negotiation, I leave with this magnificent Cricket for the ridiculous sum of $700 (€640). It features the inscription of the US patent on the caseback. Indeed, the Cricket has a history closely linked to the United States. A commercial success across the Atlantic, it has been nicknamed "The Presidents Watch" like the Rolex Day Date. Worn by Truman, Eisenhower, and Johnson, it was also reportedly part of the collections of Nixon, Clinton, and Obama. The model I just acquired is perfect, but its strap isn't at all to my taste. Made of an unusual material: hard black plastic on the back and blue velvet on the front; it's very uncomfortable. So I start changing the strap the next day. I found a historic NYC boutique, "Grand Central Watches," and they offered me a selection of 20x16mm straps because I wanted to keep the original buckle. I ended up leaving with a beautiful brown leather one. I've only owned this watch for five days, but I'm already hooked. I make it ring whenever I get the chance. And even though the chirping (that's the sound a cricket makes 😉) is much more pleasant than an iPhone alarm, its loudness still makes me jump. Much thicker than what I usually like to wear, it remains very balanced and is easily forgotten on my wrist. I might sell it one day if a good opportunity arises, but for now, I'm going to take advantage of it.