“I’m not a lady, I’m a legend.”
– Marlene Dietrich
Vulcain Nautical Legacy Massena LAB
Introducing The Vulcain Nautical Legacy Massena LAB, a 1950s-inspired diver’s watch with a rich, brown dial; redesigned, vintage-inspired hands; and a brand new, Massena-LAB-designed black rubber bracelet. Powered by an in-house movement, the Vulcain Nautical Legacy Massena LAB retains all of the rugged, technical know-how of the original Vulcain Cricket Nautical, one of the very-first diver’s watches with an alarm that could be heard underwater.
The original Cricket Nautical was released in 1961, the result of research conducted by three passionate divers: Hannes Keller, a Swiss deep-sea diving pioneer as well as a physicist and mathematician, Max-Yves Brandily, the explorer and filmmaker, and Arthur Droz, a national certified diving instructor. In 1966, Hannes Keller wore a Cricket Nautical in a record-setting dive reaching an extreme depth of almost 250 meters. The legendary Jacques Cousteau, acting as Keller’s witness, recorded and validated Keller’s record.
The Vulcain Nautical Legacy Massena LAB ponders “What would the Cricket Nautical look like today if it had been created a decade earlier, in the 1950s?” To start, the dial has been recolored a rich, chocolate brown, which shimmers subtly in the light, inspired by some of Massena LAB’s favorite vintage, tropical dials. The hands, which have been completely redesigned and are unique to this Massena LAB collaboration include a baton-style hand for hours, large arrowhead for the minutes, and a red arrow alarm hand. The hands are filled with beige lume, with matching lume plots on the dial, and glow green in low light or dark water for maximum legibility and echo the watch’s vintage inspiration by mimicking the period-correct tritium.
The black rubber strap, designed by Massena LAB and fitted with a Vulcain logo stainless steel buckle, is comfortable and practical in and out of the water whether you are wearing a wetsuit or sitting at your desk.
The double dial features a decompression table, which is revealed through an aperture on the dial. To set it correctly, the wearer must first determine the length and depth of the intended dive, using the crown at 4 o’clock to rotate the dial’s upper plate. When used correctly, the scale which is revealed by the aperture, shows the diver for how many minutes they must stop at nine, six, and three meters before returning to the surface.
The stainless steel case, measuring 42mm, features a closed “triple case back” which acts as a resonance chamber and allows for the alarm to be loud enough to be heard underwater, alerting the diver that they should start their ascent.
The watch is powered by the manual-wound Cricket Alarm Calibre V10, with a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz) and a power reserve of 52 hours. The in-house caliber has two barrels: one is the energy source for timekeeping, while the other powers the alarm function. Both barrels are charged by turning the crown at three o’clock: clockwise for timekeeping and counterclockwise for the alarm system.
The Vulcain Nautical Legacy Massena LAB is a limited edition of only 25 pieces.
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Features
VULCAIN
Acknowledged for its iconic models and its unique mechanical movements, the Manufacture Vulcain holds a distinctive place in the world of fine watchmaking thanks to its iconic models and unique mechanical movements. The company, which has been active since 1858 in the production of exceptional timepieces, is
now established in a mansion in Le Locle, cradle of Swiss watchmaking. With more than 150 years of history and innovation, Vulcain perpetuates its historical heritage and unique know-how.
The manufacture has a prominent role within the international watchmaking landscape thanks to its high-quality mechanical
timepieces manufactured in-house. The Vulcain manufacture has always been located at the heart of the Neuchatel mountains, in the cradle of Swiss watchmaking.
The brand is now housed in a private mansion in Le Locle and perpetuates the tradition of fine watchmaking that has always shaped its identity.
Movement
• Manual-wound, in-house movement. Cricket Alarm Calibre V10.
• Hours, minutes, center seconds. Alarm function.
• Alarm duration/ringing time: 20 seconds +/- 5 seconds.
• 12 lignes (27.07mm in diameter).
• Double barrel, equipped with the Exactomatic system.
• 165 components.
• 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5Hz).
• Power reserve of 52 hours.
Limited Edition
• Limited to only 25 pieces.
• One watch per household.
Dial
• Brown dial with white and blue markers and beige lume. Lume glows green in low light.
• Hands designed by Massena LAB and exclusive to this collaboration.
• Double dial rotates when the crown at 4 o'clock is turned. Decompression scale revealed through aperture on upper dial.
Case
• 316L stainless steel.
• 42mm in diameter. Thickness: 17.35mm including triple case back.
• Closed "Triple Case Back" design allows the case to act as a resonance chamber, enabling the alarm to be audible underwater.
• Water resistance of 30ATM (300 meters).
• Rubber bracelet designed by Massena LAB. Black rubber with stainless steel Vulcain logo pin buckle.
Warranty
• Warranty of two years.