# Vintage watch experts: How much is this Vulcain Cricket worth? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066 "2019-01-19T19:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/1 "2019-01-19T19:15:25Z")
Monetary value, of course. [This was my dad’s watch](https://i.imgur.com/3RiKyzQ.jpg), and its value to me is beyond price. True story: When I was 3 and 4, we were living in Japan. The house wasn’t ‘great’, and dad was doing some wiring on a ceiling light. At the time, dad wore this Vulcain ‘Cricket’ watch. This was an alarm watch that, in the days of mechanical movements, made the alarm by whacking a hammer against the inside of the case. The Cricket had a resonator on the watch back that made the alarm louder. Dad had his hands all up in the wiring. Just as he finished, his alarm went off. ‘BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!’ He thought he was being electrocuted and fell off of the stool. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/2 "2019-01-19T19:18:31Z")
I don’t know what the watch is worth, but the story is priceless too. Thanks for posting this and for the picture of the watch. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/3 "2019-01-19T19:38:05Z")
[This is what the alarm sounds like](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSndiMtdYz0). (NB: Not dad’s watch.) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/4 "2019-01-19T19:52:12Z")
I’m not an expert but a quick search reveals they don’t appear to be too rare and the ones going for under $700 are gold. Watches are kind of like cars - they lose a lot of value as soon as you drive it off the lot, so to speak. Of course there are some watches that are either rare or exceptionally complex and well made - minute repeaters for example - that are highly sought after, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. TLDR - I’m certainly NOT an expert but I’d guess $200 - $300 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/5 "2019-01-19T20:27:02Z")
For questions like this go to eBay sold items: > **[vulcan cricket watch for sale | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=vulcan%2Bcricket%2Bwatch&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1)** > > Get the best deals for vulcan cricket watch at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/6 "2019-01-19T21:33:22Z")
Before checking anywhere I would have said $150-$200; after looking around I would run that up to more like $250 or a little better. Around here old watches, even in great shape, are a glut on the market. Too many older people who bought really good, cared for them, and passed them down so depending on where you live YMMV. But the condition looks tops so you could maybe draw a really good value if you wanted for insurance purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/7 "2019-01-19T22:14:01Z")
Is Vulcain still in business? Their website has a 2016 catalogue, but the copyright on the website is 2019. An article from December, 2016, said Trump would receive a Vulcain watch, but that the company was in trouble. At that time, they cut their staff from 12 employees to five. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-watch-experts-how-much-is-this-vulcain-cricket-worth/828066/8 "2019-01-19T22:47:55Z")
I’d rather have a Vulcan watch. Though I don’t know how long a day is there… Brian