Robert Ditisheim Obituary

L'Impartial, February 9, 1987

Death of Robert Ditisheim, the father of "Cricket"

Robert Ditisheim passed away at the peaceful age of his 89th year. [He] belongs to the lineage of those who have signed the great moments of the epic of mechanical watchmaking. Robert Ditisheim is the inventor and manufacturer of the alarm wristwatch, the famous “Cricket” from Vulcain.

Vulcain was founded in 1858 by his grandfather. He was in charge of its technical management from 1925 until 1970.

A child of La Chaux-de-Fonds, the young Robert obtained his diploma as a watchmaking technician at the School of Watchmaking in La Chaux-de-Fonds, then the title as an engineer at ETH Zurich.

The "Vulcain" was installed within its walls in 1917, it remained in manufacture until 1962. It was under the technical reign of Robert Ditisheim that a large series of calibers were built which are distinguished by their reliable construction, thanks to simple solutions always sought by Mr. Ditisheim.

His brother Maurice was in charge of the commercial management of Vulcain. As such, he was in Japan in the early thirties to meet his client Mr. Hattori (Seiko) who asked for “very flat watches”. Robert Ditisheim then built the famous 10 1/2 SPX with small seconds which enjoyed commercial success until the 1960s, which better than anything says the qualities of the manufacturer. Few calibers have known this longevity. But his outstanding technical work was the “Cricket”, the first alarm wristwatch truly capable of waking you up! He worked from 1940 to 1946 to solve the problem of the sound which was damped by the arm, when carrying it. The solution was the double bottom which protects the sound membrane. A powerful sound especially on the gold model.

It is in memory of Professor Langevin, Nobel Prize winner, that the watch received its name. Visiting René Ditisheim who talked to him about his concerns, Mr. Langevin said to him: “Think of the cricket, so small and which sings so loudly”.

In 1947, the "Cricket" was launched on the American market and was immediately a huge success.

The Presidents of the States, Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon, and especially Johnson were good ambassadors for Cricket. Johnson robbed the shops of Geneva during his visit to Switzerland.

Vulcain had kept a stock of 'Cricket' blanks and resumed production of this collector's item late last year (1986). Robert Ditisheim had the joy before his death to witness the rebirth of “his” watch which resumed a fine commercial career.

This joy he hardly showed, for such was the modest and altruistic nature of this man who never had any enemies, so true was it that one could not get angry with him. His great discretion kept him on the fringes of all worldly life, entirely preoccupied with his profession. Passionate about technology, he was still filing patents at the age of 80.

So was Robert Ditisheim, former president of the employers' union of watch producers and an early member of Club 44, of which he was an attentive listener just 15 days ago. .

To his family, we offer the tribute of our admiration for the deceased.”

- Gil BAILLOD