Hands-On: Vulcain Monopusher Heritage Panda

July 13, 2013

What a strange question. Why would the Vulcain Monopusher Heritage Panda, a new interpretation of the Swiss brands 50s Presidents Chronograph Heritage model, only be interesting for Real Madrid fans? Why wouldnt the socios of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, or fans of other football clubs outside Spain want this retro-looking chronograph on the wrist? Perhaps it s because Andre Didisheim, the grandson of one of Vulcains founders, played for Madrid FC, which is now Real Madrid FC. In the early 20th century, Didixein, as he was known, played as an offensive midfielder, forging a lasting bond between the watch brand and the legendary football club. Now, even if youre not a Real fan or interested in football at all, look at the monopusher chronograph through unbiased eyes and let me know what you think later.Vulcain might not be the biggest or most famous Swiss watch brand, but it does have a remarkable history. It was founded in 1858 in La Chaux-de-Fonds by brothers Maurice, Gaspard, and Aron Ditisheim. The firm began manufacturing pocket watches under the family name and branched out into wristwatches in the early 20th century. By then, Ernest-Albert Ditisheim, son of Maurice, was leading the company. It was he who added Fabrique Vulcain, inspired by the Roman god of fire and volcanoes, to Ditisheim & Cie s name. In 1947, Vulcain launched the Cricket, aka The Presidents Watch. It was the world s first mass-production wristwatch with a built-in alarm. Today, though, were not waking up to the sound of a new Cricket. Instead, we ll push the single pusher of a chronograph.Hands-on with the Vulcain Monopusher Heritage Panda: A history of timekeepingThe Vulcain Monopusher Heritage Panda (ref. 650167A58.BAC201) is closely linked to what is possibly the worlds most famous football club, Real Madrid. As you now know, Andre Didisheim played football for Madrid FC, the club that became Real Madrid FC, in the early 20th century. Didisheim was quite the athlete. He was also a gifted tennis player and skier, but football was his main game.In 1907, he went to Madrid to learn Spanish because South America was a vital market for Swiss watch manufacturers. While Didisheim was in Madrid, he played as an offensive midfielder with Madrid FC. For reasons that must have had something to do with pronunciation, his surname was changed to Didixein in Spanish chronicles at the time. After a few years in Madrid, he returned to Switzerland and joined the family business at Vulcain.In 1934, Vulcain was appointed the official timekeeper for Real Madrid. That year, the team triumphed in the Spanish Cup, a victory highlighted by the legendary goalkeeper Zamora s performance. It was also the season when coach Fernando Bru relied on a Vulcain watch to time the training drills. He noted, We held our training sessions with an incredibly precise Vulcain chronograph, and it was instrumental in our resounding victory in the 1934 Spanish Championship.A watch linked to a winning pastNow, let s talk about the roots of the watch before us today. Vulcain has based all the models in its current Monopusher collection on the 50s Presidents Chronograph Heritage from 2012. That watch was a 42mm throwback with a dial based on the chronograph Coach Bru used in 1934. However, one significant difference between the 2012 edition and the Monopusher Heritage Panda is the case size. The latter has a more compact 38.9mm brushed and polished steel case.Otherwise, it stays quite close to the original in terms of design. For instance, the style of the numerals and hour markers remains unchanged, preserving the timepiece s character. Underneath the double-domed sapphire glass with antireflective coating, you ll see the Real Madrid White dial with two black sub-dials and a pulsometer scale. The original French for Graduated for 30 pulsations accompanies the scale, and a closed minute track runs around the very edge of the dial.The vintage look is executed to contemporary standards. This means machines involved work at smaller tolerances, leading to higher-quality cases, for instance. It also means the movement inside has evolved. The manual-winding, 4Hz Sellita SW510 M MP b powers the new Monopusher Heritage Panda, blending vintage design with modern reliability. The single push-button at 2 oclock operates smoothly and precisely, crisp and firm, as you would expect from a Sellita. The movement also has a 58-hour power reserve - thats more than 38 football matches. Maybe the SW510 isnt exactly Zidane-like but more like Sergio Ramos. Nevertheless, it gets the job done.Wearing the Vulcain Monopusher Heritage PandaWearing the Monopusher Heritage Panda is uneventful. And I mean that in the best sense of the word. Its 38.9 13mm dimensions will suit practically every wrist. The watch also has a vintage look, meaning it doesnt reflect the current footballer style but, rather, that of a bygone era. That means no bright colors, precious stones, or other distracting, loud-mouthed details. Instead, you get a sober dial with two contrasting sub-counters. The small seconds are at 9 oclock, and the 30-minute counter sits at 3 oclock. Its a subtle, classic dial that will never go out of fashion.What will also never go out of fashion is a price you can label affordable. CHF 2,770 / US$3,360 gets you a mechanical chronograph with a nice historical touch. Even if youre not into football or a supporter of a rival team, only the watch s origin story tells of Real Madrid. Therefore, the association with the club should not get in the way if you feel attracted to the Vulcain Monopusher Heritage Panda. The brand made a good-looking watch with very decent proportions that can rival creations from competitors.Oh, and in case you were wondering where we got that Real Madrid jersey from, its Nachos. Hes a Madridista, and he also took the amazing pictures; he felt truly inspired.Watch specifications Brand Vulcain Model Monopusher Heritage PandaReference 650167A58.BAC201Dial Sunburst white with black sub-dials, Arabic numerals, minute track, and pulsometer scaleCase Material 316L stainless steel with brushed and polished finishesCase Dimensions 38.9mm (diameter) 13mm (thickness)Crystal Double-domed sapphire glass with antireflective coatingCase Back 316L stainless steel with brand emblem, screw-in Movement Sellita SW510 M MP b: monopusher chronograph, manual winding, 28,800vph (4Hz) frequency, 58-hour power reserve, 23 jewelsWater Resistance 5 atm (50 meters)Strap Black calf leather (20/16mm) with a stainless steel pin buckleFunctions Time (hours, minutes, small seconds), chronograph (30-minute register, central seconds), pulsometerPrice CHF 2,770 / US$3,360