Vulcain is probably the most known producer of alarm movements. It was the first watch company which developed a true wrist watch alarm movement, for which the patent were announced in 1943 and the production started in 1949. Vulcain alarm watch Cricket was worn by president Eisenhower, that's why this watch is also know by the name Presidental's watch.

Vulcain was from 1961 shareholder of MSR group (together with Revue). At the late seventies group decided to use brand Revue Thommen for all watches except alarm Cricket watches. Those watches remained with brand Vulcain. But from 1986 brand Revue Thomen was used also for cricket watches. In 1999 Vulcain brand was sold to Vulcain S.A. but this company closed it's bussines just a year latter. Brand Vulcain was bought by PMH which continues with the Vulcain alarm watches and with the development of new alarm movements since then.

Original Vulcain 120 family:

In the history of Vulcain several different alarm movements were developed. First movement  was called R, but based on Vulcain clasification soon reclasified to 120. Movement has two spring barrels and one winding crown. At the beginning of sixties shock resistance was added, renovated movement got the name S2  or based on the MSR nomenclature MSR S23. Another important change happened in 1994 under the Revue Thommen, when movement was simplified and exactomatic was removed. That movement was called RT80. New Vulcan used S2 as the base of their new movement, the first was called V10. In this version also GMT and dual time watches exist. To this movement date complication was added (V11). Next phase was total renovation of V11, new movement V16 got 34 new parts, it was also bigger than V11. At 150 annyversary of Vulcain V18 was issued (just refreshed V10). Based on V16 an automatic V21 was released. The latest high grade movement is V30, which is the only alarm movement in the world with tourbillon. In 2016 Vulcain developed a new movement V-40 which is even though based on the same movement, very different than others. Namely central second hand is replaced by small second and also alarm is moved from central position to the separate dial. 

New Vulcain V10 family:

Vulcain 401 and 402:

Even though movement 120 was very sucessful, a need for a cheaper movement was raised. Also date complication was required. Vulcain 401 was the answer to those demands. Basic idea remained the same as in 120, but in 401 only one spring barrel is present and therefore alarm time was reduced to max. 10 seconds. Positions of the crown and button were changed. Central second was replaced with small second. And as an curiosity - even though movement had date complication, a lot of watches were produced using this movement but without date.

402 is modified version of 401. Technical differences are minor, there is one important change in turning off alarm function (see manual). After Vulcain joint MSR group 402 was reclasiffied to MSR S1. But the movement stays the same.

Vulcain 406 (MSR K4):

Vulcain 406 is the smallest alarm movement ever built. It was made for lady's alarm watches. Basis for this movement is 120 and not 401. Due to the size alarm has a very small spring and therefore alarm rings just 7 seconds. After Vulcain joined MSR group, small modification was done and it was renamed to MSR K4.