Vulcain’s Table Clock is a miniature piece of American architectural history | Now with video!
Buffy Acacia- The Vulcain clock from the TWA Flight Centre at JFK Airport has been converted into a table clock format.
- With three individual dials, they can either be synchronised or set to different time zones.
- It’s powered by three Swiss Ronda quartz movements with five-year battery lives.
When a watch brand has decades or even centuries of history behind it, it’s able to comb through the old catalogues and breathe new life into them. Vulcain has been doing this ever since its revival, with a lot of love given to the Vulcain Cricket favoured by various US Presidents, and the recent Nautique Skin Diver. But Vulcain has more than just wristwatches up its sleeve. Its latest project is a miniature recreation of Vulcain’s contribution to a national landmark.
Hanging from the sprawling concrete ceiling of the TWA Flight Centre is a triple-faced Vulcain clock. It was once a bustling terminal at JFK International Airport in New York, however, it has since been converted into a luxury hotel, conserving the brilliant architecture. Opened in 1962, the TWA Flight Centre was a shining example of modernist art. The ceiling mirrored themes of wings and flight, highlighting what was so special about that age of jet-setting. The Vulcain clock was actually installed a little bit after the terminal’s opening, but it still fits perfectly with the original vision.
For its conversion to desk clock format, the TWA Flight Centre clock has been flipped. The domed base is machined vertically, evoking a little slice of Art Deco, while the clock’s globe stands on three legs as if it’s some kind of alien landing pod. Each of the three dials, which are really just individual clocks, boldly display the printed Arabic numerals for long-distance legibility along with the Vulcain logo above 6 o’clock. All of that sits on a silvery base with a sunburst texture, adding to the lighting dynamics as your viewing angle changes.
If you view this clock as a stand for three smaller clocks, you can begin to understand its versatility. Each of the dials is powered by its own separate movement which you can set by pulling the dials out, and using the hidden crown. If all three dials are synchronised, the clock provides a 360-degree view of the time. Otherwise, you could set each dial to a different time zone to embrace the design’s travelling origins.
The colour of the clock has been described as warm light grey, but is more specifically linked to Pantone 2323 U. It operates in that hazy zone between antique gold and silver, but definitely holds notes of taupe. This way, it will reflect either warm or cool light temperatures, and fit into pretty much any space seamlessly. Powering each watch is a Swiss Ronda 712 quartz calibre, which has an approximately five-year battery life on 371 button cells. The total height of the whole clock is 126mm, with a diameter of 83mm.
Vulcain Table Clock price and availability
The Vulcain Table Clock will launch on September 26th, 2024. Price: US$1,300
| Brand | Vulcain |
| Model | Table Clock |
| Case Dimensions | 126mm (H) x 83mm (D) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel with Pantone 2323 U coating |
| Water Resistance | N/A |
| Crystal(s) | Undisclosed |
| Dial | Silver sunburst |
| Strap | N/A |
| Movement | 3x Ronda calibre 712 |
| Power Reserve | Five-year battery life |
| Functions | Hours, minutes |
| Availability | Available from September 26th, 2024 |
| Price | US$1,300 |