Watches
Trump to Get Inaugural Timepiece From Ailing Swiss Watchmaker
- Producer of watches for U.S. presidents cuts half its staff
- President-elect’s traditional wristwatch is still in the works
Following a tradition that began with Harry Truman, President-elect Donald Trump will receive a mechanical Swiss-made timepiece for his inauguration, even as the producer of the watch cuts more than half of its staff to deal with an industry downturn.
Almost every U.S. president has received a Vulcain Cricket as a gift ever since Truman purchased a gold version of the mechanical alarm watch while living in the White House, according to the watchmaker. Whether the tradition ends after Trump remains to be seen. Vulcain is cutting seven of its 12 positions as the luxury watch industry suffers a slump in demand.