A tale of two legends: Real Madrid and Vulcain. The visionary Manufacture in Le Locle quickly grasped the immense popularity of soccer. By the early 1930s, the brand had already cemented its presence in Spanish-speaking countries, where the sport was extremely popular. 

But why Real Madrid? 

André Ditisheim, known as "Didixien", was the grandson of André Ditisheim who, together with his brother Maurice had founded the Manufacture that became Vulcain in 1894. He was an athlete to the core, excelling in tennis and skiing – and a passionate football player.

In 1907, at 18, “Didixien” moved to Madrid to learn Spanish – South America was fast becoming one of the most important markets for Swiss watches. His skills on a football pitch didn’t go unnoticed and before he knew it, he was the Madrid FC’s attacking midfielder. The club evolved into the renowned Real Madrid, and there he left a lasting legacy.

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 performance of the legendary goalkeeper Zamora. It was also the season when coach Fernando Bru relied on a Vulcain 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.”