One of the most rewarding parts of this job is the feedback we receive from satisfied customers. Since the launch of our military edition watches, we’ve had customers not only tell us how excited they are to show off their new watches to their families over the Holidays but also how amazing it is to physically hold these watches in their hands. It takes the laborious effort of numerous people over months to create one of these watches, and we’re so thankful that our customers notice and appreciate that.
In light of the holidays, we want to extend a very warm thank you to all of our customers, all of our listeners, and everyone who has supported us along the way as we’ve built Vortic Watch Company. Thank you all so much! We are so grateful for each and every one of you, and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your support!
Here's your Weekly Roundup!
Every Tuesday we send this Weekly Roundup of our most recent Watch of the Day watches. Some of these tend to go fast, so be sure to check the website each day at noon Mountain Time or follow us on social media to get more frequent updates!
Click the images of the watches to learn more about them. Make sure to check the website at 12 PM Mountain Time for the Watch of the Day!
We’re pleased to present this luxurious and splendid watch that was originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company almost a century ago — the Lancaster 181. This remarkable antique boasts a paper-white dial with striking golden details, including its gold-colored center, numerals, and minute indicators. The front of the watch also displays a stunning “Hamilton” inscription, a useful subdial, and blued-steel diamond kite watch hands. We complemented this piece’s sumptuous-looking golden details by pairing it with our gold-plated crown, and we installed the pocket watch within our stylish and scratch-resistant Sandblasted Titanium case.
Our Sandblasted Titanium case offers more than just optimal protection — it also comes with an open back that displays the pocket watch’s 916-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish, pendant setting, and ¾ plate. The rear side of the watch continues showcasing its opulent-looking design with golden engravings that convey the pocket watch’s heritage, such as “Hamilton Watch Co.” and “Lancaster, PA,” and it boasts gold-plated gears that are powered by 17 eye-catching jewels. Finally, we tied this marvelous piece together by equipping it with our comfortable Cordovan leather watch strap.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially released this pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1924 — the same year that acclaimed American poet Robert Frost won his Pulitzer Prize with his poetry collection New Hampshire: A Poem with Notes and Grace Notes. Some of Frost’s most famous works from the collection include “Fire and Ice,” “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”
Frost went on to win three more Pulitzers for his poem collections Collected Poems, A Further Range, and A Witness Tree.
We're thrilled to announce this stunning new addition to our watch-of-the-day collection that was initially released by the Hamilton Watch Company — the Lancaster 175. This watch features a lightly-speckled dial with an intricate circular design surrounded by stylish black numerals. You can also see its blued-steel diamond kite watch hands that are notably eye-catching against the piece’s snow-mist white background, and the dial also features a matching subdial. We complemented this sophisticated pocket watch by encasing it within our robust and sleek Gunmetal Titanium case and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown.
On the back of the watch, you and other watch enthusiasts can see the pocket watch’s antique 912-grade open-face movement with a Reed regulator, pendant setting, and nickel finish. The watch back also boasts sumptuous-looking gold-plated gears that are powered by 17 jewels throughout its ¾ plate. Finally, we made the final product even more stylish and extraordinary with our hand-crafted Olive leather watch strap.
The Hamilton Watch Company originally produced our Lancaster 175’s pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1928, which was the same year that an important acquisition occurred in the automotive world — the Chrysler Corporation purchased Dodge.
Horace Elgin and John Francis Dodge originally opened the automotive company’s doors in 1900 as the Dodge Brothers Company, and it was merely a machining shop that supplied parts for Detroit car manufacturers. The company began manufacturing and selling full vehicles in 1914 with the Dodge Model 30-35 touring car.
By 1920, Dodge was the second most successful American automobile manufacturer, but tragically both Dodge Brothers died that year — John died of pneumonia and Horace died of liver cirrhosis — and the company quickly lost its impressive rank in car sales. The Dodge Brothers’ widows sold the company to Dillon, Read & Co — acquired by UBS in 1998 — but the investment bank sold the company to Chrysler three years later after unsatisfactory sales continued.
We’re excited to feature this remarkable watch of the day — the Springfield 558. Our one-of-a-kind wristwatch boasts a stunning pocket watch that was originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company in 1926. The antique pocket watch has a tannish green dial with bold black numerals and an elegant center design. You can also see its helpful subdial as well as blued-steel diamond kite watch hands. We matched this breathtaking pocket watch with our powerful Gilded Titanium case and a nickel-plated crown, adding even more charm and style.
Our Gilded Titanium case comes with a transparent back, revealing the pocket watch’s historic 406-grade open-face movement with notable components, including its double roller safety action and 19 jewels that energize its bronze-plated gears. The watch’s movement also features a center bridge plate, Going barrel, nickel finish, and pendant setting. To tie the piece together, we equipped it with our comfortable, artisan-designed Cordovan Black leather watch strap.
The Illinois Watch Company initially released this splendid pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1926 — the same year that the legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley died at age 66. Oakley made a name for herself as the star of Buffalo’s Bill’s Wild West show, where she accomplished impressive marksman feats such as shooting dimes and playing cards out the air. As part of the show, she would even shoot cigars that her husband, Frank E. Butler, held between his teeth.
Oakley solidified her place in western history by being the subject matter of the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Today, those interested in seeing Oakley’s impressive sharpshooting skills can view Thomas Edison’s early silent short film starring Oakley, The Little Sure Shot of the Wild West.
We’re pleased to showcase this stunning piece of American manufacturing history initially released by the American Waltham Watch Company in 1908 — the Boston 478. This watch boasts an exquisite enamel dial with stylish black hour numerals and blood-red minute numerals that look especially eye-catching against its immaculate white background. The front of the piece also features blued steel, fine spade watch hands and a useful matching subdial. We encased this sophisticated pocket watch within our robust and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a gold-plated crown.
On the back of the watch, you can see its 230-grade open-face movement with a Breguet hairspring, Patent regulator, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The watch’s rear side also reveals sumptuous gold and bronze-plated gears that are powered by 17 jewels throughout its ¾ plate. Finally, we matched this one-of-a-kind watch with our hand-crafted and comfortable Rye leather watch strap, making the final product even more unforgettable.
The American Waltham Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1908 — the same year that Mother’s Day was first celebrated. Anna Jarvis created Mother’s Day with the help of merchant and former United States Postmaster General John Wanamaker (check out the Chicago 499 for more information on Wanamaker) after Jarvis’ mother passed away.
The first Mother’s Day celebration was held in Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, and John Wanamaker held a ceremony the same day in his store in Philadelphia. News spread about this celebration, and Jarvis began campaigning for the day to become a national holiday.
In 1910, West Virginia recognized the holiday, and other states followed suit. The U.S. Congress then solidified the holiday on May 8, 1914, and declared the second Sunday in May to be Mother’s Day.
We’re happy to present to you this stunning wristwatch that features an antique pocket watch initially released by the Elgin National Watch Company —the Chicago 514. This remarkable piece boasts a cream-colored, single-sunk dial with a simple yet eye-catching center design and dark brown numerals with transparent drop shadows. The front of this handsome pocket watch also features a useful subdial and blued steel solid diamond kite watch hands. We complemented the watch’s unforgettable dial with our powerful, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and a nickel-plated crown.
Our Machined Titanium case features an open back, allowing you to see the pocket watch’s original 345-grade open-face movement with 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels that energize its sumptuous gold-plated gears. The movement also has a Going barrel, Quick train, Moseley regulator, Breguet hairspring, and ¾ plate. To top the piece off, we equipped it with our comfortable, hand-crafted Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap, making this one-of-a-kind piece even more unforgettable.
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1924 — the same year that George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts. Long before becoming the 41st President of the United States in 1989, Bush Sr. served as naval aviator in the United States Navy. He enlisted on his 18th birthday in 1942, around seven months after the United States officially declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy.
Bush Sr. first saw combat in 1944 when the United States bombed Wake Island. Later that year, Bush was part of an operation to attack Japanese forces in Chichijima, when his aircraft was shot down. Fortunately, Bush exited his aircraft in time and was saved by the USS Finback. Tragically, the other American airmen who were shot down during the conflict were executed — four of which were cannibalized by Japanese officers — in what’s now known as the Chichijima incident. The Japanese Lieutenant General who ordered the executions, Yoshio Tachibana, was executed for his war crimes in 1947.
We’re delighted to present to you this breathtaking antique pocket watch that was originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company over 120 years ago — the Chicago 499. This remarkable watch comes with a white, single-sunk dial with stylish black numerals and matching markings that read “John Wanamaker. Phila-New York,” referring to the Former United States Postmaster General and his now-defunct department store Wanamaker’s, which was one of the first department stores in the United States.
The watch’s impressive dial boasts blued steel spade watch hands and a helpful matching subdial. We encased this stunning pocket watch within our robust, glimmering Bronzed Titanium case and topped it off with a bronze-plated crown.
On the back of the watch, you can see its 193-grade open-face movement with a Breguet hairspring, Moseley regulator, Jeweled Safety barrel, and Quick train. You can also see its beautiful golden engravings that echo the dial’s markings, “John Wanamaker” and “Phila-New York.” This remarkable movement features bronze-plated gears that are powered by 19 screw-set ruby jewels with raised gold setting throughout its 3/4 plate. Finally, we matched this one-of-a-kind piece of history with our comfortable Natural leather watch strap.
The Elgin National Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1899 — the same year that the Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company Building was built at the corner of East Madison Street in Chicago. Today, the building is called the Sullivan Center.
Since its construction, various retailers have sold goods from the location, and the building is considered part of the Loop Retail Historic District. In 1970, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and five years later, it became a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Upcoming In-Person Events
Trade Show & Events Calendar:
Below, please find a list of our upcoming trade shows and events where you can try on a Vortic watch in person. We would love to meet you!
Boca Raton Fine Art Show | Boca Raton, FL | Jan 28 - 29
Naples Art National Art Fair | Naples, FL | Feb 25 - 26
Windup Watch Fair | San Francisco, CA | TBD, ~April, 2023)
Windup Watch Fair | Chicago, IL | (TBD, ~July, 2023)
Windup Watch Fair | New York City, NY | (TBD, ~ October, 2023)
One Of A Kind Show | Chicago, IL | (TBD, ~ December, 2023)
If you will be attending any of these shows, please send us an email. At the very least we'd like to shake your hand, and there may even be an opportunity for drinks or a social event at some of these locations if we get enough people!
