WELCOME!
Your Weekly Roundup of watches is below, but first...
Some of you have been with us for almost a decade while some of you we've just recently met on our travels around the country so it's me, R.T., and I'm here to say hello!
Here's the brief history on Vortic Watch Company: Tyler Wolfe and I met in college at Penn State about 2010. There were class projects, lots of conversations about watches, some great ideas while golfing, and ultimately the basis of a business plan. The original plan was not to convert pocket watches into wristwatches but we don't have the time (pun intended) to get into the details of that now.
Throughout our research in the watch world, we found most pocket watch 'guts' are scrapped for the precious metals often found in the cases. We started thinking... if we salvaged and restored these inner workings originally produced here in America and re-built them in cases we manufactured here, we would have a 100% American-made watch!
Fast forward to 2013, Tyler and I launched this idea on Kickstarter with a video we filmed in our garage (see the bottom left photo). From that we started what is known as Vortic today: antique American pocket watches converted into one-of-a-kind wristwatches.
Of course, there have been the peaks and valleys that come with owning any business - like being bullied by a Goliath in our industry (see last week's email) or buying a building in Old Town Fort Collins - but we continue to persevere to uphold our mission to "preserve and enhance the legacy of manufacturing excellence in America."
I get to write these emails, work with an amazing team, and continue to build the coolest company alongside a great friend of mine. I'd be remiss if I didn't share a round of gratitude for the things that got us here today.
Thank you to each of you, for your support and following along on our crazy journey - it's far from over! I am so grateful for the marvelous team that is in the nitty-gritty each day and so talented at what they do. To our legal team through the six-year legal battle we've endured, without your belief in us, we would not be here. To all of the family and friends who have supported us through the challenges of business ownership, you are priceless and integral to our success. I, and we, feel incredibly grateful... thank you, thank you, thank you!
Here's your Weekly Roundup!
The time is now (pun intended) to pick your one-of-a-kind Vortic Watch. Our team has been working hard to provide you with a variety of unique timepieces. Take a look, there's something for everyone!
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! They tend to sell quickly.
We are just too excited about how this watch came out, we are really feeling the blue on this one! We would love to introduce you to our Springfield 439, a magnificent timepiece from the Illinois Watch Company. We knew right away when we saw this dial that dark navy straps and bold blued steel hands to match would be a truly stunning combination. The accents on the inside of the dial pull you in for a closer look, pointing out all the fantastic age marks and wear and tear that has occurred over the years. We love to preserve the watches to the state that we get them in, and emphasize their age as a point of pride. This watch was manufactured in Springfield, Illinois in 1920 and still lives proudly over 100 years later.
As you turn the watch over, a wonderfully subtle patina continues the vintage feel of this watch, showcasing some of the finer details of the Geneva lines that have been carefully machined across the build plates. 17 screw set jewels and stainless steel hardware throughout help emphasize some of the discolorations that carries throughout. Rose-gold gears show from beneath, while this brass balance wheel with double-roller escapement keeps everything running smoothly. This is the first year that the United States began to keep track of a national census. The system wasn’t perfect at first but came in with a population of just over 100 million people at this time.
We are happy to bring you this wonderful timepiece from the Waltham Watch Company, our Boston 145. We are absolutely in love with the layout and look of the dial on this watch. It is rare that we see a simplistic dial such as this without traditional numerals, and the gold-colored accents matched with the hands are absolutely stunning. The minute indicators around the outside add that extra flair and detail. A gold-coated crown and hardware compliment the dial and pair well with our Yukon strap. We went with our machined titanium case to bring attention and contrast the design elements of the face and are very happy with how it turned out.
As if the outer appearance isn’t enough to show off, you will be taking this watch off to share the beauty of what is revealed beneath through our signature open-backed case. This large build plate has been carefully manufactured with a Rose Engine lathe to create this spectacular damaskeening all throughout. 17 screw-set and friction-set jewels keep everything running smoothly, while the gold-plated gears quietly reveal themselves beneath.
This watch was originally produced in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1933. This is the very same year that the United States of America finally repealed the prohibition act, ending a 13-year drought of liquor sales during that time. America was still on its heels at this time, trying to come out of the Great Depression, and American Made products such as this one are part of the base that helped us climb back on our feet again.
We are happy to present to you this beautiful watch from the Waltham Watch Company, our Boston 353. We love the unique look and feel of this beautiful watch, featuring a gorgeous coat of arms design in the center of the dial and stunning Gothic-style numerals. Each and every watch that we make has its own flair of character and signature look, and we just love exploring the different stories of each and every one of them. The maroon full moon hands pair well with the soft tones of the dial and complement the gunmetal titanium case nicely. We topped it off with our nickel-plated crown and hardware, as well as our classy black cordovan strap.
The heart of this watch is powered by nothing other than the high-end Riverside movement, boasting 19 screw-set and friction-set jewels throughout. Decorated all across the nickel-plated build surfaces to give a very unique look, as well as gold-plated gears that show through from beneath to add to the appeal.
This watch was originally manufactured in 1923 in Waltham, Massachusetts. In this same year, the New York Renaissance, better known as the “Rens” was formed in Harlem. This was the very first all-black professional basketball team in America. Manager Bob Douglas made a deal with Harlem real estate developer William Roach, the owner of the new Renaissance Ballroom and Casino to let them play their home games in his ballroom in exchange for changing the team name to match.
We are happy to present to you this beautiful watch from the Waltham Watch Company, our Boston 353. We love the unique look and feel of this beautiful watch, featuring a gorgeous coat of arms design in the center of the dial and stunning Gothic-style numerals. Each and every watch that we make has its own flair of character and signature look, and we just love exploring the different stories of each and every one of them. The maroon full moon hands pair well with the soft tones of the dial and complement the gunmetal titanium case nicely. We topped it off with our nickel-plated crown and hardware, as well as our classy black cordovan strap.
The heart of this watch is powered by nothing other than the high-end Riverside movement, boasting 19 screw-set and friction-set jewels throughout. Decorated all across the nickel-plated build surfaces to give a very unique look, as well as gold-plated gears that show through from beneath to add to the appeal. This watch was originally manufactured in 1923 in Waltham, Massachusetts.
In this same year, the New York Renaissance, better known as the “Rens” was formed in Harlem. This was the very first all-black professional basketball team in America. Manager Bob Douglas made a deal with Harlem real estate developer William Roach, the owner of the new Renaissance Ballroom and Casino to let them play their home games in his ballroom in exchange for changing the team name to match.
For this release, we are very excited to showcase this incredibly unique timepiece from the Elgin National Watch Company, our Chicago 114. This dial is truly one-of-a-kind with wonderfully detailed birds of paradise in the center of the dial. The level of craftsmanship displayed in the manufacturing of this watch is awe-inspiring and is part of why we love what we do, bringing new life to these old watches. The shadow numerals jump off of the face, bringing contrast to the shimmer of the case and dial that is sure to grab the attention of an entire room. A simple black band and nickel crown are the smaller details that let the rest of the watch show off nicely.
As we turn this watch over to discover the movement within, we are amazed by the natural patina that has begun to show the age of this watch over time. Adorned with 17 screw set jewels and stainless steel hardware throughout. Gold-plated gears and a brass balance wheel show from beneath the build plate, adding to the visual appeal of this beautiful movement that was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois in 1923.
As we approach Fall we find ourselves celebrating all of the wonderful accomplishments of this summer. The Autumn Equinox marks the date and time of when the sun crosses the equator from the Northern Hemisphere into the Southern Hemisphere, as we begin the transition into Fall here in Colorado. Many different cultures around the world celebrate this time in a number of different ways and traditions throughout the centuries. For us, we enjoy the celebration of time and transition, taking the old and making it new again. We see this as a time to reflect on the good things that came before, and the great things still to come.
