Did you catch Episode 5?
Your weekly roundup of one-of-a-kind watches is below, but first...
Did you catch episode 5 of Custer & Wolfe, Building a Watch Company on YouTube? This episode is all about the history of Vortic's watches. We discuss the development process of our engineering systems and what we're working on next!
Here's your Weekly Roundup!
Every Tuesday we send this Weekly Roundup of our most recent Watch of the Day watches. Most watches sell within minutes or hours, 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!
Today, we’re happy to showcase this breathtaking piece of history initially produced by the Hampden Watch Company — the Canton 021. The watch’s dial sports bold, dark numerals and blood orange minute numerals, which look stunning against its immaculate white background. This piece also features dark spade hands with a touch of blue. We paired the original pocket watch with our Machined Titanium case and copper crown, making the piece look even more luxurious.
The case features an open back, revealing the original pocket watch’s intricate and sumptuous inner workings. The watch boasts a 310-grade open-face movement with a gilt inlay color, Hampden Star regulator, and double roller escapement. The piece also boasts gold-plated gears powered by 17 ruby and sapphire jewels. To top it off, we equipped the watch with our comfortable and fashionable Merlot leather watch strap, adding even more sophistication to the final product.
The Hampden Watch Company manufactured the original pocket watch in Canton, Ohio, in 1911 — the same year that American explorer and Senator Hiram Bingham III rediscovered Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel located in the Urubamba Province in Peru. Bingham rediscovered the historic site while serving as a professor of South American history at Yale. He organized a Yale Peruvian Expedition in 1911, and the expedition rediscovered Machu Picchu in addition to other famous Incan sites like Vitcos and Vilcabamba.
We're pleased to present this stunning piece originally produced by the American Waltham Watch Company 119 years ago — the Boston 445. We immediately fell in love with this dial, the clean white enamel contrasts well with the dark numerals and red minute indicators. The dial also features dark gray hands with a light-blue hint that looks breathtaking against its white background. We encased the original pocket watch within our bold and robust DLC black case and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown.
The movement within is none other than the magnificent Riverside Maximus, with a Breguet hairspring, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The piece's original pocket watch also features gold-plated gears with 23 stunning screw-set jewels throughout. Finally, we equipped this remarkable watch with our hand-crafted Rye leather watch strap, making it even more eye-catching.
The American Waltham Watch Company initially manufactured the Boston 445's pocket watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1903 — the same year that William S. Harley and the Davidson brothers founded Harley-Davidson, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company began when Harley and his childhood friend, Arthur Davidson, produced a small motorcycle engine with 116 cc engine displacement and 102-millimeter flywheels. The company started in the Davidsons' shed, but they built their first factory only three years later. Today, Harley-Davidson's headquarters remain remains at this same location on W Juneau Avenue.
We’re happy to showcase this unique piece originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1924 — the Lancaster 138. The watch features an antique dial with a light-cream-colored background and fashionable center design. It also sports distinct and stylish light-brown numerals. We matched the pocket watch with our glimmering, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case, and we paired the piece with a copper crown, which emphasizes the dial’s notable numerals.
On the back of the timepiece, you can view its 912-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish, pendant setting, and black inlay color. The watch also boasts a Reed regulator as well as stunning gold-plated gears powered by 17 jewels on top of its ¾ plate. We further emphasized the watch’s rustic yet luxurious design and colors by equipping it with our hand-crafted Natural leather watch strap.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially produced the watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1924 — the same year in which J. Edgar Hoover became the Director of the Bureau of Investigation, which was the predecessor to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Today, Hoover is an incredibly controversial figure known for abusing his power and wiretapping Martin Luther King Jr., but he also founded and shaped the FBI. He served as the first Director of the FBI from 1935 until his death in 1972.
We’re happy to display this sophisticated piece originally produced by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1920 — the Chicago 472. The timepiece sports a dial with a pristine, white background and bold numerals. The dial also features dark gray minute and hour hands. We paired this elegant yet straightforward pocket watch with our powerful Machined Titanium case and nickel-plated crown. The case and crown glimmer impressively and add even more brilliance to the piece.
The Machined Titanium’s clear back allows you to view the timepiece’s breathtaking 345-grade open-face movement as well as other stunning details, including a Breguet hairspring and Moseley regulator. The watch also features lavish-looking gold-plated gears powered by 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels. To top it all off, we equipped the watch with our comfortable, one-of-a-kind Mojave leather watch strap, adding a rustic touch to the distinguished timepiece.
The Elgin National Watch Company initially manufactured the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1920 — the same year that the United States had its first commercial broadcast. The Pittsburgh-based AM radio station KDKA made the first radio broadcast on November 2 to report the presidential election results. That year, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge trounced James M. Cox and Franklin D. Roosevelt by 277 electoral votes, and Harding won the popular vote by over 7 million votes. Although the KDKA’s election coverage was a groundbreaking moment in US broadcast history, only around 1000 people heard it.
We're thrilled to present you this historic piece initially produced by the Hamilton Watch Company — the Lancaster 139. The watch features a stunningly luxurious dial with golden numerals atop its cream-colored background, and the timepiece also sports dark gray minute and hour hands. The minute hand also features a touch of blue near its base. We continued emphasizing the watch's sumptuous style by equipping it with a gold-plated crown that matches its numerals. We encased the timepiece in our robust, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case.
On the back of the watch, you can view the watch's 912-grade open-face movement with a pendant setting, nickel finish, and Reed regulator. The piece also boasts breathtaking gold-plated gears powered by 17 jewels atop its ¾ plate. Finally, we paired the watch with our comfortable, artisan-designed Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap, making the final creation even more eye-catching.
The Hamilton Pocket Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1931 — the same year that President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional act that made "The Star-Spangled Banner" America's official national anthem. Francis Scott Key created the lyrics to our anthem in 1814, and many already considered the song our national anthem throughout the 19th century, including different military branches. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating the song as our national anthem. Congress and President Hoover confirmed President Wilson's order by officially signing it into law on March 3, 1931.
We're pleased to showcase this antique piece originally manufactured by the American Waltham Watch Company in 1900 — the Boston 443. This watch sports a stunning cream-colored dial with a floral center pattern and dark, classically-styled numerals. The piece also features vivid blue hour and minute hands that look stunning against the dial's elegant design. We paired the original pocket watch with our glimmering, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case, and we topped it off with a nickel-plated crown that matches the piece's dial.
The back of our Machined Titanium case features a clear display, revealing the intricate and remarkable inner workings. It boasts a Maximus-grade open-face movement with a Patent regulator, Breguet hairspring, and a ¾ plate. You can also view the timepiece's gold-plated gears powered by 21 splendid jewels. Finally, we equipped the watch with our elegant yet simple Stout leather watch strap, adding both comfort and even more style to the completed piece.
The American Waltham Watch Company initially produced this pocket watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1900 — the same year that the United States Navy acquired and commissioned its first modern submarine, the USS Holland (SS-1). The Holland Torpedo Boat Company constructed the USS Holland (SS-1) in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1897. It was 53 feet and 10 inches long and could reach a speed of 5.5 knots (6.3 miles per hour) while submerged. Although the USS Holland (SS1) was the United States' first modern submarine, our first military submarine was the 1775 American Turtle, which we used against the British during the Revolutionary War.
