Your weekly roundup of now SIX one-of-a-kind watches is below, but first...
We're headed to the Golden City this weekend and we want to see you! We can’t believe we finally get to head back to San Francisco for the Windup Watch Fair!
"If you’re new to The Windup Watch Fair, it’s basically a three-day event that brings watch folks together in an approachable, and engaging environment. It’s always free and open to the public, and encourages everyone from seasoned collectors to first-time watch buyers to come in, take a look, and talk watches. " - Windup Watch Fair
To find out everything you need to know, just click the button below!
Custer & Wolfe Episode #3 Is Live!
Have you watched Episode #3 of Custer & Wolfe, Building A Watch Company? Come with us on a tour through our new machining and watchmaking space here in Fort Collins, Colorado. On episode three of Building a Watch Company, we share our building plans, discuss a new cleanroom for watchmaking and wrap it up with the machines we’re most excited to introduce to our shop.
Don't Forget, We're Hiring!
We have three, all in-person, positions in our new building in Fort Collins, Colorado, starting soon. Check out our Careers page for the descriptions, and make sure to tell your friends that are on the hunt for a new position too!
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!
We're up to SIX watches per week now!
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 pleased to showcase this beauty originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company — the Springfield 489. The Springfield is almost one hundred years old, and it proudly exudes its historic style through its sophisticated dial. It features an antique, cream-colored background along with dark, bold numerals. The dial also features an elegantly-designed center pattern and greenish-blue hour and minute hands. We equipped this marvelous piece with our scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case along with a nickel-colored crown. The glimmering case and crown emphasize the dial’s antique, rustic style.
The back of the watch boasts bronze-plated gears powered by 19 jewels atop its center bridge plate, and the watch also sports a 406-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. This watch was originally adjusted for three positions, however, we have now adjusted it to six total positions for the highest timekeeping accuracy. Finally, we added even more style to this one-of-a-kind piece by pairing it with our Rye leather watch strap.
The Illinois Watch Company initially manufactured this piece in 1923 — the same year that Time Magazine released its first issue. Briton Hadden and Henry Luce started the publication in New York City, and they originally intended to call the magazine “Facts.” They changed the name to Time and created an accompanying slogan, “Take Time — It’s Brief.” The first cover featured the 35th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Joseph Gurney Cannon. Since the first issue of Time, the magazine has featured a variety of political figures on the cover. President Richard Nixon holds the record of appearing the most times with 55 covers.
We’re pleased to showcase this distinct and sophisticated watch initially produced by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1912 — the Chicago 470. The watch’s dial features vivid details atop its pristine white background. It sports blue hour and minute hands and greenish-brown numerals with a distinct font style, and the dial also displays a subtle center design and a helpful subdial. We encased Elgin’s original pocket watch in our protective and stylish Machined Titanium case, drawing further attention to the dial’s unique details. This robust case also features an open back, revealing the pocket watch’s breathtaking inner workings.
You can view the watch’s 345-grade open-face movement with a double roller, ¾ plate, Moseley regulator, and Breguet hairspring. The back of the watch also boasts a small floral engraving near its sumptuous-looking gold-plated gears. Finally, 17 dazzling ruby and sapphire jewels power this one-of-a-kind piece. To top it all off, we made this historic item wearable with our premium, artisan-designed Cordovan Black leather watch strap, making the final piece even more stylish.
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1912 — the same year in which New Mexico became the 47 U.S. state. The United States gained control over New Mexico — as well as areas that are now part or all of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming — from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, which concluded the Mexican-American War. For years, the U.S. government debated whether to make the area an official state. Finally, on January 6, 1912, President Taft pressured members of Congress to approve New Mexico’s statehood.
We are excited to present this breathtaking, luxurious piece originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company in 1932 — the Springfield 490. The watch’s dial features a white background and a beautifully understated circular center design. The dial also boasts lavish-looking gold-colored minute and hour hands and lighter-gold-colored numerals, which look stunning against the white background. We paired this one-of-a-kind piece with our scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case, making the complete design glimmer even brighter while emphasizing its sumptuous-looking hands and numerals. We also equipped the watch with a gold-plated crown that further expresses the timepiece’s opulence.
On the back of the watch, you can view its 127-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish, pendant setting, and center bridge plate. It also boasts gold-plated gears powered by 17 stunning jewels. Finally, we paired the watch with our artisan-designed and comfortable Rye leather watch strap.
The Illinois Watch Company initially manufactured the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1932 — the same year that the Radio City Music Hall opened in Midtown Manhattan. The iconic venue located inside Rockefeller Center serves as the headquarters for the Rockettes, and it has hosted numerous important events, including concerts, movie premieres, the NFL draft, the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Tony Awards. The venue bears the nickname “the Showplace of the Nation” because of its cultural significance, and it became an official New York City Landmark in 1978.
We’re delighted to present the Boston 439, a one-of-a-kind, historic piece initially manufactured by the American Waltham Watch Company in 1935. The watch features a highly luxurious and unique dial with a white background, golden-colored numerals, and a distinct, Jackson Pollock-esque center dial design. The dial also sports sleek, dark navy hour and minute hands. We matched the pocket watch’s gold-colored numerals with a gold-plated crown and enclosed it in our sumptuous and protective PVD Zircon Gold case.
The case’s clear back reveals a 221-grade open-face movement with a bridge plate. The watch also boasts 21 breathtaking jewels and gold-plated gears. It also features gorgeous gold-colored engravings that emphasize the antique piece’s authenticity reading “Waltham U.S.A. Riverside.” To top it off, we paired the watch with our artisan-designed Cordovan Black leather watch strap, making the piece even more lavish.
The American Waltham Watch Company manufactured the watch in 1935 — the same year that President Franklin Roosevelt signed the US Social Security Act. The law was one of the many parts of Roosevelt’s New Deal, which addressed economic hardships caused by the Great Depression. The act established unemployment insurance, the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, and social security benefits. The act also led to the Social Security Amendments of 1965, creating the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
We're pleased to bring you this sophisticated piece originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1923 — the Chicago 469. This stunning watch boasts an immaculately designed dial with a pristine white background and dark, stylized numerals. It also sports a matching subdial as well as glimmering hour and minute hands. We equipped the pocket watch with a nickel-plated crown that pairs perfectly with the dial, and we encased the watch in our strong and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case. The case further emphasizes the watch's elegant design while offering excellent protection.
The back of the watch has a 384-grade open-face movement with a going barrel, Moseley regulator, and Breguet hairspring. It also features luxurious and breath-taking gold-plated gears powered by 17 sapphire and ruby jewels atop its ¾ plate. Finally, we matched the watch with our comfortable Natural leather watch strap, making this gorgeous piece of history conveniently wearable.
The Elgin National Watch Company manufactured the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year in which Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner founded the Warner Bros. In the 1920s, the studio was known for championing sound in moving as they released the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, the first feature film to use recorded speech and singing. In 1956 — long after Sam Warner's death — Jack Warner secretly purchased a controlling interest in the company after convincing Harry and Albert to sell their stocks. After learning of his deception, Harry and Albert cut all ties with Jack and never spoke to him again.
We're pleased to showcase this stunning and unique piece initially manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1925 — the Chicago 468. The watch features a highly distinct dial with old-fashioned brown numerals against a light tan background, and the dial also sports a notable, antique center design. The watch sports stunning navy blue minute and hour hands that shine vividly against the dial's rustic colors. We matched the pocket watch with our scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case, and we added a copper-plated crown that further emphasizes the piece's antique style.
Our Machined Titanium's rear display case offers a breathtaking look into the watch's internal design, including a 345-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. You can also view the piece's luxurious and robust gold-plated gears along with its Moseley regulator and Breguet hairspring. Additionally, the watch's ¾ plate boasts 17 ruby and sapphire jewels. We equipped the watch with our comfortable and durable Stone leather watch strap, drawing further attention to the watch's one-of-a-kind dial.
The Elgin National Watch Company manufactured this piece in Elgin, Illinois, in 1925 — the same year that the historic Scopes Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee. Tennessee authorities indicted John Thomas Scopes on May 25, 1925, for breaking Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited teaching evolution in public schools. The jury found Scopes guilty on July 21, resulting in a $100 fine, around $1,622 in 2022. Although the case occurred in a small Tennessee town, the Scopes trial received international attention. According to American historian Edward John Larson, twenty-two telegraphers sent out 165,000 words per day reporting on the trial.
