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Two Months Until Military Edition!
Your weekly roundup of one-of-a-kind watches is below, but first... We only are two months out from the Military Fourth Edition! Are you on the Military Edition Waiting List? We're going to start releasing information about this year's limited edition watches soon, and we don't want you to miss it! Our plan is to debut the watch at the Windup Watch Fair in New York City, so that'll likey be the firs time you see images of this year's final product, but we'll make sure you get your questions answered first if you're on the list! The most important thing you need to know is that it'll be available for purchase at 12pm Mountain Time on November 11th (Veterans Day)! Sign up for the waiting list so you don't miss it!  If you know know what we're talking about, the Military Edition is our 50-piece limited edition set of watches housing antique American pocket watches originally flown on the B bombers in World War Two. It's the ultimate piece of military history and you definitely don't want to miss it. Click the button below to learn more and make sure you're on the list!  We Survived August! Time flies when you’re learning new things, and August was a blur for us at Vortic Watch Co. In this episode of Custer & Wolfe, we update you on what we’ve learned lately. We’ll discuss new processes we’re innovating for our highly anticipated military edition coming out in November, give you some behind-the-scenes information about our new DMG machines, and dish out new details about the saga of the sign. If you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting on the latest Vortic news, you can sink back into your chair, and join us in this episode as we talk shop about everything going on at Vortic!  Should we get even more detailed? What other questions about our process do you have? Let us know what else you want to see in the comments on YouTube or by replying to this email! Here's your Weekly Roundup! Every Tuesday we send this Weekly Roundup of our most recent Watch of the Day watches. Many 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!  We’re so happy to show you this remarkable piece that features an antique pocket watch that the Illinois Watch Company manufactured in 1920 — the Springfield 531. This breathtaking piece of history displays a cream-colored dial with blue-steeled gothic watch hands. The watch’s front also presents stylish black numerals and a matching subdial. We paired this magnificent pocket watch with our strong, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a copper-plated crown. In addition to style and protection, our Machined Titanium case also features a clear back, enabling watch enthusiasts to view the pocket watch’s original 405-grade open-face movement. You can also see the timepiece’s sumptuous gold-colored engraving that appropriately reads “The Autocrat.” Additionally, the watch’s back boasts bronze-plated gears powered by 17 stunning jewels within its center bridge plate. Finally, we made this piece even more special by equipping it with our comfortable, one-of-a-kind Natural leather watch strap. The Illinois Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1920 — the same year Carrie Chapman Catt and Emma Smith DeVoe founded the League of Women Voters (LWV) during the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) convention in Chicago. Although the league was originally created specifically for women, the organization’s main goal is now to offer a nonpartisan organization that educates everyone in the democratic process and encourages them to vote. DeVoe suggested the idea for the LWV in 1909, eleven years before the Nineteenth Amendment was certified, allowing women to vote. She then formed the National Council of Women Voters in 1911. Catt served as the first president of NAWSA after its founder, Susan B. Anthony, retired in 1900. Through DeVoe and Catt’s negotiations, NAWSA and the National Council of Women Voters merged to become the League of Women Voters months before the federal government certified the Nineteenth Amendment.  We’re delighted to showcase this sleek and stylish watch originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company over a century ago — the Chicago 477. The pocket watch boasts a highly sophisticated style with black numerals and a matching subdial that display crisply against its pristine white background. The front of the watch also features black solid diamond kite hands. We complemented the dial’s shades and elegant style by pairing it with our robust DLC case and a nickel-plated crown. On the back of the watch, you can view its 384-grade open-face movement with highly desirable details, such as its Breguet hairspring, Mosley regulator, quick train, and going barrel. This stunning watch also features gold-plated gears powered by 17 ruby and sapphire screw-set jewels throughout its ¾ plate. Finally, we continued emphasizing the watch’s one-of-a-kind style by equipping it with our hand-crafted Black leather watch strap. The Elgin National Watch Company initially produced the Chicago 477’s pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1921 — the same year Charles Chaplin Productions released the iconic silent film The Kid. The Kid has stood the test of time through its mix of drama and Chaplin-styled comedy and is widely regarded as one of the best silent-era films. The film features Charlie Chaplin’s iconic character “The Tramp” along with a child — the titular kid — played by Jackie Coogan. At the time of the film’s release, Coogan was known for his vaudeville performances, and many now consider him the first major child star. Tragically, Chaplin’s infant son died just ten days before production began on The Kid, leading many film enthusiasts to speculate that his heart-wrenching performance sprang from his personal tragedy. The Library of Congress entered the film into the United States National Film Registry in 2011.  We’re thrilled to present to you this sumptuous watch that was initially produced by the Illinois Watch Company in 1911 — the Springfield 487. This remarkable piece features a breathtaking light-gray dial with stylized gold-colored numerals and an intricate center design. On the watch’s front, you can also view its useful subdial and gold-colored heavy moon watch hands. We emphasized the piece’s golden features by encasing it within our artisan-designed Gilded Titanium case, and we equipped it with a matching gold-plated crown. The back of the watch showcases a 273-grade open-face movement with a going barrel and train bridge plate, which you can view thanks to our case’s transparent back. You can also see additional remarkable features, such as the watch’s gold-plated gears powered by 17 jewels. To tie this antique piece together, we paired it with our hand-crafted and comfortable Olive leather watch strap, making this historic watch even more special and stylish. The Illinois Watch Company originally manufactured the Springfield 487’s pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1911, which was the same year the United States military began using the M1911, also called the Colt 1911 and Colt Government. What makes this semi-automatic pistol special is that it’s highly practical and reliable with its short recoil system and ergonomic grip. John Browning invented this landmark fireman after the U.S. military began searching for a new sidearm standard. Before incorporating the M1911, U.S. troops used the Colt M1892. During the Philippine-American War, the military fought against Tausūg guerrillas in the jungles of the Philippines. They quickly learned that the .38-caliber Colt M1892 was insufficient against the guerrilla forces, and with many complaints about the firearm, the military began testing for a new standard. The .45 ACP M1911 trounced competing weapons and became the official U.S. military sidearm until it was replaced by 9mm Beretta M9 in 1985.  We’re excited to showcase this antique beauty originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1933 — the Lancaster 159. This historic piece features an aged dial with gold-brown numerals against its light-tan background, and the watch boasts blued steel gothic hands that shine vividly. We paired this one-of-a-kind watch with our Machined Titanium case and nickel-plated crown, adding even more style to the final product. Our scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case comes with a transparent back, allowing you to see its original 912-grade open-face movement with a ¾ plate and reed regulator. You can also see the pocket watch’s sumptuous gold-plated gears powered by 17 screw-set jewels. To top it off, we equipped the piece with our handcrafted and elegant Cordovan Black leather watch strap, making the final watch even more special and eye-catching. The Hamilton Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1933 — the same year that the Lone Ranger debuted on WXYZ in Detroit. The program — created by radio station owner George W. Trendle and writer Fran Striker — became an immediate success, leading to multiple television series, films, novels, and comic books based on the radio program. The original Lone Ranger radio show ran for almost 3,000 episodes, and its popularity also led to the spinoff show The Green Hornet. Although The Green Hornet centers around the Lone Ranger’s grand nephew, Britt Reid, separate companies eventually obtained the rights to the different franchises, meaning it’s unlikely that the Lone Ranger will receive a mention in future adaptations of The Green Hornet franchise.  We’re pleased to present this exquisite piece initially produced by the Illinois Watch Company over a century ago — the Springfield 515. The original pocket watch features a highly unique dial with a detailed center design, black bold numerals, and an eye-catching blue-gray background color. The front of the watch also boasts breathtaking aqua heavy moon watch hands and a helpful subdial. We made this piece even more special by encasing it within our robust and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case, and we equipped it with a nickel-plated crown. On the back of the watch, you can view its stunning inner workings, including its 404-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. The piece also comes with bronze-plated gears powered by 17 stunning jewels throughout its center bridge plate. Finally, we matched the piece with our simple yet stylish handcrafted Black leather watch strap, complementing the pocket watch’s gorgeous design and colors. The Illinois Watch Company originally manufactured the Springfield 515’s splendid pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1917 — the same year that the women’s suffrage group the Silent Sentinels of Liberty protested outside of the White House during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency. The National Woman’s Party and suffragette Alice Stokes Paul organized the picket protest made up of over 2,000 women. Around 500 of the protesters were arrested for the illegal protest, and 168 ended up serving jail time. Two years after the Silent Sentinel’s White House protest, the House of Representatives and Senate passed the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote.  We are thrilled to showcase this brilliant watch, initially created by the Illinois Watch Company in 1929 — the Springfield 530. This piece is in pristine condition, encased by machined titanium and a beautiful tan leather strap. On the watch face, you’ll see beautifully curved numbers and a cobalt hand against a stark white background. On the center of the face, the private label is artfully inscribed: “Sante Fe Special.” This private label gives the watch even more authority, as it was specifically named to bring prestige to the wearer. Moving to the back of the watch, you can peer through the clear display case and see the delicate gears and machined bridge plate, working together to make this piece shine. With 279-grade movement, this watch boasts 21 jewels and a beautiful golden inscription on the bridge plate, reminding the wearer that this watch is a “Sante Fe Special.” This watch was originally manufactured in Springfield, Illinois, in 1929 — the same year when New York’s Museum of Modern Art was created. According to the Founding Director Alfred H. Barr. Jr., MoMA was built to provide New York with “the greatest museum of modern art in the world.” A decade later, in 1939, the museum was able to open its door and welcome New Yorkers and visitors alike to experience modern art at a whole new level. From its initial gift of just eight prints and one drawing, the MoMA proudly houses approximately 200,000 works of art today. Upcoming In-Person Events Below, please find a list of our upcoming trade shows. Tyler and/or R.T. will be attending most of these shows and would love to meet you! Trade Show Calendar: - Firefly Handmade | Boulder, Colorado | Sept 16 - 18 - WindUp Watch Fair | New York, New York | Oct 21 - 23 - America Field | Denver, Colorado | Oct 28 - 30 - MicroLux | Austin, TX | Nov 5 - 6 - Fountain Hills Art Festival | Fountain Hills, AZ | Nov 11 - 13 - One of a Kind | Chicago, IL | Dec 1 - 4 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! |
