Saturday's Just Got A Lot Better!

Saturday's Just Got A Lot Better!

Have you seen Episode 1?

"Custer & Wolfe, Building A Watch Company"

 Your weekly roundup of now SIX one-of-a-kind watches is below, but first...

Have you seen our new YouTube show?

You've been asking us to see more behind the scenes, and it's going to be messy, but we want to share with you! Cue: "Custer & Wolfe, Building A Watch Company". Our new TV show based on YouTube will document and share our process of renovating a building, moving, navigating engineering challenges, watchmaking, and so much more! Check out our first episode now! 

 
 

We're starting with bi-weekly episodes with the intention to scale to weekly content over the next few months. 

In the first episode of Building a Watch Company, we dive into how we decided to start restoring antique pocket watches, what it takes to make a watch, and how our company got off the ground. From past to present we’ve grown our machining capabilities in order to make the  American Artisan watch Series watches - tune in to find out more! 

Leave us a comment on YouTube or reply to this email and let us know what else you want to see or learn. We can't wait to share!

 
 
 
 

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!

Did you notice we posted a new watch on Saturday!? YES! We're up to SIX watches per week now! We're so excited to share an extra watch every week with you and give you 20% more options to choose from for your next Vortic watch!

 

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 excited to present you this stunning and pristine watch initially manufactured by the American Waltham Watch Company — the Boston 436. Originally created in 1910, this watch features an immaculate white dial background with dark blue minute and hour hands. The dial also features light-red minute indicators, contrasting the distinct and elegantly-designed hour numerals. The watch also features a perfectly matching subdial that reinforces its simple yet classic style. We matched the pocket watch’s sophisticated original design with our Machined Titanium case and nickel-plated crown. The combination conveys a highly refined piece of fashion and history.

Our case also features a clear back that reveals its impressive open-face movement. The back of the watch displays a highly stylized “W.W.Co.” engraving, which conveys its authenticity. 17 jewels and gold-plated gears power this one-of-a-kind piece. We further reinforced the watch’s elegant style by equipping it with our artisan-crafted natural leather watch strap.

The American Waltham Watch Company initially produced this watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1910 — the same year that William D. Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America. Boyce was inspired to form Boy Scouts of America from his interaction with a boy in London in 1909. Boyce was lost when an anonymous member of the UK’s Boy Scout Association assisted him and helped him reach his destination. Boyce attempted to tip the boy, now known as the “Unknown Scout,” but he refused and stated that he was doing his “daily good turn,” referring to the Scout’s slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily.” Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America four months later on February 8, 1910.

 

We’re happy to present this breathtaking and distinct watch initially created by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1925 — the Chicago 456. This piece sports a highly unique cream-colored dial with dark gray minute and hour hands, while the subdial features a darker tone resembling a mix of cream and bronze. The center of the dial features intricately expanding circles stacked on top of one another just before reaching the numerals. The numerals are highly stylized with a unique text-shadow, and the dial also has small circular minute indicators. We paired the uniquely-styled pocket watch with our one-of-a-kind, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and bronze-coated crown.

Our watch’s clear display case presents the intricate inner workings of its 345-grade open-face movement. 17 ruby and sapphire jewels power this piece along with its gold-plated gears. Finally, we improved the original pocket watch’s unique color scheme by equipping it with our signature tobacco leather watch strap.

The Elgin National Watch Company initially created this piece in Elgin, Illinois, in 1925 — the same year in which Amtrak opened the Chicago Union Station in the Near West Side. The station is an iconic structure and features Corinthian columns and Bedford limestone Beaux-Arts facades. Construction on the station initially began in 1913, but production temporarily stopped because of World War I. Construction started back up in 1919 after World War I concluded in 1918, and the architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White finally completed the station in 1925. Today, the station is one of the busiest rail terminals in the United States and has around 140,000 passengers on a standard weekday.

 

We’re thrilled to present you with our gorgeous Lancaster 131 wristwatch. The Hamilton Watch Company initially created the pocket watch within our Lancaster 131 in 1926, and its breathtaking dial is unique, to say the least. The dial’s background has a look reminiscent of wood grain with vertical parallel lines, and the watch also features dark shades along its edge. In keeping with the wood aesthetic, the watch features dark brown numerals. We paired Hamilton’s original creation with our durable Gunmetal case and gold-plated crown, both of which further enhance the Lancaster’s one-of-a-kind design.

The back of the watch features a 902-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. 19 stunning jewels and bronze-plated gears power the robust and reliable movement. The center bridge plate boasts five different adjustable positions, and the back of the watch also features a stylized “Hamilton Lancaster, PA” engraving. Finally, we matched the Lancaster 131 with our unique Cordovan Black leather watch strap with a gold-plated buckle.

The Hamilton Watch Company crafted the original pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1926 — the same year in which Henry Ford announced the standard 40-hour workweek for Ford Motor Company workers, laying the groundwork for other American companies to follow suit. Henry Ford worked tirelessly to maximize efficiency at Ford Motor Company, and through his company’s research, he discovered that productivity begins to plateau after around 40 hours of work. With this discovery, Ford implemented a workweek consisting of five eight-hour workdays. Henry Ford also increased productivity ten years earlier by raising Ford’s minimum wage from $2.34 for nine hours to $5 for eight hours of work. Although others in the automotive industry were baffled by Henry Ford’s decisions, his innovations greatly enhanced Ford Motor Company’s productivity and growth.

 

We're pleased to present this gorgeous piece originally crafted by the Illinois Watch Company — the Springfield 474. The watch conveys unique style and artistry with its rustic dial, dark blue hands, and slightly aged, distinct numerals. We equipped the original pocket watch with our glossy and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and a nickel-plated crown. The case and crown's bright tones emphasize the dial's shading, creating a one-of-a-kind design.

The back of the watch sports a 406-grade, open-face movement with a center bridge plate. It includes three adjustable positions powered by bronze-plated gears and 19 jewels. The watch's movement exhibits a nickel finish and pendant setting. To top it all off, we paired the pocket watch and custom case with our navy leather watch strap which compliments the watch's memorable style.

The Illinois Watch Company created the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1925 — the same year that Walter Chrysler created the Chrysler Corporation. The Maxwell Motor Company preceded the Chrysler Corporation, but Walter Chrysler took control of the company in its final days. Maxwell Motor accumulated a substantial amount of debt as it expanded in the late 1910s and early 1920s, leading to Walter Chrysler buying up controlling interest in the company's voting stock in 1921. Chrysler became the chairman of Maxwell Motor's board, and in 1925, he created the Chrysler Corporation and absorbed Maxwell Motors. Although Maxwell Motor Company became defunct, Chrysler used their original car designs to create the Plymouth automobile. 

 

We are thrilled to present this piece initially crafted by the Hamilton Watch Company — the Lancaster 130. Hamilton built this piece of American history in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and they spared no expense when it came to designing the dial and movement. The dial's simple yet elegant design features a light background contrasting its dark and stylish numerals. We created our wristwatch out of Hamilton's original pocket watch by matching it with our DLC black case and copper crown. The case finish complements the dark numerals while emphasizing the light dial background.

The Lancaster 130's back features 916-grade, open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. The piece's clear display reveals its breathtaking, gold-plated gears powered by 17 jewels. We equipped this luxurious historical watch with our richly-colored Merlot leather strap.

Hamilton Watch Company originally crafted this piece in 1927 — the same year that pilot Charles Lindbergh flew The Spirit of St. Louis from New York to Paris. The flight was a groundbreaking landmark in American and aviation history because it was the first time a solo pilot completed a nonstop transatlantic flight. Other pilots attempted the same flight that year, but Charles Lindbergh was the only aviator who attempted the flight without another crew member. Tragically, six people died trying to fly nonstop to Europe before Lindbergh's success. On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh took flight in his single-engine monoplane and arrived in Paris almost 34 hours later after traveling 3,600 miles. 

 

Today, we are pleased to present this rare and prestigious beauty originally built by the American Waltham Watch Company — the Boston 432. Waltham created this pocket watch in 1901, and they only produced around 200 of this model that year. This incredibly clean white enamel dial grabs your attention with contrasting dark numerals, as well as red minute indicators around the outside. We paired Waltham’s original creation with our unique Machined Titanium case, emphasizing the dial’s distinct coloring. To top it all off, the Boston 432 features our nickel crown and hardware and topped off this one-of-a-kind piece of history with our moss leather strap.

The back of the watch features 401-grade, open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. The ¾ bridge plate features gold-plated gears, 17 jewels, and an absolutely gorgeous engraving reading “Waltham, U.S.A.” The American Waltham Watch Company built the original pocket watch in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1901 — the same year that Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States. Roosevelt was originally sworn in as Vice President to William McKinley on March 4, 1901. In September of that year, President McKinley was shot by the anarchist Leon Czolgosz and died a week later from his wound. Roosevelt was only 42 years old when he entered office, making him the youngest president in U.S. history.

 

Buy Now, Pay Over Time WithAffirm Logo