One Month Until The Military Edition!
Your weekly roundup of one-of-a-kind watches is below, but first...
We are exactly ONE MONTH from the release of our Military Edition watch! Each year on Veterans Day (November 11), we release this 50-piece limited edition set, and we are thrilled to be so close to continuing the tradition with the release of our fourth edition!
Check out this week's Custer&Wolfe, Building a Watch Company episode to learn more about "The Watch That Won The War."
This week R.T. documents everything he knows about the history of the pocket watches inside our Military Edition wristwatches. From almost 8 years of researching and countless conversations with collectors, watchmakers, historians and veterans, this video just might be the most comprehensive history on the Hamilton 4992B and it’s related navigational timepieces.
We call these watches “conversation pieces” and they’re certainly historical artifacts, but the Military Edition is definitely the ultimate piece of military history for the wrist! Answer this email or comment on this YouTube video with your questions. We showcase it to the world next week at the Windup Watch Fair in New York City!
Here's your Weekly Roundup!
Every Tuesday we send this Weekly Roundup of our most recent Watch of the Day watches. Some of last week's watches went FAST, 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!
This luxurious watch was originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company over a century ago — the Springfield 542. This antique watch boasts a remarkable dial with a stunning center design made up of a floral pattern and a seven-pointed star. The front of the watch also features dark golden numerals that look splendid against its gold-colored background, and it also features blued steel heavy moon watch hands. We emphasized the dial’s sumptuous colors by encasing it within our robust Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a gold-plated crown.
Our Machined Titanium case features an open back that allows you to view the pocket watch’s original inner workings, including a 410-grade open-face movement with a jeweled motor barrel and center bridge plate. The back of the watch also displays bronze-plated gears powered by 23 breathtaking ruby and sapphire jewels. Finally, we matched this impressive watch with our Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap, making the completed product even more unforgettable.
The Illinois Watch Company initially produced the Springfield 542’s pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1920 — the same year the nonprofit, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was founded. A committee that included several notable figures — including the likes of Helen Keller, Roger Nash Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Arthur Garfield Hays, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn — started the ACLU in response to the Palmer raids, a series of arrests carried out by the United States Department of Justice. The raids occurred during the First Red Scare and aimed to search, arrest, and deport immigrants suspected of being anarchists and communists.
Five years later, the ACLU made a name for itself after convincing John T. Scopes to go against Tennessee’s ban on teaching evolution in schools. They served as Scopes’ legal defense during the Scopes trial, and although they lost the case, the organization quickly reached the nation’s attention in the high-publicity case.
We’re enthused to showcase this marvelous piece of history initially produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1926 — the Lancaster 167. This stunning antique movement boasts a handsome cream-colored dial with an ornate, eye-catching center design pattern, and it also features thin, dark-brown numerals as well as a matching subdial. Additionally, this piece features the original pocket watch’s blued steel diamond kite watch hands. We matched this splendid pocket watch with our powerful and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown to draw further attention to the watch's breathtaking dial.
Our Machined Titanium case comes with a transparent back, boasting the pocket watch’s antique 912-grade open-face movement with a reed regulator, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The watch’s movement also features attractive engravings with a black inlay color, including “Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, PA,” corroborating the watch’s historic origins. You can also see the pocket watch’s original gold-plated gears powered by 17 stunning screw-set jewels. Finally, we complemented this highly sophisticated watch with our hand-crafted Merlot leather watch strap.
The Hamilton Watch Company originally manufactured this impressive watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1926 — the same year that the heroic World War I war dog Sergeant Stubby passed away. Sergeant Stubby was a mutt with somewhat unknown origins, but he was likely an American bull terrier. He quickly made a name for himself during the Great War serving with the 26th Infantry Division on the Western Front.
During his time in combat, Stubby suffered an injury caused by mustard gas. Fortunately, he survived and was equipped with a custom gas mask. With his personal experience being exposed to mustard gas, Stubby developed the ability to identify the toxic compound and could warn his unit of impending mustard gas attacks.
Additionally, legend has it that Sergeant Stubby once grabbed hold of a German soldier by his pants, enabling American troops to seize the enemy combatant.
Stubby is the only dog to ever be promoted to the rank of sergeant through combat, and his impressive feats led to him meeting Presidents Coolidge, Harding, and Wilson. Today, visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History can view Sergeant Stubby’s taxidermied body as part of the “Price of Freedom: Americans at War” exhibit.
We’re thrilled to present to you this splendid watch dating all the way back to 1933 — the Lancaster 158. The Hamilton Watch Company originally produced the Lancaster 158’s pocket watch, and it features an enchanting dial with a cream-colored background, olive-colored numerals, and a dark-gray circular ring. The front of the watch also boasts a luxurious-looking subdial and blued steel watch hands. We encased this stunning pocket watch within our Sandblasted Titanium case, complementing the dial’s color palette, and we topped it off with a nickel-plated crown.
On the back of the watch, you can see its impressive 912-grade open-face movement with a reed regulator, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The watch’s rear also boasts sumptuous gold-plated gears powered by 17 screw-set jewels throughout its ¾ plate. Finally, we paired this one-of-a-kind antique movement with our Olive leather watch strap, matching the dial’s distinct numerals.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially produced the Lancaster 158’s gorgeous pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1933 — the same year that RKO Radio Pictures released the original King Kong film. The movie was a landmark for special effects and utilized several techniques to bring Kong and other creatures to life, including stop-motion animation, miniatures, and matte painting.
Although the film debuted before the Hays Code — a repressive censorship code used in Hollywood from 1934 to 1968 that forbade profanity, graphic violence, sexual content, interracial relationships, and much more — King Kong was heavily censored after its initial release, and RKO didn’t retain the the pre-censored footage. Fortunately, the cut footage was rediscovered in 1969, leading to Janus Films releasing a fully restored version in 1970.
We’re excited to feature this distinct antique watch initially produced by the American Waltham Watch Company in 1924 — the Boston 469. This pocket watch features a stunning aged dial with uniquely-stylized brown numerals that look especially handsome against its orange-yellow background. The front of the watch also displays a shimmering silver-colored subdial and blued steel heavy moon watch hands. We encased this fine, historic watch within our robust and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown, further emphasizing its eye-catching dial.
Our Machined Titanium case features a transparent back, allowing you to see the piece’s original Royal-grade open-face movement with a patent regulator, Breguet hairspring, and bridge plate. The back of the watch also boasts a “Royal” engraving as well as gold-plated gears powered by 17 stunning jewels. Finally, we further complemented the watch’s remarkable dial with our comfortable, hand-crafted Rye leather watch strap, making this one-of-a-kind piece even more special.
The American Waltham Watch Company originally manufactured this breathtaking watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1924 — the same year that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Building opened. The architectural firm York and Sawyer designed this neo-Renaissance-style building, and it also boasts impressive decorative ironwork from the master blacksmith Samuel Yellin.
The building features a three-story gold vault, and as of 2019, the vault houses 497,000 gold bars that weigh around 5,620 metric tons. The United States only owns around 2% of that gold, and the rest is owned by the central banks of various countries around the world.
We’re delighted to showcase this elegant piece of history initially produced by the Elgin National Watch Company over a century ago — the Chicago 503. Our wristwatch’s original pocket watch movement features an immaculate cream-colored dial with thin black hour numerals and a matching subdial. The front of the watch also boasts blued steel spade & whip watch hands as well as red minute numerals divided into five-minute increments. We complemented the dial’s gorgeous cream color by encasing it within our powerful Sandblasted Titanium case and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown.
On the back of the watch, you can see its 384-grade open-face movement with 17 breathtaking screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels that power the movement’s sumptuous-looking gold-plated gears. The movement also boasts a Moseley regulator, Breguet hairspring, quick train, and going barrel. Finally, we matched this already-stunning watch with our handsome and comfortable Natural leather watch strap, making the one-of-a-kind piece even more remarkable.
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured this antique pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1921 — the same year Walter Anderson and Billy Ingram started the restaurant chain White Castle, the first fast-food hamburger chain. Walter Anderson originally started multiple diners a few years earlier and was looking to expand further. He met Billy Ingram, who was an insurance and real-estate salesman, and together they founded the chain in Wichita, Kansas.
The pair’s initial challenge with opening the hamburger restaurant was changing public perception regarding ground beef. 15 years earlier, Upton Sinclair had published The Jungle, which depicts unseemly sanitary conditions and cruelty in the meatpacking industry. To combat this negative perception of ground beef, Anderson and Ingram introduced small restaurant buildings with stainless steel interiors to convey a sense of sanitation. They also made a great effort in making sure that their interiors and their employees’ uniforms were always clean.
These efforts paid off, and White Castle laid the foundation for other fast-food hamburger chains. In 2014, Time magazine listed the restaurant’s famous Original Slider as “The Most Influential Burger of All Time.”
We’re thrilled to feature this one-of-a-kind watch dating all the way back to the 19th century — the Boston 470. The American Waltham Watch Company produced this piece’s original pocket watch, which features a sophisticated dial with a gorgeous white background in 1896. The dial also features thin black hour numerals, red minute numerals, and blued steel fine spade hands. We matched this stunningly elegant pocket watch with our scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and a nickel-plated crown.
Unlike most of our watches, the crown sits on the side of our case rather than the top, making it even more distinct.
On the back of the watch, you can see its 19th-century Royal-grade hunting movement with a patent regulator, Breguet hairspring, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The watch also boasts gold-plated gears powered by 17 jewels within its ¾ plate, and the movement also features intricate, stylish markings. To top the piece off, we equipped it with our comfortable, artisan-designed Cordovan Black leather watch strap, further emphasizing the watch’s sophisticated design.
The American Waltham Watch Company initially produced the Boston 470’s pocket watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1896 — the same year that Utah became the 45th state. The United States gained control over the territory making up Utah in 1848 through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which concluded the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.
A year before the United States gained control over the territory, the area was settled by a group of Mormons. In 1849, Mormons petitioned for the territory to become part of the United States as the state of Deseret. Eight years later, public opinion turned against the Church of Latter-day Saints and Utah’s statehood process was halted after the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a mass killing conducted by the Utah Territorial Militia, known as Nauvoo Legion, against the Baker-Fancher emigrant wagon train, leading to 120 deaths.
Another point of contention was the early Mormon church’s practice of polygomy, which became illegal in the United States in 1862. Fortunately, the church renounced polygamy in their 1890 Manifesto, leading to the Federal government accepting their application for statehood.
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:
- WindUp Watch Fair | New York, New York | Oct 21 - 23
- American 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!
