Watch Description
The American mechanism inside this watch is not a replica or an "inspired" piece. It was genuinely carried by an individual, 100 years ago, that depended on it. Each time you wear this watch, you will be transported through time, imagining who this individual was and the work they did to help build our country. Simply put, American Artisan Series watches make you feel something when you put them on. At Vortic, we tell customers that owning a watch isn't nearly as important as owning a story. And, this is an opportunity to be a part of a story that is bigger than yourself. You won't be the first to own this watch, and you certainly won't be the last, so make your chapter count.
The American Artisan Series is a line of fully American Made wristwatches powered by restored, U.S. made pocket watch movements. Individuals commonly scrap pocket watch cases for their precious metal, leaving the original mechanism orphaned. This watch contains the original movement (timepiece), dial (face), and hands from a vintage (1880's - 1950's) pocket watch made by Waltham Watch Company. We call this model "The Boston" because of the company's proximity to the city.
Railroad grade pocket watches, also known as Standard watches, were explicitly made for railroad employees. As such, they were the highest quality and most sought after watches of the time. American railroads decided upon a rigorous set of regulations to qualify timepieces as "railroad grade" due to their role in maintaining schedules for the American rail system. Click HERE to learn more about railroad watches.
A defining feature of all railroad grade watches is their setting mechanism. Instead of simply pulling out the crown to put the watch in "setting mode," the original railroad pocket watches required you to remove the front of the watch and actuate a lever to accomplish the same thing. This way, the time on these essential watches was never accidentally changed. Vortic's Railroad Edition of the American Artisan Series features a removable bezel that dramatically improves upon the original design. The Railroad Edition case protects the dial from access while the bezel is removed and is fully water resistant when the bezel is appropriately tightened. Click HERE to learn more about how Vortic's Railroad Edition works.
NOTE - this watch is not water resistant when the bezel is not installed or is installed incorrectly.
What makes the Boston Railroad 006 unique: We are pleased to bring you this incredibly stunning wristwatch originally manufactured by the Waltham Watch Company, our Railroad Grade Boston 006. We are immediately drawn into this beautiful dial that has aged over time to present this wonderful display of patina in the center of the dial. This watch tells a story to whoever lays eyes upon it, bringing up the curious past of who may have worn this on a train and how many times the front bezel has been removed, exposing it to the elements and creating this amazing aged look. The timepiece features a machined titanium case for a modern look and feel, as well as a titanium crown for added durability and style. The watch is completed with a luxurious merlot leather strap for a truly timeless look. As you turn the watch over you will find that our exhibition back reveals the movement inside, showcasing the gold-plated gears and 23 magnificent jewels. We love the intricate design work that has been carefully machined into the different build plates, as well as the combination of both nickel-plated and gold-inlaid features. This watch would have been used by train conductors back in the early parts of the 19th century and features a removable bezel on the front of the watch to access the hidden lever underneath that allows you to set and change the time. This feature was required for Railroad Grade watches in order to be able to wind the watch without fear of accidentally changing the time. We hope that you enjoy this watch as much as we do and continue to pass it down to the next generation for years to come.
In 1931, the same year that this watch was originally produced, the Empire State Building was dedicated in New York City. The 102-story skyscraper was the tallest building in the world at the time, standing at 1,250 feet tall. Construction began in March of 1930 and was completed in just 410 days. The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon and was constructed by Starrett Brothers and Eken. At the dedication ceremony, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C. that lit up the building’s lights. New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and President-elect Hoover attended the ceremony in person, along with over 100,000 other people. Today, the Empire State Building stands as an iconic symbol of New York City and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
Case Style:This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. The case is intentionally left unpolished so the intricate tool marks made during the milling process remain visible. Titanium is the ultimate material for strength to weight ratio. Titanium has a darker look than steel, and due to its low thermal conductivity, feels warm to the touch. These characteristics create an enduring, highly wearable, distinctive piece.
Movement: The manually wound, antique, pocket watch movement inside this watch has been meticulously restored to as close to original condition as possible. Vortic has an exclusive group of highly experienced watchmakers that specialize in vintage watches. Before its use in a wristwatch, each movement is completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and calibrated. Each finished Vortic watch is tested for at least a week before completion.
This watch's movement is serial number 27538401 from the Waltham Watch Company. Also known as American Watch Company and American Waltham Watch Company, Waltham was one of the leaders in attempting an entirely new concept, machines making machines. Prior to this, a watchmaker would hand-make each part of a movement one-at-a-time. Operating from 1851-1957, Waltham called its product the "Scientific Watch." Waltham's innovative, precise machining techniques made parts interchangeable, and their early version of the assembly line made high-quality watches efficient to produce. Legend has it that Henry Ford drew inspiration for his assembly line production from a visit to Waltham's factory. Located on the bank of the Charles River in "Watch City" (Waltham), Massachusetts, the factory has since been converted to apartment lofts.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
-
Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 51mm
- Height: 14.5mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 60mm
- Lugs: 22mm
- Case Finish: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Gorilla Glass
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Waltham Watch Company
- Serial Number: 27538401
- Manufacture Year: 1931
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 23j
- Hands: Original
- Size: Railroad
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Boston Railroad 006 unique: We are pleased to bring you this incredibly stunning wristwatch originally manufactured by the Waltham Watch Company, our Railroad Grade Boston 006. We are immediately drawn into this beautiful dial that has aged over time to present this wonderful display of patina in the center of the dial. This watch tells a story to whoever lays eyes upon it, bringing up the curious past of who may have worn this on a train and how many times the front bezel has been removed, exposing it to the elements and creating this amazing aged look. The timepiece features a machined titanium case for a modern look and feel, as well as a titanium crown for added durability and style. The watch is completed with a luxurious merlot leather strap for a truly timeless look. As you turn the watch over you will find that our exhibition back reveals the movement inside, showcasing the gold-plated gears and 23 magnificent jewels. We love the intricate design work that has been carefully machined into the different build plates, as well as the combination of both nickel-plated and gold-inlaid features. This watch would have been used by train conductors back in the early parts of the 19th century and features a removable bezel on the front of the watch to access the hidden lever underneath that allows you to set and change the time. This feature was required for Railroad Grade watches in order to be able to wind the watch without fear of accidentally changing the time. We hope that you enjoy this watch as much as we do and continue to pass it down to the next generation for years to come.
In 1931, the same year that this watch was originally produced, the Empire State Building was dedicated in New York City. The 102-story skyscraper was the tallest building in the world at the time, standing at 1,250 feet tall. Construction began in March of 1930 and was completed in just 410 days. The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon and was constructed by Starrett Brothers and Eken. At the dedication ceremony, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C. that lit up the building’s lights. New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and President-elect Hoover attended the ceremony in person, along with over 100,000 other people. Today, the Empire State Building stands as an iconic symbol of New York City and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
Quality Straps
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.
Mission
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the legacy of manufacturing excellence in America. We believe that this legacy is highly relevant in the world of watch manufacturing because our goal is to marry form and function in a way that makes something beautiful that will last forever. American made pocket watches were of such a high quality and decoration that they evolved into more than just a way to tell time. They became traditional heirlooms to be inherited by future generations as a wedding gift or a coming of age treasure. Each piece tells a lively tale of what U.S. manufacturing meant in the past using an intricate language of decorated bridges, plates, gears, and springs. Today, we are restoring these pieces to their former glory and making them relevant again using the best of modern technology.
American Made
We feel proud and blessed to live in the country, state, and city that we do. However, our motivation to build everything in the United States, and to deal locally whenever possible, is derived from a different source of inspiration. We believe that the close relationships, face-to-face interaction, and tight quality control we achieve while dealing domestically produces a truly superior product. Because of this, we are very transparent about where our components are made as we continue to build our in-house capabilities.
