Heritage Watch Builder - 002

Welcome to the American Artisan Series Watch Builder

Design your one-of-a-kind, 12size (46mm) American Artisan Series watch starting with an antique, American-made, pocket watch movement and dial. Each movement and dial combination is unique, and the pieces available are updated continuously, so come back often to check out new inventory!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a design consultation (free of charge), an associate at Vortic is available by phone at 855-285-7884 or by email at info@vorticwatches.com.

Learn more about the American Artisan Series HERE.

Customize these features to build your watch:

Dial/Movement

Select a Dial

Case

Select a Case

Crown

Select a Crown

Strap

Select a Strap

Custom Engraving

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.

Dial/Movement

American Artisan Series watches contain a manually wound, mechanical movement (timekeeping mechanism) and dial (face) from an antique, American-made pocket watch. Individuals commonly scrap pocket watch cases for their precious metal, leaving the original, approximately 100-year-old, mechanism orphaned. Vortic meticulously restores each timepiece to as close to original condition as possible. Watches with more jewels (jeweled gear bearings for longevity) tend to be of a higher quality and value.

Every watch is covered by Vortic's 1-year, comprehensive warranty.

All movements on this Watch Builder are 12size making them all fit in our 46mm case.

Click an image below to preview

The Chicago

Frederick - Elgin 7j 12s

$2,000

Ellison Heritage 12s 17j Gruen 708280

$2,000

Case

Fully machined American Artisan Series cases are CNC milled from solid blocks of titanium.

All cases on this Watch Builder are for 12size (46mm) movements. If you'd prefer another size, check out our Store page, or send us an email.

Click an image below to preview

Machined Titanium

Out of Stock

Standard

Machined Titanium cases have been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. 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.

Sandblasted Titanium

Out of Stock

Standard

This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. We use pressurized, fine glass beads in a sandblasting chamber to soften the edges and make the finish uniform. 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.

Bronzed Titanium

Out of Stock

Upgrade +$200

This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. We use pressurized, fine glass beads in a sandblasting chamber to soften the edges and make the finish uniform. We then bake the Titanium case in the kiln for a number of minutes at a very high temperature which turns the case into a bronzed color throughout. 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.

DLC Black Titanium

Out of Stock

Upgrade +$500

A DLC or "Diamond Like Carbon" coating is applied to our machined titanium case to create a uniquely black finish. While in the family of PVD coatings, DLC provides a small amount of transparency that allows us to see machine marks and surface detail while still appearing black. This coating is extremely durable and represents the best we have to offer.

Crown

The crown (winding knob) is located at 12 O'clock due to the pocket watch movement's orientation. All American Artisan Series crowns are turned from a copper alloy in Colorado, then electroplated to achieve different finishes. The crown comes in two styles (round and knurled) and three finishes (raw copper, nickel, gold).

Click an image below to preview

Raw Copper

Standard

The raw copper crown will gain a dark patina over time as it interacts with oxygen in the air and oils on your skin.

Nickel

Upgrade +$20

This option has been electroplated with nickel to give it a lustrous, silvery finish.

Gold

Upgrade +$50

The electroplated gold crown is excellent for accenting features of the same color on many pocket watch dials.

Strap

Vortic's timeless leather straps are hand-crafted in the United States by our partner Worn and Wound.

Horween's Shell Cordovan leather, tanned in Chicago, is highly sought after for its ability to take on character as it wears. The buckle is made to match your crown finish selection.

Click an image below to preview

Black Out of Stock

Standard

Coal Out of Stock

Standard

Crimson Out of Stock

Standard

Mojave Out of Stock

Standard

Moss Out of Stock

Standard

Natural Out of Stock

Standard

Olive Out of Stock

Standard

Rye Out of Stock

Standard

Stone Out of Stock

Standard

Stout Out of Stock

Standard

Cordovan Black Out of Stock

+$50

Cordovan Oxblood Out of Stock

+$50

Add an Additional Strap

Choose a 2nd strap to come with your custom watch. We’ll ship the watch with the first choice attached and include this extra one in the box so you can mix up your style. We’ll also include a screwdriver so you can make the swap yourself!

No Addt’l Strap

Black Out of Stock

+$75

Coal Out of Stock

+$75

Crimson Out of Stock

+$75

Mojave Out of Stock

+$75

Moss Out of Stock

+$75

Natural Out of Stock

+$75

Olive Out of Stock

+$75

Rye Out of Stock

+$75

Stone Out of Stock

+$75

Stout Out of Stock

+$75

Cordovan Black Out of Stock

+$125

Cordovan Oxblood Out of Stock

+$125

Custom Engraving

American Artisan Series watches may be personalized with laser engraving on the case back. If you are not interested in engraving you may skip this section.

Please enter the text that you would like engraved in the text box below. You will be contacted following the sale to confirm your selection.

NOTE - engraving will not appear on the watch preview

Click an image below to select

Case Back

Upgrade +$100

Engrave the text of your choosing in one or two of the six sections on the case back. Each section allows up to 12 characters.

Total Price: $0.00

Review your selected options below and click the add to cart button when you are ready to order. An associate at Vortic will provide periodic updates and images of the finished build for final approval prior to shipment. Please note this is our 12size (46mm) watch which is our most popular size.

Select each of your watch options to continue.

Normally it takes us 2 or 3 months to build your custom watch, but occasionally it takes even longer to get a 100-year-old mechanism ready for your wrist. For that reason, if you need to receive the watch before a certain date, we recommend our Pre-Built watch selection.

Dial/Movement

Select a Dial

Case

Select a Case

Crown

Select a Crown

Strap

Select a Strap

Custom Engraving

None