Watch Description
What makes the Boston 048 unique:
The Boston 048 embraces a timeless elegance rooted in early American watchmaking. Its crisp white dial is impeccably preserved, offering striking contrast against bold Roman numerals and fine black minute markers that ring the perimeter in perfect symmetry. At the center, a pair of blued steel spade hands floats with vintage precision, while a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the composition with functional grace. The classic “Waltham” insignia, precisely printed just below 12 o’clock, completes the dial’s clean, deliberate aesthetic.
Inside, this timepiece is powered by a 17-jewel Royal-grade movement from Waltham, crafted in 1903. Through the open caseback, you’ll find an exquisite arrangement of floral and braided engravings—each bridge and gear finished with masterful detail. The engraved “ROYAL” insignia speaks to the movement’s pedigree, while the visible gear train and jewel settings highlight the mechanical ingenuity of the era.
The watch is encased in a 45mm sandblasted stainless steel case, topped with a smooth bezel and paired with a knurled sandblasted-steel crown. This muted finish offers a subtle modern backdrop that lets the vintage dial and movement take center stage. A black leather strap with light stitching ties the whole piece together, providing a sleek contrast to the bright dial and steel case.
In 1903—the same year this movement was manufactured—the Wright brothers made history at Kitty Hawk with the first successful powered flight. Like that iconic innovation, this watch is a tribute to American craftsmanship, engineering, and the enduring power of vision.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Waltham Watch Company. We call this model "The Boston" because of the company's proximity to the city.
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.
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Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Waltham Watch Company
- Serial Number: 13025045
- Manufacture Year: 1903
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Boston 048 unique:
The Boston 048 embraces a timeless elegance rooted in early American watchmaking. Its crisp white dial is impeccably preserved, offering striking contrast against bold Roman numerals and fine black minute markers that ring the perimeter in perfect symmetry. At the center, a pair of blued steel spade hands floats with vintage precision, while a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the composition with functional grace. The classic “Waltham” insignia, precisely printed just below 12 o’clock, completes the dial’s clean, deliberate aesthetic.
Inside, this timepiece is powered by a 17-jewel Royal-grade movement from Waltham, crafted in 1903. Through the open caseback, you’ll find an exquisite arrangement of floral and braided engravings—each bridge and gear finished with masterful detail. The engraved “ROYAL” insignia speaks to the movement’s pedigree, while the visible gear train and jewel settings highlight the mechanical ingenuity of the era.
The watch is encased in a 45mm sandblasted stainless steel case, topped with a smooth bezel and paired with a knurled sandblasted-steel crown. This muted finish offers a subtle modern backdrop that lets the vintage dial and movement take center stage. A black leather strap with light stitching ties the whole piece together, providing a sleek contrast to the bright dial and steel case.
In 1903—the same year this movement was manufactured—the Wright brothers made history at Kitty Hawk with the first successful powered flight. Like that iconic innovation, this watch is a tribute to American craftsmanship, engineering, and the enduring power of vision.
Let customers speak for us
The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
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.
