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.
What makes the Boston 474 unique: Today, we’re delighted to share this splendid piece of American manufacturing history that the American Waltham Watch Company originally released in 1925 — the Boston 474. The watch boasts an impressive dial with stylish dark-brass numerals that look stunning against its lighter brass background color. The watch face also displays a lucid subdial and blued steel heavy moon watch hands. We encased this antique pocket watch within our robust Bronzed Titanium case and topped it off with a copper crown, complementing the dial’s color palette. Our stylish Bronzed Titanium case comes with an exhibition back, allowing you to view the watch’s original Premier-grade open-face movement with a Breguet hairspring, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The back of the watch also features a stunning ¾ plate with square indentations and 17 jewels that stand out amongst the movement’s gold-plated gears. Finally, we equipped this one-of-a-kind watch with our comfortable Natural leather watch, making the final piece even more special.
The American Waltham Watch Company originally manufactured the Boston 474’s pocket watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1925 — the same year the influential automotive designer and executive John DeLorean was born. John DeLorean started working part-time at Chrysler while attending college, and he went on to attend the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, where he graduated with a master’s degree in Automotive Engineering. John DeLorean’s career in the automotive industry spanned 30 years. He designed groundbreaking vehicles for Chrysler, Pontiac, Packard Motor Car Company, and the DeLorean Motor Company, including the Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Cosworth Vega, and the DMC DeLorean.
Case Style: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.
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 25184307 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
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Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 46mm
- Height: 12mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 55mm
- Lugs: 22mm
- Case Finish: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Gorilla Glass
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Waltham Watch Company
- Serial Number: 25184307
- Manufacture Year: 1925
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17j
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Boston 474 unique: Today, we’re delighted to share this splendid piece of American manufacturing history that the American Waltham Watch Company originally released in 1925 — the Boston 474. The watch boasts an impressive dial with stylish dark-brass numerals that look stunning against its lighter brass background color. The watch face also displays a lucid subdial and blued steel heavy moon watch hands. We encased this antique pocket watch within our robust Bronzed Titanium case and topped it off with a copper crown, complementing the dial’s color palette. Our stylish Bronzed Titanium case comes with an exhibition back, allowing you to view the watch’s original Premier-grade open-face movement with a Breguet hairspring, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The back of the watch also features a stunning ¾ plate with square indentations and 17 jewels that stand out amongst the movement’s gold-plated gears. Finally, we equipped this one-of-a-kind watch with our comfortable Natural leather watch, making the final piece even more special.
The American Waltham Watch Company originally manufactured the Boston 474’s pocket watch in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1925 — the same year the influential automotive designer and executive John DeLorean was born. John DeLorean started working part-time at Chrysler while attending college, and he went on to attend the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, where he graduated with a master’s degree in Automotive Engineering. John DeLorean’s career in the automotive industry spanned 30 years. He designed groundbreaking vehicles for Chrysler, Pontiac, Packard Motor Car Company, and the DeLorean Motor Company, including the Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Cosworth Vega, and the DMC DeLorean.
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.
