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 004 unique: Today we are proud to introduce our latest Railroad Grade wristwatch conversion, the Boston Railroad 004. This watch is made with a 23 jewel Waltham Watch Company pocket watch inside of a machined titanium case, with a titanium crown, a natural leather strap and gold-plated gears. This stunning timepiece is a perfect combination of classic and modern style, and is sure to turn heads wherever you go. The machined titanium case is strong and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear for any occasion. We love this incredibly clean and elegant enamel dial, with crisp and bold dark numerals that stand out nicely with a very modern feel. The bezel on the front of the case twists off to give you access to the lever beneath that allows you to change the time, a safety mechanism that was required on all Railroad Grade watches to prevent the owner from accidentally changing the time while winding. The titanium crown adds an elegant touch, while the natural leather strap is soft and supple, ensuring a comfortable fit. The gold-plated gears and spectacular jewels add a luxurious finish to the watch, giving it a timeless look. We take pride in creating unique and beautiful timepieces built to last and continue to be passed down to future generations. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or a classic timepiece, this wristwatch is sure to become a treasured heirloom.
The Waltham National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Waltham, Massachusettes in 1918. In this same year, the United States Congress passed the Esch-Cummins Act, which was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry. This act was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States, as it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and gave the government power to approve or reject railroad consolidations. The Esch-Cummins Act was named after its primary sponsors, Senator Edwin Esch of Wisconsin and Representative James Cummins of Iowa. Senator Esch was a Republican and Representative Cummins was a Democrat, but they were able to work together to pass this important legislation. The act allowed the government to regulate the railroad industry, which was essential for the development of manufacturing and transportation in the United States. It also helped to ensure that railroads could not take advantage of their customers by charging too much for shipping goods. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the Esch-Cummins Act, which was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States.
The Waltham National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Waltham, Massachusettes in 1918. In this same year, the United States Congress passed the Esch-Cummins Act, which was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry. This act was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States, as it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and gave the government power to approve or reject railroad consolidations. The Esch-Cummins Act was named after its primary sponsors, Senator Edwin Esch of Wisconsin and Representative James Cummins of Iowa. Senator Esch was a Republican and Representative Cummins was a Democrat, but they were able to work together to pass this important legislation. The act allowed the government to regulate the railroad industry, which was essential for the development of manufacturing and transportation in the United States. It also helped to ensure that railroads could not take advantage of their customers by charging too much for shipping goods. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the Esch-Cummins Act, which was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States.
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
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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: 1918
- Function: Manual Wind, Lever-Set
- Jewels: 23j
- Hands: Original
- Size: Railroad
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Boston Railroad 004 unique: Today we are proud to introduce our latest Railroad Grade wristwatch conversion, the Boston Railroad 004. This watch is made with a 23 jewel Waltham Watch Company pocket watch inside of a machined titanium case, with a titanium crown, a natural leather strap and gold-plated gears. This stunning timepiece is a perfect combination of classic and modern style, and is sure to turn heads wherever you go. The machined titanium case is strong and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear for any occasion. We love this incredibly clean and elegant enamel dial, with crisp and bold dark numerals that stand out nicely with a very modern feel. The bezel on the front of the case twists off to give you access to the lever beneath that allows you to change the time, a safety mechanism that was required on all Railroad Grade watches to prevent the owner from accidentally changing the time while winding. The titanium crown adds an elegant touch, while the natural leather strap is soft and supple, ensuring a comfortable fit. The gold-plated gears and spectacular jewels add a luxurious finish to the watch, giving it a timeless look. We take pride in creating unique and beautiful timepieces built to last and continue to be passed down to future generations. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or a classic timepiece, this wristwatch is sure to become a treasured heirloom.
The Waltham National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Waltham, Massachusettes in 1918. In this same year, the United States Congress passed the Esch-Cummins Act, which was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry. This act was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States, as it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and gave the government power to approve or reject railroad consolidations. The Esch-Cummins Act was named after its primary sponsors, Senator Edwin Esch of Wisconsin and Representative James Cummins of Iowa. Senator Esch was a Republican and Representative Cummins was a Democrat, but they were able to work together to pass this important legislation. The act allowed the government to regulate the railroad industry, which was essential for the development of manufacturing and transportation in the United States. It also helped to ensure that railroads could not take advantage of their customers by charging too much for shipping goods. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the Esch-Cummins Act, which was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States.
The Waltham National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Waltham, Massachusettes in 1918. In this same year, the United States Congress passed the Esch-Cummins Act, which was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry. This act was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States, as it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and gave the government power to approve or reject railroad consolidations. The Esch-Cummins Act was named after its primary sponsors, Senator Edwin Esch of Wisconsin and Representative James Cummins of Iowa. Senator Esch was a Republican and Representative Cummins was a Democrat, but they were able to work together to pass this important legislation. The act allowed the government to regulate the railroad industry, which was essential for the development of manufacturing and transportation in the United States. It also helped to ensure that railroads could not take advantage of their customers by charging too much for shipping goods. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the Esch-Cummins Act, which was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States.
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.
