Watch Description
What makes the Boston Railroad 008 unique:
The Boston Railroad 008 brings the unmistakable clarity of a true railroad-grade dial into our modern V3 case. Its bright white dial features bold black Arabic numerals, diamond-shaped minute marker accents, and a sunken sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock, all designed for quick and accurate reading. We preserved the original heat-blued heavy whip minute hand and spade hour hand, which stand out sharply against the dial and offer the same purpose-built legibility these movements were known for. The printed “23 Jewels” reminds you that this was a top-tier timekeeper in its era, and the overall aesthetic captures the functional beauty of classic American railroad instrumentation.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 23-jewel Waltham movement with beautifully detailed crosshatch engraving, polished bridges, and gold-plated gears visible through the open caseback. As a true railroad-grade mechanism, it uses a lever-set system for time-setting, which prevents accidental changes and was once required for railroad service. Because of this design, the coin-edge bezel and crystal must be removed to access the lever, meaning the dial and hands will be exposed during time-setting. This watch is made for enthusiasts who appreciate authenticity and who understand the intentional, careful handling that a lever-set movement deserves.
We encased this historic movement in our black DLC-coated V3 case, which pairs modern durability with a matte, utilitarian look that suits the watch’s railroad roots. The fixed coin-edge bezel echoes the styling of early 20th-century pocket watches, and the vertically grooved crown adds balance while keeping the focus on the dial. We completed the piece with a black leather strap and contrasting ivory stitching, which complements the bold railroad numerals and adds to the strong, instrument-driven character of the watch.
The movement inside this watch was manufactured in 1919, the same year the U.S. Army completed the First Transcontinental Motor Convoy—a milestone journey that underscored the nation’s reliance on precise railroad timekeeping as America began exploring long-distance motor travel. Railroad watches like this one played a vital role in keeping the country synchronized during a period of rapid change in transportation.
Note: This watch features a lever set, railroad grade pocket watch. To set the time, the whole front of the watch must be removed, exposing the dial and hands. Please feel free to contact us with questions before making your purchase. We are here to help!
Watch this video on YouTube to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owl66ZuECSc
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.
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
- Model Year: 1901
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 49mm
- Thickness: 14.5mm
- Lug to Lug: 60mm
- Lug Width: 24mm
- Case Material: DLC Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Waltham Watch Company
- Serial Number: 11052404
- Manufacture Year: 1901
- Function: Manual Wind, Lever-Set
- Jewels: 23 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 16s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Boston Railroad 008 unique:
The Boston Railroad 008 brings the unmistakable clarity of a true railroad-grade dial into our modern V3 case. Its bright white dial features bold black Arabic numerals, diamond-shaped minute marker accents, and a sunken sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock, all designed for quick and accurate reading. We preserved the original heat-blued heavy whip minute hand and spade hour hand, which stand out sharply against the dial and offer the same purpose-built legibility these movements were known for. The printed “23 Jewels” reminds you that this was a top-tier timekeeper in its era, and the overall aesthetic captures the functional beauty of classic American railroad instrumentation.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 23-jewel Waltham movement with beautifully detailed crosshatch engraving, polished bridges, and gold-plated gears visible through the open caseback. As a true railroad-grade mechanism, it uses a lever-set system for time-setting, which prevents accidental changes and was once required for railroad service. Because of this design, the coin-edge bezel and crystal must be removed to access the lever, meaning the dial and hands will be exposed during time-setting. This watch is made for enthusiasts who appreciate authenticity and who understand the intentional, careful handling that a lever-set movement deserves.
We encased this historic movement in our black DLC-coated V3 case, which pairs modern durability with a matte, utilitarian look that suits the watch’s railroad roots. The fixed coin-edge bezel echoes the styling of early 20th-century pocket watches, and the vertically grooved crown adds balance while keeping the focus on the dial. We completed the piece with a black leather strap and contrasting ivory stitching, which complements the bold railroad numerals and adds to the strong, instrument-driven character of the watch.
The movement inside this watch was manufactured in 1919, the same year the U.S. Army completed the First Transcontinental Motor Convoy—a milestone journey that underscored the nation’s reliance on precise railroad timekeeping as America began exploring long-distance motor travel. Railroad watches like this one played a vital role in keeping the country synchronized during a period of rapid change in transportation.
Note: This watch features a lever set, railroad grade pocket watch. To set the time, the whole front of the watch must be removed, exposing the dial and hands. Please feel free to contact us with questions before making your purchase. We are here to help!
Watch this video on YouTube to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owl66ZuECSc
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.
