Watch Description
What makes The Boston Railroad 010 unique:
The Boston Railroad 010 is defined first and foremost by its exceptionally rare Ferguson dial, a highly specialized railroad layout produced in very limited numbers by Waltham. The bright white, double-sunk enamel dial features a bold outer minute chapter ring with oversized black Arabic numerals and a separate inner hour chapter ring rendered in deep red. These American-style numerals are expressive and highly legible, designed for instant clarity rather than decoration. The red inner chapter ring, while not a formal railway requirement, is most often associated with watches sold into Canadian railway markets and is seldom encountered today. A recessed center section and a sunken sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock complete the double-sunk construction, reinforcing both visual hierarchy and functional precision. The matching red hour hand further distinguishes this dial, creating a cohesive and highly uncommon color balance within a traditionally utilitarian railroad format.
Powering the Boston Railroad 010 is a rare 23-jewel Vanguard Waltham movement, one of the highest-grade railroad calibers ever produced by the company. Vanguard movements were built to meet the most stringent railroad time service standards and were manufactured in significantly smaller quantities than standard railroad grades. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals an exceptional level of finishing, including intricate bridge engraving, polished steel surfaces, and gold-toned gears that reflect Waltham’s top-tier mechanical craftsmanship. The pairing of a Ferguson dial with a Vanguard movement is particularly scarce, making this watch a standout even among serious railroad collectors.
We housed this movement in a polished steel Version 3 Railroad case, sized at 49mm to preserve the commanding presence of the original pocket watch. A bronze coin-edge bezel introduces warmth and tactile definition, while the vertically grooved bronze crown offers secure operation and reinforces the tool-watch origins of railroad timepieces. The watch is finished with a 24mm oxblood Horween leather strap with stitching, selected to echo the red elements of the dial and complete a palette that feels deliberate, balanced, and historically grounded.
The Vanguard Waltham movement in the Boston Railroad 010 was manufactured in 1918, during a period when American railroads operated under extraordinary demands brought on by World War I. Accurate timekeeping was essential to coordinating troop transport, industrial logistics, and nationwide rail traffic, and railroad-grade watches like this were relied upon as professional instruments. The Boston Railroad 010 preserves that legacy today, combining one of the rarest railroad dials Waltham produced with one of its most respected movements—an uncommon convergence of design, precision, and historical significance.
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: 1918
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 49mm
- Case Material: Polished Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Bronze
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Domed Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 24mm Oxblood Horween Leather Strap w/stitching
Movement
- Manufacturer: Waltham Watch Company
- Serial Number: 29307679
- Manufacture Year: 1918
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 23 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: Railroad
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes The Boston Railroad 010 unique:
The Boston Railroad 010 is defined first and foremost by its exceptionally rare Ferguson dial, a highly specialized railroad layout produced in very limited numbers by Waltham. The bright white, double-sunk enamel dial features a bold outer minute chapter ring with oversized black Arabic numerals and a separate inner hour chapter ring rendered in deep red. These American-style numerals are expressive and highly legible, designed for instant clarity rather than decoration. The red inner chapter ring, while not a formal railway requirement, is most often associated with watches sold into Canadian railway markets and is seldom encountered today. A recessed center section and a sunken sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock complete the double-sunk construction, reinforcing both visual hierarchy and functional precision. The matching red hour hand further distinguishes this dial, creating a cohesive and highly uncommon color balance within a traditionally utilitarian railroad format.
Powering the Boston Railroad 010 is a rare 23-jewel Vanguard Waltham movement, one of the highest-grade railroad calibers ever produced by the company. Vanguard movements were built to meet the most stringent railroad time service standards and were manufactured in significantly smaller quantities than standard railroad grades. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals an exceptional level of finishing, including intricate bridge engraving, polished steel surfaces, and gold-toned gears that reflect Waltham’s top-tier mechanical craftsmanship. The pairing of a Ferguson dial with a Vanguard movement is particularly scarce, making this watch a standout even among serious railroad collectors.
We housed this movement in a polished steel Version 3 Railroad case, sized at 49mm to preserve the commanding presence of the original pocket watch. A bronze coin-edge bezel introduces warmth and tactile definition, while the vertically grooved bronze crown offers secure operation and reinforces the tool-watch origins of railroad timepieces. The watch is finished with a 24mm oxblood Horween leather strap with stitching, selected to echo the red elements of the dial and complete a palette that feels deliberate, balanced, and historically grounded.
The Vanguard Waltham movement in the Boston Railroad 010 was manufactured in 1918, during a period when American railroads operated under extraordinary demands brought on by World War I. Accurate timekeeping was essential to coordinating troop transport, industrial logistics, and nationwide rail traffic, and railroad-grade watches like this were relied upon as professional instruments. The Boston Railroad 010 preserves that legacy today, combining one of the rarest railroad dials Waltham produced with one of its most respected movements—an uncommon convergence of design, precision, and historical significance.
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.
