Watch Description
What makes the Canton 009 unique:
The Canton 009 is a rare piece of American watchmaking history, blending bold geometric design with an aged character that tells a century-old story. The dial immediately stands out with its striking gold octagonal frame, a hallmark of Hampden Watch Company’s craftsmanship in the early 1900s. The deep patina and subtle texture across the surface speak to its journey through time, adding an authentic vintage charm. The bold black numerals and blued steel hands offer a striking contrast, making this piece both legible and elegant.
Beneath the dial, we’ve preserved the 17-jewel, manual-wind Hampden movement, originally manufactured in 1918—the same year the U.S. Postal Service launched its first airmail route, revolutionizing long-distance communication. This No. 307-grade movement features beautifully machined bridges and a classic open-face configuration, embodying Hampden’s precision engineering.
We housed this piece of history in our sandblasted stainless steel case, complete with a matching knurled crown for a cohesive industrial aesthetic. A cognac leather strap complements the warm patina of the dial, enhancing the vintage feel. The result is a timepiece that not only preserves American horology but wears effortlessly as a modern statement piece.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Hampden Watch Company. We call this model "The Canton" because the company was located in Canton, Ohio.
Although founded in 1877, Hampen's story truly begins after its purchase by John C. Dueber in 1886. Mr. Dueber was in the process of moving his Kentucky based watch case manufacturing company, and he ultimately decided to move both the case company and Hampden watch company to Canton, Ohio together. Housing both operations on one campus, Dueber was able to produce cases for their own watches, unlike any other watch company. These two companies together eventually formed the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company. The company thrived until the late 1920's when it hit financial trouble and eventually closed its doors. The original factory building is no longer standing.
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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 Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hampden Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3723724
- Manufacture Year: 1918
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Canton 009 unique:
The Canton 009 is a rare piece of American watchmaking history, blending bold geometric design with an aged character that tells a century-old story. The dial immediately stands out with its striking gold octagonal frame, a hallmark of Hampden Watch Company’s craftsmanship in the early 1900s. The deep patina and subtle texture across the surface speak to its journey through time, adding an authentic vintage charm. The bold black numerals and blued steel hands offer a striking contrast, making this piece both legible and elegant.
Beneath the dial, we’ve preserved the 17-jewel, manual-wind Hampden movement, originally manufactured in 1918—the same year the U.S. Postal Service launched its first airmail route, revolutionizing long-distance communication. This No. 307-grade movement features beautifully machined bridges and a classic open-face configuration, embodying Hampden’s precision engineering.
We housed this piece of history in our sandblasted stainless steel case, complete with a matching knurled crown for a cohesive industrial aesthetic. A cognac leather strap complements the warm patina of the dial, enhancing the vintage feel. The result is a timepiece that not only preserves American horology but wears effortlessly as a modern statement piece.
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.
