Watch Description
What makes the Cleveland 008 unique:
The Cleveland 008 stands apart with its striking patinaed dial, a testament to nearly a century of history. The rare greenish hue is beautifully contrasted by an unusually dark sub-seconds dial, creating a bold yet refined aesthetic. The watch features square spade hands, an uncommon and distinctive style that adds to its historical appeal. The bold Arabic numerals and intricate minute track further enhance the character of this vintage Ball timepiece, making it an extraordinary find for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
At the heart of this watch is a 1926 Ball Commercial Standard movement, a testament to the rigorous standards set by Webb C. Ball for railroad-grade timepieces. Ball Watch Company played a critical role in standardizing precision timekeeping for the American railroad industry, ensuring the safety and efficiency of rail travel. By 1926, Ball was renowned for its high-grade, reliable pocket watches, and this 19-jewel movement exemplifies that legacy. The craftsmanship and engineering behind this piece make it a true relic of American ingenuity.
Encased in a sandblasted stainless steel case, this watch is both durable and refined. The angled sandblasted bezel complements the case, while the vertical grooved, tumbled titanium crown provides a tactile contrast. Paired with a cognac leather strap, this piece blends rugged history with modern wearability, ensuring that it remains as functional today as it was nearly a century ago.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Ball Watch Company. We call this model "The Cleveland" because the company was located within the Cleveland city limits.
Founded by Webb C. Ball in 1891, Ball Watch Company's watches focused on the railroad industry and had a reputation for quality that was second to none. Mr. Ball famously invented and implemented a standard set of watch inspections and requirements to qualify a watch for use on the railroad at a time when timekeeping was paramount to safety. This was known as a "Standard" or "Railroad Grade" watch. The core of the manufacturing for these watches was performed by Hamilton and Waltham Watch Companies, but the adjustment, finishing, and testing performed by Ball set them ahead of the pack. One of the few companies still in existence, Ball now makes watches in Switzerland and is owned by Hong Kong group Asia Commercial Holdings Ltd.
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: 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: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Ball Watch Company
- Serial Number: B405929
- Manufacture Year: 1926
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 19 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Cleveland 008 unique:
The Cleveland 008 stands apart with its striking patinaed dial, a testament to nearly a century of history. The rare greenish hue is beautifully contrasted by an unusually dark sub-seconds dial, creating a bold yet refined aesthetic. The watch features square spade hands, an uncommon and distinctive style that adds to its historical appeal. The bold Arabic numerals and intricate minute track further enhance the character of this vintage Ball timepiece, making it an extraordinary find for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
At the heart of this watch is a 1926 Ball Commercial Standard movement, a testament to the rigorous standards set by Webb C. Ball for railroad-grade timepieces. Ball Watch Company played a critical role in standardizing precision timekeeping for the American railroad industry, ensuring the safety and efficiency of rail travel. By 1926, Ball was renowned for its high-grade, reliable pocket watches, and this 19-jewel movement exemplifies that legacy. The craftsmanship and engineering behind this piece make it a true relic of American ingenuity.
Encased in a sandblasted stainless steel case, this watch is both durable and refined. The angled sandblasted bezel complements the case, while the vertical grooved, tumbled titanium crown provides a tactile contrast. Paired with a cognac leather strap, this piece blends rugged history with modern wearability, ensuring that it remains as functional today as it was nearly a century ago.
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.
