The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
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The Cleveland 043 (47mm)

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The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)
The Cleveland 043 (47mm)

Watch Description

What makes the Cleveland 043 unique: Today, we’re excited to feature this breathtaking, original piece from the Ball Watch Company, initially produced in 1926 — the Cleveland 043. Ball Watch Company had the majority of its watches produced in Springfield Illinois by the Illinois Watch Company. The Cleveland boasts a highly unique and sophisticated gray center design and matching subdial that looks stunning against the dial’s white background. The dial also features gold-colored numerals and blue-tinted square spade hands. We encased this remarkable pocket watch within our Gunmetal case and equipped it with a gold-plated crown, matching the dial’s luxurious-looking numerals. Our Gunmetal case features a transparent back, enabling watch enthusiasts to view the piece’s intricate inner workings. The pocket watch has a Commercial Standard grade movement with an open-face configuration, ¾ plate, and a circular finish pattern. The back of the watch also showcases robust gold-plated gears powered by 19 jewels with raised gold settings. Finally, we made this magnificent watch even better with our artisan-designed Rye leather watch strap, adding to the piece’s sumptuous, one-of-a-kind style.

The Illinois Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1926 — the same year that publisher Kurt Wolff released Franz Kafka’s final novel, The Castle. Kafka was known for his surreal storytelling, leading to the development of the term “Kafkaesque,” which people use to describe situations and literary works that are bizarre or evoke a sense of existential dread. Although The Castle is one of Franz Kafka’s most famous works, the author didn’t want to release it. He passed away two years before its publication, and he instructed his friend and executor of his will Max Brod to destroy his unfinished writing, including his novels The Castle, The Trial, and Amerika. Brod ignored Kafka’s request and published the works.

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.

Watch Specifications

  • Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
  • Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
  • Case Dimensions:
    • Diameter: 47mm
    • Thickness: 12mm
    • Lug to Lug: 55mm
    • Lug Width: 22mm
  • Case Material: Gunmetal Titanium
  • Crown/Hardware: Gold Plated
  • Water Resistance: 1 ATM
  • Crystals: Sapphire
  • Case Back: Stainless Steel
  • Strap: Leather

Movement

  • Manufacturer: Ball Watch Company
  • Serial Number: 406743
  • Manufacture Year: 1926
  • Function: Manual Wind
  • Jewels: 17 Jewels
  • Hands: Original
  • Size: 12s
  • Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Cleveland 043 unique: Today, we’re excited to feature this breathtaking, original piece from the Ball Watch Company, initially produced in 1926 — the Cleveland 043. Ball Watch Company had the majority of its watches produced in Springfield Illinois by the Illinois Watch Company. The Cleveland boasts a highly unique and sophisticated gray center design and matching subdial that looks stunning against the dial’s white background. The dial also features gold-colored numerals and blue-tinted square spade hands. We encased this remarkable pocket watch within our Gunmetal case and equipped it with a gold-plated crown, matching the dial’s luxurious-looking numerals. Our Gunmetal case features a transparent back, enabling watch enthusiasts to view the piece’s intricate inner workings. The pocket watch has a Commercial Standard grade movement with an open-face configuration, ¾ plate, and a circular finish pattern. The back of the watch also showcases robust gold-plated gears powered by 19 jewels with raised gold settings. Finally, we made this magnificent watch even better with our artisan-designed Rye leather watch strap, adding to the piece’s sumptuous, one-of-a-kind style.

The Illinois Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1926 — the same year that publisher Kurt Wolff released Franz Kafka’s final novel, The Castle. Kafka was known for his surreal storytelling, leading to the development of the term “Kafkaesque,” which people use to describe situations and literary works that are bizarre or evoke a sense of existential dread. Although The Castle is one of Franz Kafka’s most famous works, the author didn’t want to release it. He passed away two years before its publication, and he instructed his friend and executor of his will Max Brod to destroy his unfinished writing, including his novels The Castle, The Trial, and Amerika. Brod ignored Kafka’s request and published the works.

The Movement

The Story

The Strap

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