Watch Description
What makes the Cleveland 044 unique: We’re pleased to present to you this remarkable wristwatch that features an antique pocket watch originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company — the Cleveland 044. The Illinois Watch Company constructed this watch for the Ball Watch Company, and its dial features the inscription “Ball” within its sumptuous center design pattern. This gold-colored pattern goes perfectly with the dial’s breathtaking golden gothic hands and dark-gold-colored numerals. These details look especially gorgeous against the watch face’s cream-colored background. We equipped the final product with even more opulent details by ensconcing the antique pocket watch within our Gilded Titanium case and topped it off with a gold-plated crown. On the watch’s rear side, you can see its Commercial-Standard-grade open-face movement with a circular finish pattern, Reed regulator, and Breguet hairspring. The movement also features engravings reading “Ball Watch Co” and “Cleveland, Ohio,” referencing its trade name, and boasts gold-plated gears as well as 19 screw-set jewels throughout its ¾ plate. Finally, we made this gorgeous piece of history wearable with our comfortable and stylish Rye leather watch strap.The Illinois Watch Company initially released the Cleveland 044’s pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1926 — the same year that acclaimed American author Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama. Lee was primarily known for her Pulitzer-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most important novels in American literature. In addition to her contributions to her literature with To Kill a Mockingbird and its sequel Go Set a Watchman, Lee also helped author Truman Capote conduct research for his landmark true-crime non-fiction book In Cold Blood. In 2007, President George W. Bush awarded Lee with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2010, President Barack Obama bestowed her the National Medal of Arts. Six years later, she passed away in her hometown at age 89.
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.
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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: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Gold Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Ball Watch Company
- Serial Number: B402322
- Manufacture Year: 1926
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 19 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Illinois Watch Company initially released the Cleveland 044’s pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1926 — the same year that acclaimed American author Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama. Lee was primarily known for her Pulitzer-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most important novels in American literature. In addition to her contributions to her literature with To Kill a Mockingbird and its sequel Go Set a Watchman, Lee also helped author Truman Capote conduct research for his landmark true-crime non-fiction book In Cold Blood. In 2007, President George W. Bush awarded Lee with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2010, President Barack Obama bestowed her the National Medal of Arts. Six years later, she passed away in her hometown at age 89.
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.
