The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
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The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition

Military Edition
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The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition
The Military Edition - 2022 Special Edition

Watch Description

SOLD OUT!

The 2022 Special Edition of the Military Edition Series is officially our new favorite watch. We're only building 15 of these... ever, and they're so rare we're not just saying that. We legitimately cannot build more of these. For the Special Edition this year we chose to use a rare variant of the movement made for the US Army Air Corps for World War II, the Elgin 581 GCT.

This movement has an insanely cool and very rare feature; it's gold plated... all of it. Only a fraction of the GCT Master Navigator movements were manufactured by Elgin, making this movement much more rare as the one inside our standard Military Edition watches.

To make this watch truly special, we decided to use a solid bronze case. This specific bronze alloy is very strong, not much heavier than the titanium cases we typically use, and will patina over time. We cannot wait to see pictures of these watches in a couple of years. The patina will be spectacular!

Part of Vortic’s only Limited Edition, the Military Edition is a set of wristwatches built from very special antique American pocket watches. The pocket watches inside these wristwatches were originally manufactured for the U.S. Army Air Corps and flown on the B-17s and similar bomber aircraft in World War II. It’s the ultimate military watch and has the most provenance of any product we’ve ever made.

Available only on Veterans Day, these watches don’t just represent the past, but they also support the future. We will donate $500 from each watch to the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative which trains disabled military vets on how to become professional watchmakers. The average unemployment rate for disabled war veterans is 82%, and the funds we donate will put a dent in that figure!

Check out the National News Story here for more details on the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative:

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6102391489001/#sp=show-clips

Please note that slight variations in the dials, movements, and hands may occur as they are all unique pieces made about 80 years ago.

Check out our First Edition unboxing video to see everything included with the watch, please note this edition has only two straps - the army bag canvas and the buffalo hide leather, and the fourth edition does not require a winding tool.

NOTE: These watches have all been sold. Thank you for your support.

Movement Manufacturer Information

The movement inside of this watch was made by Hamilton Watch Company. We call this model "The Lancaster" because the company was located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Hamilton is named after famous Pennsylvanian Alexander Hamilton and is the result of multiple re-organizations of attempted watch companies in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1892, Hamilton had a reputation for superior quality and maintained half of the railroad watch market share during some of the most prolific years of American railroad history. During World War II, Hamilton was integral to the production of accurate timepieces for the Military. Deemed "the watch that won the war," the company established an employee-run newsletter so that employees turned soldiers could keep up with life at the factory. While the original factory still stands as luxury apartments, the company stopped producing watches in the US in 1969. Hamilton now produces watches in Switzerland and is owned by the Swatch Group.

Watch Specifications

  • Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
  • Model Year: 2022 Military Edition
  • Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
  • Case Dimensions:
    • Diameter: 49mm
    • Lug Width: 24mm
  • Case Material: Machined Bronze
  • Crown/Hardware: Titanium
  • Water Resistance: 1 ATM
  • Crystals: Domed German Glass (front)
    Gorilla Glass (back)
  • Case Back: Titanium
  • Strap: 
    #1: Military Canvas with Leather Backing
    #2: Brown Bison Leather with Stitching

Movement

  • Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
  • Serial Number: Varies
  • Manufacture Year: Varies 1938 to 1950
  • Function: Hour, Minute, and Hacking Sweeping Seconds
  • Jewels: 22 Jewels
  • Hands: Original Antiques
  • Size: 16s
  • Power Reserve: ~36 Hours

SOLD OUT!

The 2022 Special Edition of the Military Edition Series is officially our new favorite watch. We're only building 15 of these... ever, and they're so rare we're not just saying that. We legitimately cannot build more of these. For the Special Edition this year we chose to use a rare variant of the movement made for the US Army Air Corps for World War II, the Elgin 581 GCT.

This movement has an insanely cool and very rare feature; it's gold plated... all of it. Only a fraction of the GCT Master Navigator movements were manufactured by Elgin, making this movement much more rare as the one inside our standard Military Edition watches.

To make this watch truly special, we decided to use a solid bronze case. This specific bronze alloy is very strong, not much heavier than the titanium cases we typically use, and will patina over time. We cannot wait to see pictures of these watches in a couple of years. The patina will be spectacular!

Part of Vortic’s only Limited Edition, the Military Edition is a set of wristwatches built from very special antique American pocket watches. The pocket watches inside these wristwatches were originally manufactured for the U.S. Army Air Corps and flown on the B-17s and similar bomber aircraft in World War II. It’s the ultimate military watch and has the most provenance of any product we’ve ever made.

Available only on Veterans Day, these watches don’t just represent the past, but they also support the future. We will donate $500 from each watch to the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative which trains disabled military vets on how to become professional watchmakers. The average unemployment rate for disabled war veterans is 82%, and the funds we donate will put a dent in that figure!

Check out the National News Story here for more details on the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative:

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6102391489001/#sp=show-clips

Please note that slight variations in the dials, movements, and hands may occur as they are all unique pieces made about 80 years ago.

Check out our First Edition unboxing video to see everything included with the watch, please note this edition has only two straps - the army bag canvas and the buffalo hide leather, and the fourth edition does not require a winding tool.

NOTE: These watches have all been sold. Thank you for your support.

Introduction

The Pocket Watches

Time in the Skies

Restoration of the Original Antiques

The Wristwatch Engineering System

The Glass Crystals

The Hand Crafted Straps

The Veterans Watchmaker Initiative

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the watches be made and shipped?

For the Fourth Edition (2022) we plan to manufacture them and ship them throughout the end of 2022. You should receive yours in late November or throughout December.

What size is the Military Edition

The Military Edition is 49mm in diameter and 58mm lug to lug. The strap is 24mm, tapered to 22mm. The straps have been sized to fit any wrist between 6.5 and 8.5 inches (one size fits all).

Will you make more Military Edition watches?

The Military Edition will be exclusively available on Veterans Day each year. We do not know how many antique pocket watches we can find in the future, so subsequent sets may have fewer pieces available and will likely sell at a higher price.

Is there a Military Discount available?

Yes. Active Duty Military and all U.S. Military Veterans can receive 10% off any purchase on www.vorticwatches.com by using discount code "Military." You will be contacted after purchase for proof of service.

What parts are antique, and what parts are modern?

Just like all watches in Vortic's American Artisan Series, everything inside the watch is an original, restored antique. All internal components, including the dial (face), hands, and movement (gears and springs that tell time), are from a pocket watch built a long time ago. We restore those antique movements using only original parts and then build a custom engineering system around it. Everything you can touch, on the outside of the watch, is modern. This includes the case, glass, leather straps, crown, etc. 

What does GCT mean, and why is it on the antique dial?

GCT, during World War II, meant Greenwich Civil Time, the standard European timezone. Now called UTC, or Coordinated Universal Time, it relates to the time at 0 degrees Longitude - the location of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. It was the standard timezone for all Allied forces during the war.

Since the movement is roughly 70 years old, how well will the watch keep time?

We take care to restore and regulate each one, but "perfect" timekeeping, similar to a modern wristwatch, is not achievable. Each watch will be adjusted to keep excellent time on a day-to-day basis, but there will be variations from watch to watch. We attempt to regulate timekeeping within 30 seconds per day when averaged across all positions. For day to day use, you should not notice any fault in timekeeping.

Is the watch waterproof?

The watch industry does not use the term "waterproof." We always say "water-resistant" because every single watch is different, and all customer environments are different. The Military Edition is rated to 5ATM of water resistance, meaning it is perfect for day to day use, but not intended for use while showering or swimming.

What is the warranty on the Military Edition?

All Vortic watches come with a 1-year warranty. The bottom line is, if anything ever goes wrong, even after you have the watch for 1 years, we will take care of you. We pride ourselves in our customer service, and we can fix just about anything!

What box or packaging does it arrive inside?

Check out the link below for the unboxing of the First Edition! The Second, Third, and Special Editions have some slight changes but those will be a surprise.

Military Unboxing Video

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.

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