Watch Description
In this extremely limited release, we uncovered one original dial stamped with the “Hamilton” name—an ultra-rare variation among these already scarce military-issued pocket watches. This single piece is reserved exclusively for our existing customers and collectors who know the value of the Hamilton legacy.
The NATO Conversion Watch is our latest tribute to American military timekeeping—this time with a twist in the timeline. At the heart of each piece is a rare Hamilton 3992B movement originally built for the U.S. Navy during World War II, later repurposed by the British Royal Navy, and upgraded in the 1970s by NATO with a special decimal dial used for time studies or what some call "work studies." These pocket watches were tools of precision and survival, used aboard naval vessels and in military labs to coordinate missions, navigate vast oceans, and conduct critical calculations in 1/100ths of minutes instead of seconds.
This is where form meets function. The restored white dial features dual timekeeping systems: an inner track of black hour numerals and an outer ring of red decimal minute markers, designed for quick mathematical conversions in high-pressure environments. Around the edge, traditional black numerals keep it grounded in familiar territory, while needle-tipped blued whip hands and a red sweeping seconds hand glide above the surface with clarity and intent.
At the core is a 22-jewel Hamilton 3992B movement—fully rebuilt, visually stunning, and mechanically uncompromising. These movements feature a hacking function that stops the seconds hand when the crown is pulled, enabling military teams to synchronize watches to the second. Each movement is marked as U.S. government-issued and decorated with Geneva stripes, gold-plated gears, and fine-tuned for accuracy.
Encased in a 49mm Titankote ™ DLC-coated titanium case with a matching coin-edge bezel and knurled DLC crown, this piece is clean, rugged, and unmistakably military. Each customer receives both strap options: a black leather strap and a rugged olive NATO-style canvas strap—our first ever in this style—crafted exclusively for this project by Greg Stevens Design.
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.
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: NATO First Edition
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 49mm
- Lug Width: 24mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Domed Sapphire Glass (front)
Sapphire Glass (back) - Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: (1) Custom British Saddle Leather by Greg Stevens (2) Custom Swiss Military Canvas by Greg Stevens
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: Varies
- Manufacture Year: 1942
- Function: Manual Wind
- Hands: Original Antiques
- Size: 16s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
In this extremely limited release, we uncovered one original dial stamped with the “Hamilton” name—an ultra-rare variation among these already scarce military-issued pocket watches. This single piece is reserved exclusively for our existing customers and collectors who know the value of the Hamilton legacy.
The NATO Conversion Watch is our latest tribute to American military timekeeping—this time with a twist in the timeline. At the heart of each piece is a rare Hamilton 3992B movement originally built for the U.S. Navy during World War II, later repurposed by the British Royal Navy, and upgraded in the 1970s by NATO with a special decimal dial used for time studies or what some call "work studies." These pocket watches were tools of precision and survival, used aboard naval vessels and in military labs to coordinate missions, navigate vast oceans, and conduct critical calculations in 1/100ths of minutes instead of seconds.
This is where form meets function. The restored white dial features dual timekeeping systems: an inner track of black hour numerals and an outer ring of red decimal minute markers, designed for quick mathematical conversions in high-pressure environments. Around the edge, traditional black numerals keep it grounded in familiar territory, while needle-tipped blued whip hands and a red sweeping seconds hand glide above the surface with clarity and intent.
At the core is a 22-jewel Hamilton 3992B movement—fully rebuilt, visually stunning, and mechanically uncompromising. These movements feature a hacking function that stops the seconds hand when the crown is pulled, enabling military teams to synchronize watches to the second. Each movement is marked as U.S. government-issued and decorated with Geneva stripes, gold-plated gears, and fine-tuned for accuracy.
Encased in a 49mm Titankote ™ DLC-coated titanium case with a matching coin-edge bezel and knurled DLC crown, this piece is clean, rugged, and unmistakably military. Each customer receives both strap options: a black leather strap and a rugged olive NATO-style canvas strap—our first ever in this style—crafted exclusively for this project by Greg Stevens Design.
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.
