The Vortic Watch Company Military Edition

TGR Staff – 02/13/2023

Vortic Watches is one of the most unique watch brands in the USA, the small company founded in Fort Collins, Colorado, takes classic American pocket watch movements and creates high-end wristwatches that keep these amazing pieces of horological history in use. While they do source pocket watches to convert for inventory, they got their start repurposing family heirlooms one watch at a time, a service they still offer.

A few years ago a gentleman brought in one of those pocket watches, it had been passed down in his family, but this watch was like nothing the team at Vortic had ever seen before, it not only had a rare black dial, but it was a 24-hour dial. The watch turned out to be issued by the United States Army Air Corps beginning in World War II, some historians have referred to it as "The Watch That Won The War." This was the beginning of what would become the Vortic Military Edition.

The AN5740-1 was commissioned by the United States Government at the beginning of World War II and built by three American watch companies, Elgin from Illinois, Waltham from Massachusetts, and Hamilton from Pennsylvania, all built their own version of the AN5740-1 to specification. Black dial with white 24-hour markings, white hands, a long sweeping second hand, with a hacking complication so it could be used as a stopwatch. The dials also were marked with “GCT” which stands for Greenwich Civil Time, the standard European timezone.

The AN5740-1 was also known as the Master Navigational Watch and was carried by Navigators on B-17, B24-, and B-29 bombers, as well as other US military aircraft. These watches were vital in calculating courses as they navigated by the stars.

AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY PRESERVED IN A LIMITED EDITION WRISTWATCH

Limited to just 50 units each, using a fully restored Hamilton 4992B movement, each finished watch carries a unique serial number and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Encased in surplus ammo cans, the watch comes with an alternative strap, tool, the original pocket watch case, and a desk display stand to show it all off.

The watch wears well even with a massive 49mm case and it is sure to start a lot of conversations, priced at $7,995.00 learn more HERE.