The Bozeman Watch Company of Bozeman, Montana, was an American company that designed and engineered its own timepieces and had its mechanical components certified by the Contrôle officiel suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) certified timepieces. It went out of business in 2015.
History
Christopher F. Wardle, originally a native of Birmingham Michigan, sought out an industrial designer to help put his vision and original watch designs to paper. Having been a collector of many American brands and having the desire to keep the models reminiscent of the mid 20th century styles, Wardle started to clinch concepts into designs and in 2005 introduced the first timepiece, the Smokejumper Chronograph.
Operations
The company opened its first exclusive showroom in Bozeman, Montana, the same year. In 2008, the company expanded its Michigan design staff and started expanding its ability to create original engineering data, tooling, and suppliers to ramp up its model lineup for its expanded showroom plans. In 2010, the Bozeman Watch Company opened another dealer in Whitefish, Montana and Jackson Hole, WY in 2011.
Staying away from standard production parts, the company claimed that it was taking up to 3 years to design and take to market any of its watch models. "Where many watch makers buy out of catalogs, BWC uses tiny parts that are made for their company exclusively".
Watch Models
Yellowstone
The ladies' Yellowstone watch has a 32mm case diameter, interlaced with sapphire crystals. It is waterproof to 5 ATM or about 165 ft. It has a 21 jewel automatic mechanical movement with a date function and a sweep second hand. A hundred pieces was expected to be produced in 2011 and estimated to be available for purchase in December 2011. A men's 38mm model was expected to be released simultaneously with the ladies' model. The men's model was planned to house a 25 jewel automatic movement. It was available in stainless steel or alligator black wristband.
B1 Hellcat
This watch was offering two straps, a tan or black saddle leather strap and a stainless steel bracelet. This watch was planned to be released with two hundred first editions. It has a 42.6 mm diameter watch face, a 13.2 mm height. It also has a 25-jewel Swiss movement, 28,800 VPH, a sweep second hand and date functions as well as a screw-down crown. It is water resistant to 330 ft.
Snowmaster Telemetric
This watch has 43mm stainless steel case with 25 jewel automatic Swiss Valjoux movement. Each movement is independently COSC certified in Geneva with second, minute and hour Chronograph timing functions. It also comes with a second 24-hour time zone complication or GMT function as well as a speed and distance telemetric scale.
Smokejumper GMT and Smokejumper Chronograph
There are two Smokejumper style watches, the Smokejumper GMT or Chronograph. The GMT Worldtime is the National Smokejumpers official timepiece. It comes with two different available dial colors: silver and black or enamel and super luminescent. The GMT has automatic Swiss specialty-line mechanical movement, a 21-jewel movement with 28,800 vibrations per hour (VPH). It has a 42-hour power reserve and a second time zone function. It is COSC certified, is water resistant to 330 ft and is domed with sapphire crystals. The back is engraved with the Missoula, MT smokejumper base logo endorsement. The GMT will initially be limited to one hundred individual numbered pieces. The original Smokejumper Chronograph, as stated in the April 2008 issue of Insync; "[I]s BWC's only chronograph and at 46.5mm, its largest. It is also limited to 100 individually numbered editions, which are nearly all spoken for. Wardle says once the Smokejumper is sold out they will produce a different model,[GMT] which should please owners of this distinctive piece".
Herradura
The Herradura was developed with direction from two-time World Series winner, Bosten Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett. Beckett's signature was sent to the BWC, so that each of the 53 numbered pieces have the pitcher's mark on it. The Herradura has 24 jewels with 28,800 VPH, a sweep second hand with a three o'clock date window. It is COSC certified with raised Arabic numerals and raised gold markers with luminescence. It is water resistant to 330 ft and comes with a 44 mm stainless steel case. The leather strap, which is available in saddle tan, is handmade.