Tockr is well-known for incorporating U.S. history into the DNA of their timepieces, sometimes quite literally. The Battleship Texas Foundation chose to partner with the Texas-based watchmaker to produce a special series of watches, the Tockr USS Texas, made in part with salvaged material from the historic naval vessel and the world’s only remaining BB-35 dreadnought. Tockr will donate over fifty percent of the proceeds from each watch sale to The Foundation to support their efforts to restore the ship and ensure her legacy will carry on for generations to come
Built in 1912 and commissioned in 1914, The USS Texas, also known as the “Mighty T,” is as old as The Titanic and was once the most powerful battleship in the world. The colossal BB-35 naval vessel spent 34 years in active service, sustaining just one on-board casualty throughout the entirety of both World Wars. Since 1948, the 107-year-old vessel has continued her service to America through her second life as a memorial museum, welcoming generations of Texans and visitors from abroad to walk her decks, tour her passageways, and explore a piece of our national history. Today, the greatest battle facing the “Mighty T” is her fight against the clock, as age and corrosion stand to threaten her existence, and Texas-based watchmaker Tockr has pledged over fifty percent of the proceeds of its Tockr USS Texas watch series to help finance the costly restoration of the famed dreadnought.
“I have fond memories of walking the decks of the USS Texas growing up. When I heard that funds were needed to help restore the Mighty T, the Tockr team and I immediately wanted to help. We are always proud to partner with organizations like The Battleship Texas Foundation whose work preserves and honors our nation’s military history,” said Tockr Founder Austin Ivey, “By donating over fifty percent of the proceeds from each Tockr USS Texas watch sale, I’m proud to support the historic vessel’s restoration for the benefit of future generations.”
“I think this is one of the most interesting, most magical things we’ve done in the eight years I’ve been involved with The Battleship Texas. It’s amazing to me that Tockr found a way to incorporate the ship’s original steel into a very nice, fine timepiece,” said Bruce Bramlett, Battleship Texas Foundation Executive Director, “It’s going to be an heirloom, something people can pass down and treasure for a lifetime.”
Introducing the Tockr USS Texas
Born in Austin, Texas, and assembled in Switzerland, each 42mm Tockr USS Texas watch houses a high-grade Swiss quartz movement in a 316L steel case. The dial features applied luminous indices, a date window, and a luminous silhouette of the battleship, encircled by a portion of the USS Texas herself. Each case back bears engravings of the Battleship Texas Foundation insignia and a unique serial number, and all watches also come with a certificate of authenticity signed by The Foundation. Two USS Texas watch variations will be offered, one with a white dial, pink indices, and pink rubber strap and the other with a black dial and coordinated strap. Tockr further reinforced the watch’s hyper-local connection by partnering with local Texas operation Midway Machine, located just 15 minutes from where the USS Texas is currently docked in La Porte, Texas. Owned by a local veteran, Midway Machine has specialized in small aerospace parts production for over 40 years. The company employed its expertise to transform each unique piece of salvaged USS Texas material into the chapter rings that surround the watch dials, protected and enclosed beneath a sapphire crystal.
Military and naval enthusiasts, history lovers, watch collectors, and Texans at heart can admire unique, salvaged pieces of past, preserved forever within a USS Texas watch dial. Each purchase makes a major contribution to the substantial restoration work required to get the “Mighty T” back in fighting shape, as she prepares to reopen to the public as a national park by 2021.
The first 100 watches in the Tockr USS Texas series will be offered for an introductory price of $799 ($999 standard retail value), available now at (URL).
About Tockr™: Tockr™ is an American watch brand with a Swiss-made heart, founded in Austin, Texas in 2017. Inspired by his own experience as a pilot and the legacy of his grandfather, a U.S. Army pilot who flew C-47 aircraft during World War II, Founder Austin Ivey set out to combine his lifelong passions of watches and aviation in an accessible collection of aviation-inspired watches. In a short time, Tockr’s iconic C47 and Air Defender watch collections have already captured the imagination of watch enthusiasts around the world. Discover the universe of Tockr at tockr.com.
About the BATTLESHIP TEXAS FOUNDATION: The mission of the Battleship Texas Foundation is to work in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to preserve and enhance the Battleship TEXAS, and develop this historic ship into a premier museum and visitor attraction. www.battleshiptexas.org
