Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 196 unique: It is with great pleasure that we are releasing this incredible watch that was originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company, our very own Lancaster 196. We love the simple, classic look of this watch that is sure to garner a great deal of attention and interest. Large, bold hands direct you around the dial to take in these lovely numerals, surrounded by subtle minute indicators. Our sandblasted titanium case sets the tone perfectly for this watch, highlighted nicely by our nickel-plated crown and hardware. A merlot strap adds just the right amount of color and brings all the fine details together.This watch is equipped with an exhibition-style caseback that allows you to view the intricacies of the movement inside. We love the uniquely large build plate, with Hamilton's signature shape and carefully crafted machine lines throughout. Gold-plated gears peak through from beneath, showing off some of the precious metal elements of this design.
This watch was originally produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1925. In this same year, the Scopes Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee. This trial saw a school teacher by the name of John T. Scopes stand before a jury and be charged with violating state law by teaching evolution in his classroom. The case was seen as a showdown between modern science and traditional religious beliefs and attracted national attention from both sides of the issue. Although Scopes was found guilty on July 21st, this event ultimately marked an important milestone for civil liberties when it sparked debates about freedom of expression that continue to shape our society today.
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
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3113009
- Manufacture Year: 1925
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
This watch is equipped with an exhibition-style caseback that allows you to view the intricacies of the movement inside. We love the uniquely large build plate, with Hamilton's signature shape and carefully crafted machine lines throughout. Gold-plated gears peak through from beneath, showing off some of the precious metal elements of this design.
This watch was originally produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1925. In this same year, the Scopes Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee. This trial saw a school teacher by the name of John T. Scopes stand before a jury and be charged with violating state law by teaching evolution in his classroom. The case was seen as a showdown between modern science and traditional religious beliefs and attracted national attention from both sides of the issue. Although Scopes was found guilty on July 21st, this event ultimately marked an important milestone for civil liberties when it sparked debates about freedom of expression that continue to shape our society today.
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.
