Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 085 unique:
At 43mm, the Lancaster 085 is the smallest pocket watch conversion we offer—an achievement made possible by the 10-size Hamilton movement inside. This compact size makes it one of the most wearable watches in our collection, blending historical significance with modern craftsmanship. Its raised gold numerals and Dauphine-style hands contrast beautifully against the warm, aged dial, while the sunken sub-seconds dial adds depth and balance to the design. A crisp outer minute track enhances legibility, a hallmark of Hamilton’s precision-focused approach to watchmaking.
Inside, this watch houses a 17-jewel Hamilton movement, originally manufactured in 1949. The Geneva-striped bridges and polished gears shine through the exhibition caseback, showcasing the artistry of American watchmaking. The machined stainless steel case with a smooth bezel enhances the dial’s vintage patina, while a vertical grooved crown adds a subtle industrial touch. Finished with a handcrafted leather strap, this timepiece is a seamless blend of form and function.
In 1949, the same year Hamilton manufactured this pocket watch, the United States saw the first non-stop flight around the world, completed by the Lucky Lady II—a B-50 Superfortress. This incredible feat of aviation was made possible by in-air refueling, a technology that revolutionized military and commercial flight. Just as aviation was pushing boundaries, American watchmakers like Hamilton were refining their craft, producing some of the most precise and beautiful movements of the era.
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.
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Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 43mm
- Thickness: 10mm
- Lug to Lug: 50mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: X163012
- Manufacture Year: 1949
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 10s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Lancaster 085 unique:
At 43mm, the Lancaster 085 is the smallest pocket watch conversion we offer—an achievement made possible by the 10-size Hamilton movement inside. This compact size makes it one of the most wearable watches in our collection, blending historical significance with modern craftsmanship. Its raised gold numerals and Dauphine-style hands contrast beautifully against the warm, aged dial, while the sunken sub-seconds dial adds depth and balance to the design. A crisp outer minute track enhances legibility, a hallmark of Hamilton’s precision-focused approach to watchmaking.
Inside, this watch houses a 17-jewel Hamilton movement, originally manufactured in 1949. The Geneva-striped bridges and polished gears shine through the exhibition caseback, showcasing the artistry of American watchmaking. The machined stainless steel case with a smooth bezel enhances the dial’s vintage patina, while a vertical grooved crown adds a subtle industrial touch. Finished with a handcrafted leather strap, this timepiece is a seamless blend of form and function.
In 1949, the same year Hamilton manufactured this pocket watch, the United States saw the first non-stop flight around the world, completed by the Lucky Lady II—a B-50 Superfortress. This incredible feat of aviation was made possible by in-air refueling, a technology that revolutionized military and commercial flight. Just as aviation was pushing boundaries, American watchmakers like Hamilton were refining their craft, producing some of the most precise and beautiful movements of the era.
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.
