Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 103 unique:
Website Description
The Lancaster 103 carries an unmistakable presence, anchored by a parchment-toned dial that has gently aged to reveal a soft, textured surface. A bold ring of slanted Art Deco numerals surrounds the layout, their sharp geometry lending both elegance and authority. Hovering above are a pair of heavy arrow-style hands in heat-blued steel, their pointed forms designed for instant legibility and striking contrast. At 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds dial is framed by crisp railroad-style markers, reinforcing the design’s balance and precision while enhancing its vintage character.
Inside this watch beats a 17-jewel Hamilton movement, originally manufactured in 1930. Through the open caseback, the engine reveals bold Geneva stripes sweeping across its bridges, accented by polished steel components and gold-plated gears. The architecture highlights Hamilton’s meticulous attention to detail, showcasing the artistry and durability that helped define the golden age of American watchmaking.
Encasing the movement is a 47mm machined titanium case with a smooth titanium bezel, paired with a knurled copper crown that introduces a warm note of contrast. Completing the build is a navy W&W leather strap, stitched in cream and designed to echo the watch’s timeless functionality while offering modern comfort.
This movement was originally produced in 1930, the same year the Cleveland Union Terminal opened in Ohio. At the time, it was one of the largest train stations in the United States and a landmark of Art Deco design. Its bold geometric architecture echoes the same visual language as the slanted numerals on this watch, connecting American infrastructure and timekeeping through a shared design heritage.
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: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 50mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3322947
- Manufacture Year: 1930
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Lancaster 103 unique:
Website Description
The Lancaster 103 carries an unmistakable presence, anchored by a parchment-toned dial that has gently aged to reveal a soft, textured surface. A bold ring of slanted Art Deco numerals surrounds the layout, their sharp geometry lending both elegance and authority. Hovering above are a pair of heavy arrow-style hands in heat-blued steel, their pointed forms designed for instant legibility and striking contrast. At 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds dial is framed by crisp railroad-style markers, reinforcing the design’s balance and precision while enhancing its vintage character.
Inside this watch beats a 17-jewel Hamilton movement, originally manufactured in 1930. Through the open caseback, the engine reveals bold Geneva stripes sweeping across its bridges, accented by polished steel components and gold-plated gears. The architecture highlights Hamilton’s meticulous attention to detail, showcasing the artistry and durability that helped define the golden age of American watchmaking.
Encasing the movement is a 47mm machined titanium case with a smooth titanium bezel, paired with a knurled copper crown that introduces a warm note of contrast. Completing the build is a navy W&W leather strap, stitched in cream and designed to echo the watch’s timeless functionality while offering modern comfort.
This movement was originally produced in 1930, the same year the Cleveland Union Terminal opened in Ohio. At the time, it was one of the largest train stations in the United States and a landmark of Art Deco design. Its bold geometric architecture echoes the same visual language as the slanted numerals on this watch, connecting American infrastructure and timekeeping through a shared design heritage.
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.
