Watch Description
What Makes The Lancaster 124 Unique:
The Lancaster 124 presents a beautifully aged dial defined by soft, even patina and a warm cream tone that immediately speaks to its history. Bold black Arabic numerals anchor the layout with strong contrast, while a fine outer minute track frames the dial with quiet precision. At center, we preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep blue tone adds a refined visual counterpoint against the softened surface. The recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock introduces subtle depth and texture, completing a balanced, highly legible composition that feels both purposeful and elegant.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Hamilton movement manufactured in 1935. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals carefully finished bridges with broad striping, polished steel components, and warm-toned gears that catch the light as the watch runs. Hamilton’s reputation for precision and durability is on full display here, with a movement built to deliver dependable performance while showcasing the craftsmanship that defined American watchmaking in the mid-1930s.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 machined steel case with a sandblasted finish that gives the surface a soft, matte texture. A sandblasted steel coin-edge bezel adds tactile detail while reinforcing the utilitarian character of the design. Bronze accents throughout the watch—including the sandblasted bronze crown and matching bronze buckle—introduce warmth and contrast, subtly echoing the aged tones of the dial. The watch is paired with a cognac leather strap that complements both the patina and bronze details, tying the entire composition together with a grounded, cohesive feel.
In 1935, American industry continued to push forward despite the lingering effects of the Great Depression, with manufacturers refining production methods to balance efficiency, quality, and durability. Watchmakers like Hamilton focused on producing reliable, precisely engineered movements that could serve professionals and everyday wearers alike. The Lancaster 124 carries that spirit forward today—an enduring example of American resilience, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.
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 Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Brown Leather Strap with Bronze Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3422308
- Manufacture Year: 1935
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original Blued-Steel Hands
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Lancaster 124 Unique:
The Lancaster 124 presents a beautifully aged dial defined by soft, even patina and a warm cream tone that immediately speaks to its history. Bold black Arabic numerals anchor the layout with strong contrast, while a fine outer minute track frames the dial with quiet precision. At center, we preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep blue tone adds a refined visual counterpoint against the softened surface. The recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock introduces subtle depth and texture, completing a balanced, highly legible composition that feels both purposeful and elegant.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Hamilton movement manufactured in 1935. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals carefully finished bridges with broad striping, polished steel components, and warm-toned gears that catch the light as the watch runs. Hamilton’s reputation for precision and durability is on full display here, with a movement built to deliver dependable performance while showcasing the craftsmanship that defined American watchmaking in the mid-1930s.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 machined steel case with a sandblasted finish that gives the surface a soft, matte texture. A sandblasted steel coin-edge bezel adds tactile detail while reinforcing the utilitarian character of the design. Bronze accents throughout the watch—including the sandblasted bronze crown and matching bronze buckle—introduce warmth and contrast, subtly echoing the aged tones of the dial. The watch is paired with a cognac leather strap that complements both the patina and bronze details, tying the entire composition together with a grounded, cohesive feel.
In 1935, American industry continued to push forward despite the lingering effects of the Great Depression, with manufacturers refining production methods to balance efficiency, quality, and durability. Watchmakers like Hamilton focused on producing reliable, precisely engineered movements that could serve professionals and everyday wearers alike. The Lancaster 124 carries that spirit forward today—an enduring example of American resilience, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.
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.
