Watch Description
What Makes The Lancaster 127 Unique:
The dial on The Lancaster 127 immediately draws you in with its warm, antique patina, the surface softly aged in a way that only time can produce. At the center, intricate engraved detailing radiates outward, adding depth and visual movement beneath the hands. Bold Arabic numerals circle the dial, their slightly softened edges reflecting decades of use while remaining highly legible. We preserved the original purpled-steel hands, whose deep, almost iridescent tone shifts subtly as they pass over the engraved center and lighter outer ring. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock completes the layout, providing balance and reinforcing the watch’s purposeful, early-20th-century design language.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Hamilton movement manufactured in 1928. Known for their precision and reliability, Hamilton movements from this era were finely finished and built to exacting standards. Through the open caseback, Geneva striping runs across the bridges, complemented by polished steel components and gold-toned gears that catch the light as the movement runs. The layout is clean and confident, reflecting Hamilton’s reputation as one of America’s premier watchmakers during the late 1920s.
We encased the movement in our Version 3 machined steel case, whose proportions give the watch a grounded, substantial presence on the wrist. A machined steel coin-edge bezel adds texture and a subtle nod to traditional pocket-watch cases, while the knurled machined-steel crown offers a tactile, mechanical feel when winding. The watch is paired with a black Horween leather strap, its rich tone and natural grain complementing the aged dial and engraved details while ensuring everyday comfort and durability.
In 1928, the United States was deep into the optimism of the Roaring Twenties, with American industry, manufacturing, and design reaching new heights just before the onset of the Great Depression. Companies like Hamilton were producing highly refined movements that balanced beauty with precision, supplying timepieces trusted by professionals across the country. The Lancaster 127 captures that moment in American watchmaking—where craftsmanship, confidence, and engineering excellence came together in a single, enduring object.
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
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- 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: 3285169
- Manufacture Year: 1928
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Lancaster 127 Unique:
The dial on The Lancaster 127 immediately draws you in with its warm, antique patina, the surface softly aged in a way that only time can produce. At the center, intricate engraved detailing radiates outward, adding depth and visual movement beneath the hands. Bold Arabic numerals circle the dial, their slightly softened edges reflecting decades of use while remaining highly legible. We preserved the original purpled-steel hands, whose deep, almost iridescent tone shifts subtly as they pass over the engraved center and lighter outer ring. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock completes the layout, providing balance and reinforcing the watch’s purposeful, early-20th-century design language.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Hamilton movement manufactured in 1928. Known for their precision and reliability, Hamilton movements from this era were finely finished and built to exacting standards. Through the open caseback, Geneva striping runs across the bridges, complemented by polished steel components and gold-toned gears that catch the light as the movement runs. The layout is clean and confident, reflecting Hamilton’s reputation as one of America’s premier watchmakers during the late 1920s.
We encased the movement in our Version 3 machined steel case, whose proportions give the watch a grounded, substantial presence on the wrist. A machined steel coin-edge bezel adds texture and a subtle nod to traditional pocket-watch cases, while the knurled machined-steel crown offers a tactile, mechanical feel when winding. The watch is paired with a black Horween leather strap, its rich tone and natural grain complementing the aged dial and engraved details while ensuring everyday comfort and durability.
In 1928, the United States was deep into the optimism of the Roaring Twenties, with American industry, manufacturing, and design reaching new heights just before the onset of the Great Depression. Companies like Hamilton were producing highly refined movements that balanced beauty with precision, supplying timepieces trusted by professionals across the country. The Lancaster 127 captures that moment in American watchmaking—where craftsmanship, confidence, and engineering excellence came together in a single, enduring object.
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.
