Watch Description
What Makes The Lancaster 133 Unique:
The Lancaster 133 represents a different chapter in Hamilton’s history than many of the earlier pocket watch conversions we build. Powered by a 17-jewel Hamilton movement manufactured in 1936, this watch comes from a period when American watchmaking had fully matured, combining decades of technical refinement with a cleaner, more modern design language. By the mid-1930s, Hamilton had established itself as one of the premier names in American horology, producing movements renowned for precision, durability, and exceptional finishing.
The dial immediately reflects that shift toward modernity. Rather than ornate numerals or heavily decorated center sections, the Lancaster 133 embraces restraint. Applied gold-tone hour markers radiate around a warm silver dial, creating a refined Art Deco influence that feels distinctly representative of the 1930s. Collectors will appreciate how uncommon this style is compared to the more traditional Arabic numeral dials frequently seen on converted pocket watches. The gold-tone hands complement the markers perfectly, creating a cohesive appearance that feels elegant without becoming flashy.
The outer minute track adds another layer of visual interest. Marked in five-minute increments around the perimeter, it frames the dial while preserving the open, uncluttered aesthetic that defines the watch. At 6 o’clock, the recessed sub-seconds register remains faithful to the original pocket watch architecture, maintaining the proportions and layout that enthusiasts expect from an authentic conversion.
Turning the watch over reveals one of the movement’s most appealing characteristics. The Hamilton movement displays broad striped finishing across its bridges, visible gold-toned gearing, and jewel settings that stand out against the silver-toned plates. Collectors familiar with Hamilton movements from this era will immediately recognize the quality of the finishing and the clean, purposeful layout that helped solidify the company’s reputation for producing some of America’s finest timepieces. The engraved “17 Jewels Adjusted” designation serves as a reminder that precision remained central to Hamilton’s philosophy.
The case and strap pairing complement the movement’s era perfectly. The machined stainless steel V3 case provides a modern framework, while the polished bezel adds a subtle touch of brightness that echoes the dial’s metallic accents. The pre-patina bronze crown introduces warmth and character, pairing naturally with the gold-toned dial furniture. Finished with a black leather strap, the Lancaster 133 achieves a balance of sophistication and everyday wearability.
Some watches showcase age through patina and wear. The Lancaster 133 tells its story through design, capturing a moment when American watchmaking was embracing a cleaner, more modern future while still delivering the craftsmanship that made Hamilton legendary.
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: 22mm Black Leather Strap with Bronze Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3445749
- Manufacture Year: 1936
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Lancaster 133 Unique:
The Lancaster 133 represents a different chapter in Hamilton’s history than many of the earlier pocket watch conversions we build. Powered by a 17-jewel Hamilton movement manufactured in 1936, this watch comes from a period when American watchmaking had fully matured, combining decades of technical refinement with a cleaner, more modern design language. By the mid-1930s, Hamilton had established itself as one of the premier names in American horology, producing movements renowned for precision, durability, and exceptional finishing.
The dial immediately reflects that shift toward modernity. Rather than ornate numerals or heavily decorated center sections, the Lancaster 133 embraces restraint. Applied gold-tone hour markers radiate around a warm silver dial, creating a refined Art Deco influence that feels distinctly representative of the 1930s. Collectors will appreciate how uncommon this style is compared to the more traditional Arabic numeral dials frequently seen on converted pocket watches. The gold-tone hands complement the markers perfectly, creating a cohesive appearance that feels elegant without becoming flashy.
The outer minute track adds another layer of visual interest. Marked in five-minute increments around the perimeter, it frames the dial while preserving the open, uncluttered aesthetic that defines the watch. At 6 o’clock, the recessed sub-seconds register remains faithful to the original pocket watch architecture, maintaining the proportions and layout that enthusiasts expect from an authentic conversion.
Turning the watch over reveals one of the movement’s most appealing characteristics. The Hamilton movement displays broad striped finishing across its bridges, visible gold-toned gearing, and jewel settings that stand out against the silver-toned plates. Collectors familiar with Hamilton movements from this era will immediately recognize the quality of the finishing and the clean, purposeful layout that helped solidify the company’s reputation for producing some of America’s finest timepieces. The engraved “17 Jewels Adjusted” designation serves as a reminder that precision remained central to Hamilton’s philosophy.
The case and strap pairing complement the movement’s era perfectly. The machined stainless steel V3 case provides a modern framework, while the polished bezel adds a subtle touch of brightness that echoes the dial’s metallic accents. The pre-patina bronze crown introduces warmth and character, pairing naturally with the gold-toned dial furniture. Finished with a black leather strap, the Lancaster 133 achieves a balance of sophistication and everyday wearability.
Some watches showcase age through patina and wear. The Lancaster 133 tells its story through design, capturing a moment when American watchmaking was embracing a cleaner, more modern future while still delivering the craftsmanship that made Hamilton legendary.
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.
