Watch Description
What Makes The Lancaster 134 Unique:
The Lancaster 134 represents a different chapter in American watchmaking history than many of the earlier pocket watch conversions in the Vortic collection. Built around a Hamilton 917 movement manufactured in 1942, this watch comes from a period when precision timekeeping had become increasingly important to industry, transportation, and a nation fully engaged in World War II. By this point, Hamilton had firmly established itself as one of America’s most respected watch manufacturers, producing movements known for their reliability, refinement, and consistency.
Collectors will immediately notice the unusually clean and balanced dial. Unlike many surviving examples that display heavy aging or dramatic patina, the dial on the Lancaster 134 has retained a remarkably crisp appearance. The warm ivory surface creates an ideal backdrop for the applied bronze-toned Arabic numerals, which catch light differently than printed numerals and add depth throughout the dial. The result is a presentation that feels elegant, understated, and distinctly Hamilton.
The dial layout itself reflects a mature design philosophy. The railroad-style minute track around the perimeter provides structure and precision, while the recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock preserves the watch’s original pocket watch proportions. The gilt hands complement the applied numerals beautifully, creating a cohesive appearance that feels both vintage and timeless.
Turning the watch over reveals one of the Lancaster 134’s most appealing characteristics. The Hamilton 917 movement is widely regarded as one of the company’s most refined 10-size movements, offering impressive performance in a more compact package. Through the exhibition caseback, collectors can appreciate Hamilton’s signature striped finishing, polished steel components, visible gold-toned gearing, and the beautifully executed balance assembly. The movement remains clearly marked “17 Jewels Adjusted 3 Positions,” a designation that reflected Hamilton’s commitment to producing watches capable of maintaining reliable accuracy in daily use.
The smaller 10-size movement allows this watch to be housed in Vortic’s 43mm case, creating a slightly more compact wearing experience than many of the larger 12-size conversions. For collectors who appreciate the character of antique American watchmaking but prefer a more versatile case size, the Lancaster 134 occupies a particularly attractive position within the collection.
The machined stainless steel case and crown provide a clean, contemporary frame for the historic movement, while the cognac leather strap introduces warmth that complements the gilt numerals and hands. Together, these elements create a watch that feels equally appropriate in casual or formal settings.
Some watches capture attention through dramatic aging or rare complications. The Lancaster 134 takes a different approach. Its appeal lies in its balance, refinement, and the quiet confidence of a Hamilton movement produced during one of the most significant periods in American manufacturing history.
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: 43mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Front: Domed Sapphire Back: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Cognac Leather Strap with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: X99382
- Manufacture Year: 1942
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 10s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Lancaster 134 Unique:
The Lancaster 134 represents a different chapter in American watchmaking history than many of the earlier pocket watch conversions in the Vortic collection. Built around a Hamilton 917 movement manufactured in 1942, this watch comes from a period when precision timekeeping had become increasingly important to industry, transportation, and a nation fully engaged in World War II. By this point, Hamilton had firmly established itself as one of America’s most respected watch manufacturers, producing movements known for their reliability, refinement, and consistency.
Collectors will immediately notice the unusually clean and balanced dial. Unlike many surviving examples that display heavy aging or dramatic patina, the dial on the Lancaster 134 has retained a remarkably crisp appearance. The warm ivory surface creates an ideal backdrop for the applied bronze-toned Arabic numerals, which catch light differently than printed numerals and add depth throughout the dial. The result is a presentation that feels elegant, understated, and distinctly Hamilton.
The dial layout itself reflects a mature design philosophy. The railroad-style minute track around the perimeter provides structure and precision, while the recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock preserves the watch’s original pocket watch proportions. The gilt hands complement the applied numerals beautifully, creating a cohesive appearance that feels both vintage and timeless.
Turning the watch over reveals one of the Lancaster 134’s most appealing characteristics. The Hamilton 917 movement is widely regarded as one of the company’s most refined 10-size movements, offering impressive performance in a more compact package. Through the exhibition caseback, collectors can appreciate Hamilton’s signature striped finishing, polished steel components, visible gold-toned gearing, and the beautifully executed balance assembly. The movement remains clearly marked “17 Jewels Adjusted 3 Positions,” a designation that reflected Hamilton’s commitment to producing watches capable of maintaining reliable accuracy in daily use.
The smaller 10-size movement allows this watch to be housed in Vortic’s 43mm case, creating a slightly more compact wearing experience than many of the larger 12-size conversions. For collectors who appreciate the character of antique American watchmaking but prefer a more versatile case size, the Lancaster 134 occupies a particularly attractive position within the collection.
The machined stainless steel case and crown provide a clean, contemporary frame for the historic movement, while the cognac leather strap introduces warmth that complements the gilt numerals and hands. Together, these elements create a watch that feels equally appropriate in casual or formal settings.
Some watches capture attention through dramatic aging or rare complications. The Lancaster 134 takes a different approach. Its appeal lies in its balance, refinement, and the quiet confidence of a Hamilton movement produced during one of the most significant periods in American manufacturing history.
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.
