Watch Description
What Makes The Lancaster 137 Unique:
The Lancaster 137 showcases the quiet confidence that defined Hamilton during America’s golden age of watchmaking. Manufactured in 1933, this 17-jewel Hamilton movement reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to precision, durability, and elegant engineering during a period when Hamilton had firmly established itself as one of the nation’s premier watch manufacturers. While the country weathered the hardships of the Great Depression, Hamilton continued producing movements that were trusted by professionals and admired by collectors for their exceptional quality and dependable performance.
Its dial immediately sets this watch apart. The warm champagne finish is enhanced by a beautifully executed two-tone construction, featuring a brushed center that radiates outward beneath the Hamilton signature. Applied Art Deco Arabic numerals and complementary blued-steel hands create a refined, architectural aesthetic that perfectly captures the design language of the early 1930s. The recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock maintains the balance of the dial while emphasizing the clean symmetry that collectors often seek in watches from this era. Unlike brighter white enamel dials commonly associated with railroad-grade pieces, this metallic champagne dial offers a softer, more sophisticated presentation that has become increasingly desirable among vintage enthusiasts.
Turning the watch over reveals a movement that exemplifies Hamilton’s reputation for functional excellence. The 17-jewel movement features broad Geneva striping across the bridges, gold jewel settings, “snailed” winding wheels, and an elegantly finished balance assembly. Collectors will appreciate the Adjusted designation engraved on the movement, signifying that it was regulated for improved accuracy beyond a standard production movement. Hamilton’s finishing during this period was intentionally restrained yet remarkably clean, reflecting the company’s philosophy that precision engineering should always take precedence over unnecessary ornamentation.
The Lancaster 137 is housed in Vortic’s 45mm Lancaster case, precision-machined from solid 316L stainless steel with a bright machined finish that complements the warm tones of the original dial. A matching machined stainless steel bezel and crown reinforce its crisp industrial character, while the American-made Cognac leather strap introduces a rich warmth that pairs naturally with the champagne dial and blued hands.
The result is a watch that feels effortlessly timeless. Its Art Deco styling, beautifully preserved Hamilton movement, and understated elegance make the Lancaster 137 an outstanding example of American watchmaking at its finest. More than ninety years after it first left the Hamilton factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this movement continues its story, now preserved for generations to come inside a case built entirely in America.
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: 3379890
- Manufacture Year: 1933
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Lancaster 137 Unique:
The Lancaster 137 showcases the quiet confidence that defined Hamilton during America’s golden age of watchmaking. Manufactured in 1933, this 17-jewel Hamilton movement reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to precision, durability, and elegant engineering during a period when Hamilton had firmly established itself as one of the nation’s premier watch manufacturers. While the country weathered the hardships of the Great Depression, Hamilton continued producing movements that were trusted by professionals and admired by collectors for their exceptional quality and dependable performance.
Its dial immediately sets this watch apart. The warm champagne finish is enhanced by a beautifully executed two-tone construction, featuring a brushed center that radiates outward beneath the Hamilton signature. Applied Art Deco Arabic numerals and complementary blued-steel hands create a refined, architectural aesthetic that perfectly captures the design language of the early 1930s. The recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock maintains the balance of the dial while emphasizing the clean symmetry that collectors often seek in watches from this era. Unlike brighter white enamel dials commonly associated with railroad-grade pieces, this metallic champagne dial offers a softer, more sophisticated presentation that has become increasingly desirable among vintage enthusiasts.
Turning the watch over reveals a movement that exemplifies Hamilton’s reputation for functional excellence. The 17-jewel movement features broad Geneva striping across the bridges, gold jewel settings, “snailed” winding wheels, and an elegantly finished balance assembly. Collectors will appreciate the Adjusted designation engraved on the movement, signifying that it was regulated for improved accuracy beyond a standard production movement. Hamilton’s finishing during this period was intentionally restrained yet remarkably clean, reflecting the company’s philosophy that precision engineering should always take precedence over unnecessary ornamentation.
The Lancaster 137 is housed in Vortic’s 45mm Lancaster case, precision-machined from solid 316L stainless steel with a bright machined finish that complements the warm tones of the original dial. A matching machined stainless steel bezel and crown reinforce its crisp industrial character, while the American-made Cognac leather strap introduces a rich warmth that pairs naturally with the champagne dial and blued hands.
The result is a watch that feels effortlessly timeless. Its Art Deco styling, beautifully preserved Hamilton movement, and understated elegance make the Lancaster 137 an outstanding example of American watchmaking at its finest. More than ninety years after it first left the Hamilton factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this movement continues its story, now preserved for generations to come inside a case built entirely in America.
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.
