Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 149 unique: Today, we’re thrilled to present this breathtaking piece originally produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1927 — the Lancaster 149. This one-of-a-kind watch features a stunningly-aged dial with black numerals that display boldly against its light-gray background. The watch face also features diamond kite watch hands that are dark gray with a touch of blue. We encased the original pocket watch within our scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and matched it with a nickel-plated crown, complementing the watch’s dial. On the back, you can view the antique watch’s 916-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. The watch also boasts remarkable gold-plated gears powered by 17 luxurious jewels throughout its ¾ plate. To top it off, we paired the watch with our comfortable, hand-crafted Rye leather watch strap, making the final product even more distinct and fashionable. The Hamilton Watch Company initially manufactured the Lancaster 149’s pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1927 — the same year the talent agent Arthur Judson created what would eventually become the Columbia Broadcast System (CBS): the United Independent Broadcasters. Judson founded the United Independent Broadcasters on January 27, 1927, but only months later, the company needed significant financial assistance to stay afloat. It merged with the Columbia Phonograph and Records Company and became the Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting Company.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
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3126772
- Manufacture Year: 1927
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
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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.
