Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 161 unique: Today, we’re pleased to present this highly distinct piece originally constructed by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1927 — the Lancaster 161. The striking face of this watch features an amber-colored face highlighted by rich patina and shining, golden numerals. In addition to the gorgeous hues of the dial, this watch also features blued, spade hands and a unique subdial. We have encased this gorgeous antique movement with our sandblasted titanium case and topped it with a copper crown to highlight this piece’s eye-catching dial. As you turn the watch over, you can view the antique pocket watch’s inner workings through the case’s clear-backed design. The remarkable machined-nickel ¾ plate movement showcases a pendant movement setting and gleaming gold and nickel gears. This movement also features 17 stunning jewels throughout. We have paired this fantastic movement with our moss watch strap to showcase the vibrant tones of the dial even more.
In 1927, the same year this watch was initially created by the Hamilton Watch Company, Pan American World Airways first opened for business. Over the course of 64 years, Pan Am grew from a mail charter service to one of America’s most iconic airlines. This innovative airline was the first U.S.-based airline to fly worldwide and was also one of the first to adopt the use of jet engines. The aviation giant closed due to bankruptcy in 1991, and its commercial service ended with a final flight that landed in Miami, Florida, on December 4.
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
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3124729
- Manufacture Year: 1927
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Lancaster 161 unique: Today, we’re pleased to present this highly distinct piece originally constructed by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1927 — the Lancaster 161. The striking face of this watch features an amber-colored face highlighted by rich patina and shining, golden numerals. In addition to the gorgeous hues of the dial, this watch also features blued, spade hands and a unique subdial. We have encased this gorgeous antique movement with our sandblasted titanium case and topped it with a copper crown to highlight this piece’s eye-catching dial. As you turn the watch over, you can view the antique pocket watch’s inner workings through the case’s clear-backed design. The remarkable machined-nickel ¾ plate movement showcases a pendant movement setting and gleaming gold and nickel gears. This movement also features 17 stunning jewels throughout. We have paired this fantastic movement with our moss watch strap to showcase the vibrant tones of the dial even more.
In 1927, the same year this watch was initially created by the Hamilton Watch Company, Pan American World Airways first opened for business. Over the course of 64 years, Pan Am grew from a mail charter service to one of America’s most iconic airlines. This innovative airline was the first U.S.-based airline to fly worldwide and was also one of the first to adopt the use of jet engines. The aviation giant closed due to bankruptcy in 1991, and its commercial service ended with a final flight that landed in Miami, Florida, on December 4.
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.
