Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 172 unique: Today, we’re delighted to showcase this breathtaking antique watch originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company almost a century ago — the Lancaster 172. This remarkable piece of American manufacturing features a tan-colored dial with striking black numerals and a matching subdial. The front of this bold piece also displays blued-steel solid diamond kite watch hands. We paired this stunning pocket watch with our robust Bronzed Titanium case and a copper crown, perfectly complementing the dial’s color palette. On the back of the watch, you can see its antique 916-grade open-face movement with a ¾ plate, nickel finish, and pendant setting. The rear side of this stunning watch also boasts 17 eye-catching jewels as well as gorgeous gold-plated gears. To top the piece off, we matched it with our comfortable Tobacco leather watch strap, making the final product even more unforgettable.The Hamilton Watch Company initially released the Lancaster 172’s remarkable pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1923 — the same year that renowned American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard passed away. He was known for identifying the proper motion for the red dwarf that’s now called “Barnard’s Star.” Barnard calculated that the star’s proper motion is 10.3 arcseconds every year in relation to the sun. During his life, Edward Emerson Barnard received various awards for his achievements in astronomy, including the Lalande Prize, Janssen Medal, Prix Jules Janssen, and the Bruce Medal.
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: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3104920
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Hamilton Watch Company initially released the Lancaster 172’s remarkable pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1923 — the same year that renowned American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard passed away. He was known for identifying the proper motion for the red dwarf that’s now called “Barnard’s Star.” Barnard calculated that the star’s proper motion is 10.3 arcseconds every year in relation to the sun. During his life, Edward Emerson Barnard received various awards for his achievements in astronomy, including the Lalande Prize, Janssen Medal, Prix Jules Janssen, and the Bruce Medal.
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.
