Watch Description
The American mechanism inside this watch is not a replica or an "inspired" piece. It was genuinely carried by an individual, 100 years ago, that depended on it. Each time you wear this watch, you will be transported through time, imagining who this individual was and the work they did to help build our country. Simply put, American Artisan Series watches make you feel something when you put them on. At Vortic, we tell customers that owning a watch isn't nearly as important as owning a story. And, this is an opportunity to be a part of a story that is bigger than yourself. You won't be the first to own this watch, and you certainly won't be the last, so make your chapter count.
The American Artisan Series is a line of fully American Made wristwatches powered by restored, U.S. made pocket watch movements. Individuals commonly scrap pocket watch cases for their precious metal, leaving the original mechanism orphaned. This watch contains the original movement (timepiece), dial (face), and hands from a vintage (1880's - 1950's) pocket watch made by Hamilton Watch Company. We call this model "The Lancaster" because the company was located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
What makes the Lancaster 174 unique: Today, we’re delighted to showcase this breathtaking watch initially produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1935 — the Lancaster 174. The front of the watch boasts a gorgeous tan-colored dial with golden-brown numerals and a center design with the text “Ask the man who owns one,” a reference to the now-defunct luxury automotive manufacturer the Packard Motor Car Company. The company’s hot selling item in 1935 was the first-generation Packard One-Twenty. The watch’s dial also displays merlot gothic watch hands and a subdial for second-keeping. We encased this remarkable pocket watch within our luxurious Gilded Titanium case and topped it off with a matching gold-plated crown, making it look even more sumptuous and impressive. Our Gilded Titanium case features a transparent back, enabling you to view the pocket watch’s original 918-grade open-face movement with a micrometer regulator and Breguet hairspring. The watch’s rear side also exhibits 19 screw-set ruby jewels with gold settings, as well as gold-plated gears. To tie the piece together, we paired it with our artisan-designed Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap, making the final product even more eye-catching.
The Hamilton Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1935, which was the same year that Frank Capra’s film It Happened One Night became the first film to sweep the Academy Awards. The hit romantic comedy starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Lead Actress, and Best Lead Actor. It Happened One Night is one of three films to win all five major categories at the Academy Awards. The two other films that won the same honor were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1976 and Silence of the Lambs in 1992. In 1993, the Library of Congress preserved It Happened One Night in the US National Film Registry because of the film’s importance and widespread critical acclaim.
The Hamilton Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1935, which was the same year that Frank Capra’s film It Happened One Night became the first film to sweep the Academy Awards. The hit romantic comedy starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Lead Actress, and Best Lead Actor. It Happened One Night is one of three films to win all five major categories at the Academy Awards. The two other films that won the same honor were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1976 and Silence of the Lambs in 1992. In 1993, the Library of Congress preserved It Happened One Night in the US National Film Registry because of the film’s importance and widespread critical acclaim.
Case Style:This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. The case is intentionally left unpolished so the intricate tool marks made during the milling process remain visible. Titanium is the ultimate material for strength to weight ratio. Titanium has a darker look than steel, and due to its low thermal conductivity, feels warm to the touch. These characteristics create an enduring, highly wearable, distinctive piece.
Movement: The manually wound, antique, pocket watch movement inside this watch has been meticulously restored to as close to original condition as possible. Vortic has an exclusive group of highly experienced watchmakers that specialize in vintage watches. Before its use in a wristwatch, each movement is completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and calibrated. Each finished Vortic watch is tested for at least a week before completion.
This watch's movement is serial number 3150726 from the Hamilton Watch Company. 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
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Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 46mm
- Height: 12mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 55mm
- Lugs: 22mm
- Case Finish: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Gold Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Gorilla Glass
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3150726
- Manufacture Year: 1935
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 19j
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Lancaster 174 unique: Today, we’re delighted to showcase this breathtaking watch initially produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1935 — the Lancaster 174. The front of the watch boasts a gorgeous tan-colored dial with golden-brown numerals and a center design with the text “Ask the man who owns one,” a reference to the now-defunct luxury automotive manufacturer the Packard Motor Car Company. The company’s hot selling item in 1935 was the first-generation Packard One-Twenty. The watch’s dial also displays merlot gothic watch hands and a subdial for second-keeping. We encased this remarkable pocket watch within our luxurious Gilded Titanium case and topped it off with a matching gold-plated crown, making it look even more sumptuous and impressive. Our Gilded Titanium case features a transparent back, enabling you to view the pocket watch’s original 918-grade open-face movement with a micrometer regulator and Breguet hairspring. The watch’s rear side also exhibits 19 screw-set ruby jewels with gold settings, as well as gold-plated gears. To tie the piece together, we paired it with our artisan-designed Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap, making the final product even more eye-catching.
The Hamilton Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1935, which was the same year that Frank Capra’s film It Happened One Night became the first film to sweep the Academy Awards. The hit romantic comedy starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Lead Actress, and Best Lead Actor. It Happened One Night is one of three films to win all five major categories at the Academy Awards. The two other films that won the same honor were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1976 and Silence of the Lambs in 1992. In 1993, the Library of Congress preserved It Happened One Night in the US National Film Registry because of the film’s importance and widespread critical acclaim.
The Hamilton Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1935, which was the same year that Frank Capra’s film It Happened One Night became the first film to sweep the Academy Awards. The hit romantic comedy starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Lead Actress, and Best Lead Actor. It Happened One Night is one of three films to win all five major categories at the Academy Awards. The two other films that won the same honor were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1976 and Silence of the Lambs in 1992. In 1993, the Library of Congress preserved It Happened One Night in the US National Film Registry because of the film’s importance and widespread critical acclaim.
Quality Straps
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.
Mission
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the legacy of manufacturing excellence in America. We believe that this legacy is highly relevant in the world of watch manufacturing because our goal is to marry form and function in a way that makes something beautiful that will last forever. American made pocket watches were of such a high quality and decoration that they evolved into more than just a way to tell time. They became traditional heirlooms to be inherited by future generations as a wedding gift or a coming of age treasure. Each piece tells a lively tale of what U.S. manufacturing meant in the past using an intricate language of decorated bridges, plates, gears, and springs. Today, we are restoring these pieces to their former glory and making them relevant again using the best of modern technology.
American Made
We feel proud and blessed to live in the country, state, and city that we do. However, our motivation to build everything in the United States, and to deal locally whenever possible, is derived from a different source of inspiration. We believe that the close relationships, face-to-face interaction, and tight quality control we achieve while dealing domestically produces a truly superior product. Because of this, we are very transparent about where our components are made as we continue to build our in-house capabilities.
