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 185 unique: Today, we’re happy to feature this unforgettable antique that was originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company — the Lancaster 185. The first thing you may notice about this watch is its highly unique dial that boasts an unusual center design that extends out to its gold-colored numerals. The dial also features an aged subdial and violet Gothic watch hands that look especially breathtaking against its light-copper background. We paired this watch with our Sandblasted Titanium case, emphasizing the piece’s eye-catching dial, and a copper crown that complements its motif. Our stylish Sandblasted Titanium case comes with an open back, allowing you to see its 912-grade open-face movement with a Reed regulator, gold-plated gears, and 17 screw-set jewels. The back of the watch also features a beautiful ¾ plate with noteworthy engravings that reveal its manufacturing history, such as “Hamilton Watch Co.” and “Lancaster, PA.” Finally, we equipped the watch with our artisan-designed Moss leather watch strap, allowing the antique’s owner to wear it comfortably.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially released the Lancaster 185’s pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1937 — the same year that the first volume of Detective Comics (DC Comics) was published. World War I veteran Major Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications in 1934, the predecessor for DC. They published their first comic New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine in 1935. Major Wheeler-Nicholson formed Detective Comics, Inc. and brought in printing plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld as a partner because of debts he had accumulated to Donenfeld’s company. Donenfeld’s accountant Jack S. Liebowitz also became a partner at Detective Comics.
Sadly, Donenfeld forced Major Wheeler-Nicholson out of the company due to issues regarding cash-flow and then purchased National Allied Publications at a bankruptcy auction. A decade later, National Allied Publications merged with Detective Comics, Inc. and absorbed All-American Publications, which made Superman, to form National Comics Publications. The company officially became known as DC Comics in 1977.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially released the Lancaster 185’s pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1937 — the same year that the first volume of Detective Comics (DC Comics) was published. World War I veteran Major Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications in 1934, the predecessor for DC. They published their first comic New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine in 1935. Major Wheeler-Nicholson formed Detective Comics, Inc. and brought in printing plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld as a partner because of debts he had accumulated to Donenfeld’s company. Donenfeld’s accountant Jack S. Liebowitz also became a partner at Detective Comics.
Sadly, Donenfeld forced Major Wheeler-Nicholson out of the company due to issues regarding cash-flow and then purchased National Allied Publications at a bankruptcy auction. A decade later, National Allied Publications merged with Detective Comics, Inc. and absorbed All-American Publications, which made Superman, to form National Comics Publications. The company officially became known as DC Comics in 1977.
Case Style:This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. We use pressurized, fine glass beads in a sandblasting chamber to soften the edges and make the finish uniform. 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 3458413 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: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Gorilla Glass
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3458413
- Manufacture Year: 1937
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17j
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Lancaster 185 unique: Today, we’re happy to feature this unforgettable antique that was originally manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company — the Lancaster 185. The first thing you may notice about this watch is its highly unique dial that boasts an unusual center design that extends out to its gold-colored numerals. The dial also features an aged subdial and violet Gothic watch hands that look especially breathtaking against its light-copper background. We paired this watch with our Sandblasted Titanium case, emphasizing the piece’s eye-catching dial, and a copper crown that complements its motif. Our stylish Sandblasted Titanium case comes with an open back, allowing you to see its 912-grade open-face movement with a Reed regulator, gold-plated gears, and 17 screw-set jewels. The back of the watch also features a beautiful ¾ plate with noteworthy engravings that reveal its manufacturing history, such as “Hamilton Watch Co.” and “Lancaster, PA.” Finally, we equipped the watch with our artisan-designed Moss leather watch strap, allowing the antique’s owner to wear it comfortably.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially released the Lancaster 185’s pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1937 — the same year that the first volume of Detective Comics (DC Comics) was published. World War I veteran Major Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications in 1934, the predecessor for DC. They published their first comic New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine in 1935. Major Wheeler-Nicholson formed Detective Comics, Inc. and brought in printing plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld as a partner because of debts he had accumulated to Donenfeld’s company. Donenfeld’s accountant Jack S. Liebowitz also became a partner at Detective Comics.
Sadly, Donenfeld forced Major Wheeler-Nicholson out of the company due to issues regarding cash-flow and then purchased National Allied Publications at a bankruptcy auction. A decade later, National Allied Publications merged with Detective Comics, Inc. and absorbed All-American Publications, which made Superman, to form National Comics Publications. The company officially became known as DC Comics in 1977.
The Hamilton Watch Company initially released the Lancaster 185’s pocket watch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1937 — the same year that the first volume of Detective Comics (DC Comics) was published. World War I veteran Major Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications in 1934, the predecessor for DC. They published their first comic New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine in 1935. Major Wheeler-Nicholson formed Detective Comics, Inc. and brought in printing plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld as a partner because of debts he had accumulated to Donenfeld’s company. Donenfeld’s accountant Jack S. Liebowitz also became a partner at Detective Comics.
Sadly, Donenfeld forced Major Wheeler-Nicholson out of the company due to issues regarding cash-flow and then purchased National Allied Publications at a bankruptcy auction. A decade later, National Allied Publications merged with Detective Comics, Inc. and absorbed All-American Publications, which made Superman, to form National Comics Publications. The company officially became known as DC Comics in 1977.
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.
