Watch Description
What makes the Lancaster 195 unique: We are thrilled to present the Lancaster 195, built from an antique 17-jewel pocket watch originally crafted in 1931 by the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This stunning dial boasts an ornate sunburst design, complemented by gothic blued-steel hands and sophisticated numerals. When turned over, the watch's exhibition back reveals shining gold-plated gears amid undulating Côtes de Genève. We've produced a radiant gilded titanium case and paired it with a knurled nickel crown and a moss leather strap. The result is a luminous, elegant, and polished timepiece that embodies the rich history and craftsmanship of the Hamilton Watch Company.The original pocket watch enshrined in this piece was produced in 1931. Opened the same year, the Empire State Building in New York City is a symbol of American luxury. The construction of the 1,454-foot-tall building took just over a year and involved thousands of workers. Its opulent interior features marble walls, gold accents, and Art Deco-inspired details. Initially, the building was a popular destination for wealthy New Yorkers and tourists, offering breathtaking views of the city and housing luxurious offices, restaurants, and shops. Today, the Empire State Building remains a beloved icon of American architecture and luxury, attracting history buffs and design enthusiasts alike.
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: 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: 3352681
- Manufacture Year: 1931
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The original pocket watch enshrined in this piece was produced in 1931. Opened the same year, the Empire State Building in New York City is a symbol of American luxury. The construction of the 1,454-foot-tall building took just over a year and involved thousands of workers. Its opulent interior features marble walls, gold accents, and Art Deco-inspired details. Initially, the building was a popular destination for wealthy New Yorkers and tourists, offering breathtaking views of the city and housing luxurious offices, restaurants, and shops. Today, the Empire State Building remains a beloved icon of American architecture and luxury, attracting history buffs and design enthusiasts alike.
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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.
