Vortic Watch: The Lancaster 167

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Vortic Watch Company's mission is to salvage, restore, and preserve an important part of United States history. Today, beautiful antique pocket watch mechanisms are often cast aside when their original case is scrapped for precious metal value. American pocket watches were made with an incredible level of quality. So, after 100 years, many simply need a little patience from a skilled individual to make them run like new. Vortic fully restores these mechanisms and builds them into wristwatches to make them functional again and to preserve them for another 100+ years.

Watch: A unique piece of timekeeping history, this marvelous watch was initially produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1926 — and is named the Lancaster 167. This stunning antique movement boasts a handsome cream-colored dial with an ornate, eye-catching center design pattern, as well as thin, dark-brown numerals and a matching subdial. Additionally, this piece features the original pocket watch’s blued steel diamond kite watch hands. Vortic matched this splendid pocket watch with a powerful Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown to draw further attention to the watch's breathtaking dial. Their Machined Titanium case comes with a transparent back, boasting the pocket watch’s antique 912-grade open-face movement with a reed regulator, nickel finish, and pendant setting.

The watch’s movement also features attractive engravings with a black inlay color, including “Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, PA,” corroborating the watch’s historic origins. You can also see the pocket watch’s original gold-plated gears and 17 stunning screw-set jewels. Finally, they complemented this highly sophisticated watch with a hand-crafted Merlot leather watch strap. 

Case: 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 3351221 from the Hamilton Watch Company. 

Watchmaker History: Hamilton Watch Company 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.

Watch Specs:

  • Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
  • Warranty: Vortic’s 1-Year Warranty
  • Case Dimensions: 
    • Diameter: 46mm
    • Height: 12mm
    • Lug-to-Lug: 55mm
    • Lugs: 22mm
  • Case Finish: Machined Titanium
  • Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
  • Water Resistance: 1 ATM
  • Crystals: Gorilla Glass
  • Case Back: Stainless Steel
  • Strap: Leather

Movement Specs:

  • Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
  • Serial Number:  3351221
  • Manufacture Year:  1926
  • Function: Manual Wind
  • Jewels: 17j
  • Hands: Original
  • Size: 12s
  • Power Reserve: ~36 Hours