Hamilton first introduced automatic models in 1953 with the Illinois line.  The automatic movements were made by ETA in Switzerland and imported to Lancaster, PA. After a year Hamilton introduced their own branded models and quickly settled on Swiss-made movements made by Certina / Kurth Freres for the Automatic K-series models. In 1956 they introduced the Accumatic line of automatics and this line went back to using movements made by ETA.  Accumatics and K-series models would be made together into the 1960s and the Accumatics took over from there on.  Most of today's Hamilto ..read more

You don't get to see uncommon watches every day.  I guess that goes without saying, as they wouldn't be uncommon if you did see them every day.  I've already documented the 1961 Pacermatic but I had the opportunity to restore another and thought you'd like to see another one. The Pacermatic is one of the mechanical asymmetric models and is extremely popular - so popular that they have been faked over the years.  It was only cataloged for a single year and it uses the same case the the Electric Pacer - so when it is "faked" it simply that a mechanical movement is put in an Electr ..read more

About six years ago I did a post on a mystery watch that turned out to be an Automatic K-500  from 1954.  The K-500 was not cataloged but it did show up in a number of advertisements. The K-500 is a very interesting model as it has several different dials and it's one of very few models that had a stainless case but gold dial markers and hands. I recently had the opportunity to work on another K-500, this time with a black dial with a unique textured design.  As received, it was very beat up and in serious need of some TLC. The case back is beefy can clearly marked Ham ..read more

I don't focus on ladies watches.  To be honest, there are way too many of them, they tend to be very small, and they all start to look alike.  I don't think that I'm alone in that sentiment.  On any given day of the week you can see them for sale on eBay for under $20. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, some ladies models have their appeal. That said, they are so small that I really don't enjoy working them. Ladies models have high quality movements though, you could even go as far as to say they are exceptional quality because they are so small and yet just as accur ..read more

If you really wanted a small, but exquisite collection of Hamilton models centered around a single theme you could focus your attention on several potential options.  One might be to collect all the CLDs, there are 19 different models, but good luck locating a Tildon.   Another option would be to obtain all of the Lord Lancaster models that feature diamonds in one form or another.  There are 21 models to attempt to find and some will cost you plenty. A third option would be to focus solely on watches cased in 18K gold.  There are only 13 cataloged models with 18K cases ..read more

Some collectors like art deco models.  Other collectors like Electrics.  Still other collectors prefer only solid gold models.  There are definitely plenty of themes to go around.  One very popular genre are the asymmetric models.   Asymmetrics span art deco, electric, automatic movements, and all case materials as well! Some might question the art deco statement but I'd invite you to check out the Spur, or possibly the Brooke. The late 1950s and early 1960s was the golden age of asymmetric models though and there are no finer examples than the Flight I and the Fl ..read more

 Some of the hardest to come by models are those made in platinum.  It's easy to find platinum watches for sale with Hamilton on the dial.  In fact, on any given day you can see several for sale on eBay.  What makes them hard to come by are a couple of factors.  First, the price.  Second, often they aren't even legit Hamilton models but simply Hamilton movements with blinged out dials in an aftermarket platinum case.  That's especially true for ladies watches but for men's models as well.  You have to be very careful with purchasing a men's model in plat ..read more

One of the fun aspects of vintage watches is to spot them in movies.  There are lots of old black and white movies with characters wearing watches of the day and spotting a Hamilton is always exciting.  Then there are modern movies where people wear prop watches from the period the movie is set to take place in.  In fact, I've been contacted many times to see if I can provide watches for movies in production. Then there are movies somewhere in between black and white days and modern times.   A good example is the movie Jaws where one of the main characters, Sheriff Bro ..read more

 Arguably my favorite genre of Hamilton watches are the military examples from WWII.  There are a lot of different models and Hamilton even made watches for allies of the United States.  Hamilton made pocket watches, wrist watches, chronographs, chronometers, elapsed time clocks, you name it. Some of the hardest to find (or expensive) models to find are the ones made for Canada and Russia.  You'll see them come up for sale from time to time though.  The most ubiquitous models are the Ord Dept watches made for the US Army, show as the Fire Control Wrist Watch below ..read more

Have you ever noticed someone who you don't know but who looks so familiar that you wonder if you don't really know them after all?  Some people just have one of those faces. The same is true with watches.  There are some models that look a lot like other models and you have to scratch your head to figure out what it is.  A good example is the 1966 Sea Ranger II.  It was made for four years but it wasn't until recently that I actually saw one first hand. The Sea Ranger II has an all numeral dial and you'd definitely spot it as a "Sea Something".  It looks a lot like ..read more