Hamilton Pocket Watches

Hamilton America’s Finest Watch first watch made was an 18-size 17-jewel pocket watch in 1893. During the next six years, Hamilton had developed a reputation for creating pocket watches of the highest caliber of quality. Within Hamilton's first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced the 18-size and the 16-size. The Broadway Limited, Hamilton first series of pocket watches, was known as the Watch of Railroad Accuracy, and Hamilton became popular by making accurate railroad watches.
The total sales of Hamilton Pocket Watches was fifteen hundred in 1890, but in 1920, the same company sold more than five million time pieces. The increased sales by the company were attributed to the good quality provided by Hamilton. During the time of great depression the sales went down to 2 million but again in 1940’s the company surpassed a sale of 9 million.
In the 1920’s the company hired 750 watchmakers. The 750 watchmakers worked at the Hamilton plant to produce 350 watches everyday. The per-day manufacturing of Hamilton was very low as compared to the per day manufacture of Elgin or Waltham, the rivals at that time. However, Hamilton pocket watches were of better quality and they had a better standard. There were only a few manufacturers, who produced their watches with their own equipment; Hamilton was one of them. No other equipment was allowed because quality was the standard. [..Read More..]
Browse the widest range of vintage Hamilton pocket watches at the lowest prices.
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HAMILTON GRADE 952 RAILROAD POCKET WATCH FIRST RUN YEAR 1909 $351.09 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 9m Bid now | Add to watch list |
6 size to 0 Size Lady Pocket Watch Bows 14k Hamilton Plate 5 PIECES in This Lot $5.00 Time Remaining: 9d 22h 2m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton Mermod Jaccard 927 St Louis Scarce Pocket Watch Movement to Fix $59.75 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 12m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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VINTAGE 14K GOLD HAMILTON HUNTER CASE POCKET WATCH 17 JEWELS STILL WORKING $821.00 (36 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 38m Bid now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton Watch Co 2 Movies How a Fine Watch Works Pocket Wristwatch DVD A89 $12.95 Time Remaining: 2d 53m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
Great 1936 Hamilton 992E 16 Sz 21 Jewel Elinvar Railroad Open Face Pocket Watch $330.00 (23 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 38m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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Hamilton 992 VERY Early Pocket Watch 21 Jewel Gorgeous Nickle Illinois case $150.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 52m Bid now | Add to watch list |
VERY RARE 16S 17J HAMILTON 967 Hunter Cs Pocket Watch $2,199.00 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 36m Buy It Now for only: $2,199.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
16 size Rockford 545 21 jewel Railroad pocket Watch Illinois Hamilton $325.00 Time Remaining: 2h 24m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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Hamilton 940 Pocket Watch Movement Parts Or Fix $39.88 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 26m Bid now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton 992 Salesman Case Working 21 Jewels pocket watch $250.00 Time Remaining: 4d 18h 16m Buy It Now for only: $250.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
1930s Hamilton 921 14K Gold Pocket Watch Size 10 $199.99 Time Remaining: 2h 36m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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Hamilton 917 Pocket Watch Movement Parts Or Fix $21.20 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 40m Bid now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton 940 Running Pocket Watch Movement Spare Parts Repair $225.00 Time Remaining: 25d 11h 43m Buy It Now for only: $225.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton 914 Pocket Watch Movement Parts Or Fix $17.50 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 45m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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Antique HAMILTON 17 Jewel LS Size 18 Pocket Watch 1904 4U2Fix $32.88 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 49m Bid now | Add to watch list |
1901 hamilton pocket watch $199.00 Time Remaining: 4d 13h 11m Buy It Now for only: $199.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton 914 Pocket Watch Movement Parts Or Fix $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 49m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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Vintge Hamilton Model 22 Chronometer 21J US Navy BU Ships 1942 Pocket Watch $765.00 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 39m Bid now | Add to watch list |
HAMILTON 14k Gold Grade 917 Sz 12 Chevrolet 100 Car Club Pocket Watch RUNS G $675.00 Time Remaining: 28d 3h 54m Buy It Now for only: $675.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
ANTIQUE HAMILTON GOLD FILLED 17 JEWEL POCKET WATCH $124.99 Time Remaining: 3h 48m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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RUNS 1915 17j 16s Hamilton Gold Filled Pocket Watch $155.00 Time Remaining: 3h 50m Bid now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton Railway Special Pocket Watch 21 Jewel 992B $270.00 Time Remaining: 27d 35m Buy It Now for only: $270.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
Circa 1922 Hamilton Special 21J RR Railroad Grade 992 Open Face Pocket Watch $158.05 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 4h 47m Bid now | Add to watch list |
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ANTIQUE 18S HAMILTON 21J 21 JEWEL RAILROAD RR POCKET WATCH $91.00 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 4h 48m Bid now | Add to watch list |
1917 Hamilton SPECIAL DOUBLE ROLLER Grade 992 21 Jewel Pocket Watch Runs Fine $127.50 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 4h 50m Bid now | Add to watch list |
NEW 436MM LOW DOME FITS HAMILTON 4992B MODEL 22 + GLASS POCKET WATCH CRYSTAL $8.00 Time Remaining: 23d 21m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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ANTIQUE 18S HAMILTON 17J HUNTER POCKET WATCH MOVEMENT PARTS REPAIR $30.99 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 4h 52m Bid now | Add to watch list |
ANTIQUE 18S HAMILTON SPRINGFIELD MINNESOTA GEO BOCKMAN SPECIAL 17J POCKET WATCH $32.11 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 5h 2m Bid now | Add to watch list |
Hamilton Ball 999b railroad 21 jewels pocket watch $800.00 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 42m Buy It Now for only: $800.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
For each Hamilton Pocket watch produced, there were several labor intensive hours spent. A watch was produced in 7-9 months and sometimes it took almost 12 month to produce certain watches. The time was required because each watch went through a 2-month testing period and each part was tested separately and then assembled again. In the beginning the consumer were focused on the number of the jewels on the watch and the grades, but after some years, the focus changed to style, different dials and beauty.
Hamilton also decided to change the focus toward the beauty of the watch. This change brought with it, more labor-intensive hours. Each watch consisted of almost 150 parts. The total time to produce these 150 parts was around 1000 hours. The completion time was pushed from 7-9 month to 8-11 month.
45% of the cost to produce a watch was spent on the labor, 35% went on overhead and 15% was spent on materials. The production quality was not sacrificed, despite the fact that Hamilton had the lowest production as compared to its rivals. This quality-oriented approach has earned Hamilton pocket watch respect in the collectors’ world.
Hamilton still produces watches and there are several new models available. However, pocket watches are much out of style today, but collectors still like to buy Hamilton Pocket watches. These watches are now considered vintage and people usually pay high dollar to buy Hamilton Pocket Watches. The most sought after watches are the ones made before 1940.
The watch dial 152 is the most popular dial among the collectors. While the most expensive watch movement is watch 468, which can cost from $700-$1000. The watch 468 was manufactured in 1900. As Hamilton Pocket Watches are vintage items, they are usually sold on much higher prices.