Hamilton 14 Karat Solid White Gold Ladies Dress Watch with Original Dial, 1940s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. It is worth noting that this watch only had a 12-month warranty when it was new. However, we are so confident of our workmanship and team that we offer an 18-month warranty on all our watches, even those over 100 years old.
- Seller Location:Long Beach, CA
- Reference Number:
Hamilton
In an era when the safety of America’s bustling railroads absolutely depended on accurate timepieces for its conductors, watchmaker Hamilton pioneered cutting-edge, impossibly precise watches in a complex that spanned one square city block of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, during the late 19th century.
As railroad tracks were laid across the United States and steam locomotives began traversing vast distances, the American railroad system ran into a problem. Back then, time was not standardized across the country. Therefore, in 1883, the railroad companies established the four time zones as we know them today. But, despite setting these zones, train conductors were not always synchronized, leading to deadly accidents on the railroads.
Enter watchmaker Hamilton, founded in 1892. Railway workers would be required to wear a pocket watch, as the timepieces were responsible for keeping conductors on schedule, and the watchmaking industry — and early American pocket-watch manufacturers such as Hamilton, Elgin National Watch Company and the Waltham Watch Company — benefitted.
Hamilton’s pocket watches were extremely alluring to train conductors, who began buying them en masse. The East Coast company’s timepieces eventually earned the moniker “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.”
Hamilton transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches in 1914, as it supplied timepieces to American troops fighting in World War I. Wristwatches, naturally, were more convenient to wear and use in battle. The new style of watch was also appealing to aviators, and Hamilton aeronautical watches became all the rage among pilots, specifically those flying for the new U.S. Airmail service.
The general public’s interest in Hamilton watches grew rapidly in the 1920s. Legendary polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd timed his historic flights over glaciers and chunks of sea ice with a Hamilton pocket watch in the late 1920s, and a Hamilton timepiece used by Byrd during these expeditions went on display in 2018 at the National Watch & Clock Museum.
Hamilton’s Piping Rock watch, an Art Deco–inspired design that featured elegant Roman numerals set in black for the hour markers, made its debut in 1928 and was gifted to the New York Yankees to celebrate their World Series win that year. The model was also featured in the film Shanghai Express alongside the brand’s Flintridge watch, further expanding Hamilton’s popularity. (Hamilton watches can also be seen in the films The Frogmen, Blue Hawaii, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Men in Black.)
In the second half of the 20th century, Hamilton became well known for several innovations: It developed the first-ever battery-operated electric watch, the Ventura, in 1957, as well as the first-ever digital wristwatch, the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer, in 1970. Three years later, superspy and watch enthusiast James Bond donned a Pulsar in Live and Let Die.
Today, the company is part of the Swatch Group, and its headquarters and production facilities relocated from Pennsylvania to Switzerland in 2003.
Find vintage Hamilton watches for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Long Beach, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Hamilton 14 Karat Solid Gold Art Deco Ladies Diamond Dress Watch from 1940sBy HamiltonLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Bracelet Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 34mm X Width 14mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber 750 DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Mixed Makers / Blued Steel Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: 6mm Width / 6" Length or 15.3cm WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement This elegant ladies diamond dress watch This unique art deco ladies diamond dress watch has just been serviced by our team and keeps dependable time. Hamilton is a legendary American house/ Hamilton pocket watches are renowned for their accuracy since 1892. They were the most reliable pocket watches...Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
- Hamilton Solid 14 Karat White Gold Art Deco Bracelet Watch, circa 1940sBy HamiltonLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Hand Constructed Case METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Solid White Gold DIMENSIONS: Length 35mm X Width 20mm CIRCA / Dat...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsWhite Gold, 14k Gold
- Rima 14 Karat Solid Gold Art Deco Ladies Dress Watch from, 1940sLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Rima Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco Dress Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 36 L...Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
- Hamilton Platinum Ladies Art Deco Styled Diamond Dress Watch, circa 1940sLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Bracelet Watch METAL / MATERIAL: Platinum CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 32mm X Width 14mm MOVEM...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsPlatinum
- Hamilton 14Kt Gold "Midas" Art Deco Watch 1940's with Original Dial Strap & BoxBy HamiltonLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Midas Series / Art Deco Tank METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 22mm X Width 33mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 19 Jewels / Caliber 982M DIAL / HANDS: Original Two Tone in Sterling Silver with 18Kt. Solid Gold Applied Numerals ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 16mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement This is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 50 years, which means it needs a service. We will give it a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course. LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a great looking and dependable watch by this legendary American House from Lancaster Pennsylvania. This watch is offered with what appears to be an original period Alligator strap and an original Hamilton buckle and box. While the strap is to fragile to be practical it does indicate that this watch is in nearly new condition. Hamilton was devoted to excellence from their most modest watch to their finest. For example, Hamilton Dials were made in all Sterling Silver with Solid Gold 18Kt. Applied Numerals. No American house did this on all their watches. Only the finest Swiss houses had this level of quality. This watch will keep dependable time for the next 200 years if you give it a service every so often. Hamilton History The wrong train, on the wrong track, at the wrong time at the end of the 19th century frequently resulted in disastrous train wrecks. In response to the critical need for accuracy on the nation’s railroads, laws were passed in 1891 establishing set standards of accuracy. All engineers and railroad workers were required to purchase and maintain their watches to keep accurate time based on set standards, about 30 seconds per week was the tolerance. This was the inspiration for The Hamilton Watch Company which was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The company was started by a group of investors who were looking to create a high-quality, American-made watch. Hamilton quickly became a leading manufacturer of pocket watches, and by the early 1900s, the company was supplying watches to the US military. In 1917, Hamilton introduced its first wristwatch for service men entering the first World War. The wristwatch quickly became popular with both soldiers and civilians recognizing how practical they were. Hamilton continued to grow throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and by the 1940s, the company was one of the largest watchmakers in the world. Hamilton had exceptional engineers and designers and their watches were elegantly styled as well as dependable. As a watchmaker myself I consider Hamilton to be one of the worlds “best” watches. It was mass produced perfection. Even today, you can take 100 old Hamilton’s of the same model apart and shake them up in a bag and reassemble 100 watches that will work perfectly with almost no adjustment. This is an achievement. In the early 1930’s our family store in Los Angeles was a “Hamilton” Store. Even during the depression though Hamilton did not allow you to discount the price to sell a watch. Also, in the neighborhood was another Hamilton store and one day the owner sent in a “shill” to buy a Hamilton from us, someone gave them a slight discount. Well, that was all it took for Hamilton to “pull the line” from us. In those days the local jewelry supply houses sold you the watches and they were all told not to sell to us. We simply contacted Gruen, and they were very excited to have a new account...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
- Hamilton Yellow Gold Filled Round Dress Watch with Original Dial 1950'sBy HamiltonLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Modern / Dress Style METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1950's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 33mm X Diameter 2...Category
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Vintage Hamilton 14 Karat White Gold Silver Dial Quartz Ladies Bracelet WatchBy HamiltonLocated in New York, NYThis pre-owned Vintage Hamilton 14 Karat White Gold Silver Dial Quartz Ladies' timepiece is powered by quartz (battery) movement which is cased in a white gold case. It has a square ...Category
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsWhite Gold
- Hamilton Vintage 14 Karat White Gold Silver Dial Quartz Ladies Bracelet WatchBy HamiltonLocated in New York, NYThis pre-owned Hamilton Vintage N/A is a beautiful Ladie's timepiece that is powered by quartz (battery) movement which is cased in a white gold case. It has a square shape face, no ...Category
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsWhite Gold
- Hamilton Top Hat 1940s Gold and Diamond Dial Wrist WatchBy HamiltonLocated in Chicago, ILCirca 1940s Hamilton "Top Hat" 39 X 20 M.M. 2 piece 14k Yellow Gold case, 17 Jewel Grade 980 Mechanical, manual wind movement, Silver Satin dial with Diamond set, White Gold markers....Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials14k Gold
- Hamilton 14 Karat White Gold Diamond Dress Watch 17 Jewels, 1950sBy HamiltonLocated in Wallkill, NY14k Solid White Gold Diamond Dress Watch. Breathtaking dress watch with an oval bezel containing 24 prong-set diamonds trimmed with 38 prong set diamonds on the lugs and the Band. Ap...Category
Vintage 1950s American Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
- Hamilton Cocktail in White Gold with a White dial 14mm Manual watchBy HamiltonLocated in Surfside, FLHamilton Cocktail in 14k white gold. Manual. 14 mm case size. Fine Pre-owned Hamilton Watch. Certified preowned Vintage Hamilton Cocktail watch is made out of white gold on a 14k Whi...Category
20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsWhite Gold
- Vintage Hamilton Silver Dial 14k Solid Gold Automatic Watch - 1970's, "Mint"By HamiltonLocated in Laguna Beach, CAVintage Hamilton Silver Dial 14k Solid Gold Automatic Watch - 1970's Description / Condition: All watches have been professionally scrutini...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold