Hamilton Gold-Filled Art Deco Watch with Articulating Lugs 1940's
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Case Shape:Square
- Movement:
- 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 and pocket watches on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Long Beach, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Buren Gold Filled Art Deco Watch with Articulated Lugs From the 1940'sBy BurenLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Buren Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 42mm Length X 23mm Diameter MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber DIAL / HANDS: Silvered with Gilt Numerals ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 14mm / 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 unique watch Buren is done with an unusual articulated design. These watches were called "Drivers Watches...Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Gruen Gold Filled Art Deco Curvex Watch with Diamond Dial 1940'sBy GruenLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Gruen Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Reference 449 METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 36mm X Width 22mm...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Gruen Gold Filled Art Deco Watch with Original Dial from 1940'sBy GruenLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Gruen Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Reference 592 METAL / MATERIAL: Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 36mm X Width 26mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber 425 DIAL / HANDS: Silvered Original Dial with Gilt Arabic Numeral Markers / Gilt Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 19mm / 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 great looking Art Deco Watch was produced by legendary house of Gruen. The watch is dependable and easy to service. In the 1930's, we became Gruen agents in Los Angeles California. Gruen was a great company to work with because they had large collection, great styling, they were innovative and offered great service to their customers. It is sad that they could not, like so many other American Watch Companies withstand the Swiss and Japanese marketing. Founded in 1894 by Dietrich Gruen. The company had their American base in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it produced a wide variety of watches, including pocket watches, wristwatches, and chronographs. Gruen watches were known for their high quality and stylish designs, and they were popular...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Waltham Gold Filled Art Deco Watch circa, 1940's with Original DialBy WalthamLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 36mm X Width 23mm ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Elgin Gold Filled Art Deco Watch with Original Dial from 1940'sBy ElginLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tortue Shape METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 32mm Length X 25mm Width MOVEMENT...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Benrus Gold-Filled Art Deco Watch circa, 1940's with Original DialBy BenrusLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Benrus Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Curvex Style METAL / MATERIAL: Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 40mm X Width 28mm MOVEME...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Art Deco 10k White Gold Filled Ladies Benrus Bracelet Watch, circa 1940By BenrusLocated in Westward ho, GBFor your consideration is this very attractive white gold 10k filled ladies manual wrist watch. It’s 10k white gold filled throughout (both the bracelet arms have BENRUS 1/10 10K G...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled, White Gold
- Art Deco Ladies White Gold Filled Manual Watch with Emeralds, Serviced, C1928Located in Westward ho, GBc1928 ladies Art Deco manual wrist watch, newly serviced Oct 2022. Original and in very beautiful original condition. The four triangular emeralds are complete and in very good condi...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsEmerald, Gold-filled, White Gold
- Hamilton Hooded Lug Tank Watch 14K Rose Gold and DiamondsBy HamiltonLocated in New York, NYThis is a rare 1950's Hamilton 14k rose gold hooded lug tank watch with diamond dial. This tank is large for the period at 21mm in diameter and 40mm lug to lug. This watch is powere...Category
Vintage 1950s American Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Rose Gold
- Art Deco Bulova Gents White Gold Fill Watch, Serviced, circa 1935By Bulova Watch CompanyLocated in Westward ho, GBFor your consideration is this rather stylish and unusual gents manual wrist watch dating to 1935, named Bulova Ranger in white gold fill, just serviced ( Jan 2023) with new mainspri...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled, White Gold
- Art Deco Ladies 14k White Gold Filled Wrist Watch, c1932Located in Westward ho, GBFor your consideration is this truly beautiful ladies original Art Deco manual wrist watch with original strap. The main case is 14k white gold filled with triangular synthetic emeralds as accents. Heavy art deco decorative engraving to the case and superb circular numeral dial. Made in the US but with a Swiss manual wind up movement which has a fine classic 5AP calibre, and is running very well on 15 jewels. The movement is working well & keeping good time having been serviced. Please note this is a vintage watch...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials14k Gold, Gold-filled, White Gold
- Art Deco Diamond Onyx Platinum Cocktail Watch by Hamilton, Circa 1940By HamiltonLocated in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon TyneAn impressive vintage Art Deco 0.95 carat diamond and black onyx, platinum cocktail watch by 'Hamilton'; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This impressive vintage Art Deco diamond watch has been crafted in platinum. The watch has a rectangular dial with plain black Arabic hour numerals displayed within rectangular designs, the outer one marked as the chapter ring. The Art Deco watch is fitted with shaped, blued steel hands, and the face clearly displays the text 'Hamilton'. The crown/winder of this manual wind watch is plain and unembellished. The watch bezel and lugs are embellished with thirty-six pavé set eight-cut diamonds, and ornamented with two shaped black onyx panels. This fine vintage diamond cocktail watch is fitted with a platinum gold bootlace style strap which secures to the reverse with a plain flip clasp. The watch is fitted with a Swiss 17 jewels...Category
Vintage 1940s Unknown Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Onyx, Platinum