The Hamilton Collection

To open a Hamilton pocket watch, take it to a reputable watch repair shop. Experts advise against opening antique pocket watches on your own because special tools are necessary to avoid damaging the timepieces. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Hamilton pocket watches.

To identify a vintage Hamilton watch, grab a magnifying glass and look for its model number, serial number and case number. Most timepieces produced by Hamilton will display one, two or all three of these numbers. The model and case numbers generally appear on the back of the case, and you can usually find the serial number on the lugs. You can enter these numbers into the search tool on the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors's official website to learn about your watch's age, style name and other characteristics. If you have any difficulty, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer can help you. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of vintage Hamilton watches.

The story behind Hamilton watches goes back to 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. Time was not standardized across the country.

Therefore, in 1883, the railroad companies established the four time zones as we know them today. However, train conductors were not always synchronized, leading to deadly railroad accidents. Enter watchmaker Hamilton, founded in 1892. Railway workers would be required to wear a pocket watch to keep on schedule, and the watchmaking industry — especially pocket-watch manufacturers such as Hamilton — benefitted. The 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. The new style of watch also appealed to aviators, and Hamilton aeronautical watches became all the rage among pilots, particularly 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. Hamilton’s Piping Rock watch, an Art Deco-inspired design featuring elegant Roman numerals set in black for the hour markers, debuted 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 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.

On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Hamilton watches.

Whether Hamilton watches are American or Swiss depends on the timepiece in question. Prior to 2003, Hamilton manufactured its timepieces in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After the company's sale to the Swatch Group, its headquarters and manufacturing facility relocated to Biel, Switzerland. Explore a variety of Hamilton watches on 1stDibs.

Whether or not Seiko watches are collectible is largely a matter of personal opinion. Some watch collectors prefer to focus on Swiss-made timepieces. However, there are collectors who invest in vintage Seiko watches as collectible items. On 1stDibs, find a range of Seiko watches.

Tiffany & Co. started making designs that feature the iconic T motif in the 1980s. Different collections have been born from this motif and represented in different ways. Today the T collection has become the signature of this luxe jewelry brand. Shop a collection of properly vetted vintage and new Tiffany jewelry from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

A printed reproduction of an original work of art and arranged by subject.

Yes, the Calatrava is collectible. In fact, the timepiece is one of the most highly sought watches made by Patek Phillippe. The Swiss watchmaker unveiled the watch in 1932, and since then has redesigned it many times. The Officer's series released in 1989 is a favorite of collectors. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Patek Phillippe Calatrava watches.

A Missoni collection is a range of apparel produced by the Italian luxury fashion house Missoni. Each year, Missoni unveils a series of collections that correspond to the seasons. They include Resort, Spring Ready-to-Wear, Pre-Fall and Fall Ready-to-Wear. Shop a diverse assortment of Missoni apparel and accessories from some of the world's top boutiques on 1stDibs.

There are a variety of reasons why a collector may desire certain types of lighters. Some collectors covet certain brands, while others may prioritize a certain level of craftsmanship. Whether looking for rare materials, makes and models or antique styles, 1stDibs has a variety of vintage lighters.

The Ziegfeld Collection is a line of jewelry produced by the luxury brand Tiffany & Co. It draws inspiration from jewelry designs of the 1920s and gets its name from the Ziegfeld Theatre, a Broadway venue that was famous during the decade. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Tiffany & Co. jewelry on 1stDibs.

There is no single most collectible pottery. Collectors seek a wide range of types of pottery based on their interests and preferences, and trends in collecting emerge and fade over time. However, there are some makers' works that seem to remain consistently popular. Examples include Coalport, Delft, Grueby, Meissen, Moorcroft, Newcomb, Rookwood, Roseville, Royal Crown Derby, Spode, Teco, Van Briggle, Wedgwood and Weller. Shop a wide variety of pottery on 1stDibs.

Many kinds of glass are collectible. Some types highly prized by collectors include carnival glass, depression glass, hobnail glass, jadeite, milk glass and moonstone glass. Keep in mind that there are no rules when it comes to collecting. If you're looking to build a collection of your own, focus on any type of glassware that appeals to you. Shop a diverse assortment of glassware on 1stDibs.

Hamilton's Railway Special pocket watch was launched in 1940 and remained in production for the next two decades. At the time, it was marketed as the most accurate railroad watch available. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary Hamilton timepieces from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.

Yes, some quartz watches are collectible, luxury timepieces. Established watchmakers such as Omega, Carrier and Rolex created quartz pieces to withstand the test of time in trend and quality. You’ll find a wide selection of collectible quartz watches on 1stDibs.