Ladies Art Deco Cocktail Watch in Platinum and Diamonds
View Similar Items
Ladies Art Deco Cocktail Watch in Platinum and Diamonds
About the Item
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.
- Antique Art Deco Ladies 9 Karat Rose Gold & Diamond Cocktail WristwatchLocated in Hamilton, OntarioThis antique ladies cocktail or evening watch is hallmarked as originating from England and dates to approximately 1920 and done in the period Art Deco style. The case and band are c...Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsMetal, Gold
- 18 Carat Gold Ladies Hamilton WatchBy HamiltonLocated in Hamilton, OntarioWomen's 18 carat gold watch and band by Hamilton Watch company. Fully serviced and working. Measures: Weight 39.6 grams.Category
20th Century Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsGold
$1,750 Sale Price22% Off - Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Ladies Dresser SetLocated in Hamilton, OntarioThis three piece sterling silver and guilloche enameled dresser set was made in England in circa 1920 in the period Art Deco style. The set is compo...Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Ladies ZentRa 14-Karat Gold Watch and Band with DiamondsLocated in Hamilton, OntarioLadies ZentRa 14-karat gold watch and band with diamonds. Keeps perfect time.Category
20th Century Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsGold
$1,195 Sale Price20% Off - Tiffany & Co. Ladies 18-Carat Gold WatchBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Hamilton, OntarioElegant vintage Tiffany & Co. manual wind dress watch made with 18-karat yellow gold. It is slender and has a soft rectangular design.Category
20th Century Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsGold
- Ladies Platinum Ring Set with Synthetic EmeraldsLocated in Hamilton, OntarioLadies platinum ring set with synthetic emeralds. Ring is set with one 7mm round good colour emerald. Also set with two small 6mm marquis cut emer...Category
20th Century Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsPlatinum
- Art Deco Platinum Ladies Wristwatch with DiamondsLocated in Toledo, OHA stunning Art Deco style platinum ladies wristwatch with diamonds. This beautiful watch features a platinum case surrounded by 1.75-carat of diamonds. The case is marked 900 platinu...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsPlatinum
- Antique Art Deco Hayne Watch Co Ladies 18K 17J Platinum Trim Wrist WatchLocated in Dayton, OHCirca 1920's ladies' art deco wrist watch by Hayne Watch Company, 17 jewels, Swiss works. Platinum Trim / 18K white gold case. Squared oval shape with intricate art deco styling - et...Category
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsGold, Platinum
- Art Deco Ladies Blue Enamel and Chrome Compact, circa 1930Located in Devon, EnglandFor your consideration is this highly styled Art Deco of American blue enamel compact dating to the 1930s. Originally it would have had a chain or tassel. Beautiful blue enamel color...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsEnamel, Chrome
- Art Deco Period Old European Diamond Twin Platinum RingLocated in New York, NYA beautiful Art Deco Period old European cut diamond twin ring in platinum, circa early-20th century, 1920s. Ring has two (2) old European cut diamond solitaires/round cuts at center...Category
Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsPlatinum
- Richard Hudnut Art Deco 'Marvelous' Ladies Powder CompactBy Richard HudnutLocated in Devon, EnglandRichard Hudnut Marvelous, you'll certainly want to add this TINY little silver tone metal rouge compact to your collection ! Features a stylised woman's outline centred in a square r...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsEnamel, Chrome
- Art Deco Wool and Catalin Bakelite Slouch Ladies Bag, circa 1930Located in Devon, EnglandOh so smart is this wonderful ladies handbag, 1930s. There is no makers mark but was sourced in the US so likely to have originated from there originally. The body of the bag is slou...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsSilk, Bakelite, Wool