Hamilton 14Kt Gold "Midas" Art Deco Watch 1940's with Original Dial Strap & Box

FACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Reference "Spur" METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt White Gold / Kiln Fired Enamel Print CIRCA / YEAR: 1920's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 27mm X Diameter 34mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 19 Jewels / Caliber 979 DIAL / HANDS: Original Sterling Silver with Kiln Fired Enamel Print / Blued Steel Hands ATTACHMENT / BRACELET: Leather, 12mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT Yikes... we never see this model and have only seen a few in the last 50 years, and never one with what appears to be the original box. This was one of Hamiltons most legendary wristwatches and it is exceptional condition. Since it has been in a vault for about 50 years the price includes a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker. Asymmetrical models are among the most sought after wrist watches in the vintage world. Hamilton produced one of the earliest and most intriguing examples, which they called the "Spur" for obvious reasons. it was first introduced in 1928, the Spur remained in production until 1932. Oddly, it only appeared in the Hamilton catalogs for a single year, 1930. It can be presumed that the "Great Depression" had something to do with this. This rare timepiece boasts a distinctive case with a black enamel bezel. The Spur started a trend with Hamiltion and they next produced the "Piping Rock" models. The Spur has hidden lugs that are tucked behind a series of cascading fins, creating a truly unique design. A tiny watch, even by vintage standards, the Spur features a delicate 12mm strap. Originally priced at $125, production numbers were limited, with a total of 1,183 pieces created: 683 in white gold, 499 in yellow gold, and a single, elusive example in green gold. Just two years later, in 1928, Hamilton introduced another groundbreaking design: the "Piping Rock." This watch featured a tonneau-shaped gold case with a striking black enamel bezel. Its unique aesthetic captured the attention of the era, and it was chosen to commemorate the New York Yankees' World Series victory that same year. Specially engraved editions were presented to legendary players like Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, solidifying the Piping Rock's place in Hamilton's history of iconic timepieces. 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 the 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 in Los Angeles and we immediately became a Gruen Store. A few months later, the other jeweler in the neighborhood went out of business and Hamilton came back to us asking if we wanted “the line” again. No thanks was the response and we never carried Hamilton again. During World War II, Hamilton supplied watches to the US military again. In addition, with contracts for the Navy, they produced the world’s most accurate navigational chronometers. The company also developed several new technologies for use in military watches. After the war, Hamilton continued to innovate, and the company introduced several new watch designs for the future. Unfortunately, they made one very poor executive decision in the 1950’s. Having invented the first “electric” or battery watch they decided to launch it before all the “bugs'' were worked out. Too many of them failed and at the same time, Bulova launched their version of the electric, or battery watch called the Accutron. It did not fail and that was the demise of one of America's most successful and influential companies. Their watches, however, still live on and parts are available and the average Hamilton, with only average care, will last hundreds of years. Their commitment to excellence has never been surpassed by any watch company. The Hamilton Spur...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Tonneau METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1950's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 35mm X Width 26mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber 747 DIAL / HANDS: Sterling Silvered Gilded with 18Kt. Gold Applied Numerals / Dauphine Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator, 18mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This watch is fitted with a Sterling Silver dial that has been gilded and the applied numerals are done in 18Kt. gold. Hamilton was famous for their watches and the navigational chronometers used by the US Navy during WW 2...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Vincent / Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 25mm X Width 38mm MOV...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tonneau Shape METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1930's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 31mm X Width 16mm...

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