Hamilton Yellow Gold Art Deco Piping Rock Manual Wind Wristwatch
View Similar Items
Hamilton Yellow Gold Art Deco Piping Rock Manual Wind Wristwatch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1920-1929
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The Case is in good condition .There are initial s engraved on the back of the case which can be removed if requested at no additional cost .
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 142701stDibs: LU734486042
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.
- Bulova Ladies Yellow Gold Art Deco Manual Wind WristwatchBy BulovaLocated in Stamford, CTLadies 14k yellow gold Bulova wristwatch. Watch bracelet consists of floral stamped links with a 4mm gold ball attached to each side. 10.5mm bezel wi...Category
Early 20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Baume & Mercier Ladies Yellow Gold Manual Wind WristwatchBy Baume & MercierLocated in Stamford, CTLadies Baume & Mercier 14k yellow gold wrist watch. True mid-century 1960’s style wristwatch. 14k yellow gold bars that are graduated and framed with yellow gold rope style edges. Ma...Category
Mid-20th Century Wrist Watches
Materials14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
- Movado Yellow Gold Manual Wind Men's Strap WristwatchBy MovadoLocated in Stamford, CTMovado 18k yellow gold strap wristwatch with cream colored factory original textured dial. New black leather strap. Circa 1960. Length: 41.06mm Width: 33n...Category
Mid-20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vacheron Constantin Lady Manual Wind Yellow Gold WristwatchBy Vacheron ConstantinLocated in London, GBWeight: 33.56g Metal: 18kt Yellow gold Condition: Very Good Signature: Vacheron Constantin – nº448413 Hallmarks: French – Eagle’s head Movement: Manual winding mechanic movement...Category
Vintage 1960s Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold
- Bulova Yellow Gold Art Deco Style Manual Wind WatchBy BulovaLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Bulova Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / "Curvex" METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Solid Gold DIMENSIONS: Length 42mm X Width 21mm CIRCA: 1940's MOVEMENT / CALIBER...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Wrist Watches
- Movado Yellow Gold Day-Date-Month Manual Wind WristwatchBy MovadoLocated in Dallas, TX14k gold case with ridged sides and Art Deco style teardrop stepped lugs (34mm diameter). 2-tone silvered dial with Arabic numerals; date and red seconds around outer edge; month and...Category
20th Century Wrist Watches
Materials14k Gold