Mid 20th Century Ladies Hamilton Diamond Platinum Dress Wrist Watch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Case Dimensions:Width: 0.5 in (12.7 mm)Depth: 0.38 in (9.66 mm)Length: 7 in (177.8 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Repaired: The watch has been overhauled. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Miami Beach, FL
- 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: Miami Beach, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Ladies Art Deco Platinum Diamond Onyx Wrist WatchLocated in Miami Beach, FLArt Deco diamond and onyx watch head set in newer triple-strand band of onyx beads with diamond spacers. Watch head is platinum. Spacer...Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Platinum
- Antique Ladies Elongated Diamond Platinum and Gold Wrist WatchLocated in Miami Beach, FLElegant elongated platinum rectangular head with diamond frame with hinged pierced diamond garland chevron lug sides. The band is a double woven 9k white gold design terminating wit...Category
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Platinum
- Kurz Mid-20th Century Covered Yellow Gold Buckle Ladies Wristwatch BraceletBy A. KurzLocated in Miami Beach, FLStunning 18k yellow gold ladies watch by Kurz in Geneva featuring a buckle style covered watch with a braided or woven design band and cover. The buckles hardware that the cover hinges from is a shiny finish. The closure is a hinged that snaps into place and has two options for lengths. It has a mechanical movement - so you must wind it before putting it on. The watch has a nice amount of weight to it - 64.15 grams gross weight. It is marked 750 AK with Kurz on the dial. About Kurz from Company site: KURZ offers quality jewellery and an exclusive range of world-renowned watch and jewellery brands. Founded by Armin KURZ...Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Art Deco Floral Filagree Sapphire and Diamond Ladies Dress Watch Sapphire BandLocated in Miami Beach, FLArt Deco platinum top on 18k gold watch accented with diamonds and sapphires, circa 1920. The filagree rectangular elongated 3 piece case has geometric triangles design and on the lu...Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
- Retro Covered Ladies White Gold Diamond Ruby Evening Dress Watch by AltairLocated in Miami Beach, FLStunning evening ladies dress watch from the Retro period, It looks like a bracelet, but when you open the flap and you have the time. This 1940s wristwatch...Category
Vintage 1940s Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold
- Mid 20th Century Diamond and Ruby Spray White Gold EarringsLocated in Miami Beach, FLElegant 1950s diamond and ruby earrings with a semi circle diamond ribbon that leads to a ruby and diamond spray. These earrings sit beautifully on the ear and can be worn with the ...Category
Mid-20th Century Lever-Back Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Vintage Hamilton Platinum 0.45ctw Diamond Fancy Ladies Dress Wrist WatchBy HamiltonLocated in Montclair, NJHere we have an elegant and classic vintage Hamilton ladies' watch mounted in a solid platinum case that is covered with approximately 0.45 carats of fine quality diamonds. The watch comes w/ a generic leather strap that shows some wear yet still in a usable condition. This fancy diamond watch...Category
Vintage 1940s American Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Vintage Hamilton Platinum Tapered Baguette Round Diamond Fancy Dress Wrist WatchBy HamiltonLocated in Montclair, NJ--Stone(s):-- (20) Natural Genuine Diamonds - Graduated Baguette Cut - Channel & Bezel Set - G/H Color - VS1/VS2 Clarity (54) Natural Genuine Diamonds - Round Brilliant & Single Cut ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Hamilton Ladies Platinum Diamond Dress Watch Delicate Filigree Movement #911By HamiltonLocated in Sherman Oaks, CAHamilton Ladies Platinum Diamond Dress Watch Delicate Filigree Mov #911 Movement #911 Serial #T73771 Year of Manufacture: 1939 Platinum Tonneau Cas...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Antique Hamilton Diamond Platinum Ladies Cocktail WatchBy HamiltonLocated in Miami, FLThis Antique Hamilton Ladie's cocktail is watch crafted in solid Platinum. With an off-white dial & silver-tone hand markers. Manual mechanical windin...Category
Vintage 1950s American Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Hamilton Platinum Ladies Art Deco Styled Diamond Dress Watch, circa 1940sLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Hamilton Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Bracelet Watch METAL / MATERIAL: Platinum CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 32mm X Width 14mm MOVEM...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsPlatinum
- 1960s Vintage Hamilton Diamond Platinum Ladies Cocktail WatchBy HamiltonLocated in Miami, FLThis Vintage Hamilton Ladie's cocktail is watch crafted in solid Platinum. With an off-white dial & silver-tone hand markers. Manual mechanical winding movement. It with A round diam...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum