Hamilton Watch Company’s Boulton Model – Most Popular American Wrist Watch EVER

Authors and historian, like Don Sauer, either say or suggest that Hamilton sold more Boulton models than any other wristwatch the company made. From my experience evaluating production runs of the major vintage US manufacturers, I believe it is one of the most popular vintage style wristwatches in history.

Hamilton began making the Boulton in 1940 and it continues in production today.

Hamilton B

Boulton’s popularity moved Hamilton to reissue the original 1940/41 design in 1946 just after World War II and that edition sold until 1951. They replaced it with basically the same case and continued selling it until 1954.

The Boulton came with a 14K Gold filled case and a 19 Jewel 982 movement. The original issue differs from the post-war one slightly. You can tell from which era a Boulton came by looking for the name inscribed on the inside of the case back. If it has that inscription, then it’s a late 1940’s to mid 1950’s watch.

1946-54 14 Gold Filled

1960 Hamilton Boulton II

The Hamilton Boulton B was a 14 Karat gold filled watch produced from 1952 to the mid 1954. It came with a 19 Jewel Hamilton 754 damasked movement. From the outside you would have some difficulty distinguishing it from the first Boulton editions. If you look at the hands, then you can see an immediate difference.

Note the photo of the watch at the top of the page. It has what is termed “dauphine” style hands. You can find this style on Lord Elgin watches from the 1940’s.

1941 Boulton

The original Boulton hands are known as an “alpha” style. The base of the hand is circular and blade is thin and shaped like a sword. Hamilton returned to the alpha style hands when it released the Boulton II in 1960.

Hamilton used the 982 movement in the original Boultons. The company produced this movement from 1935-1951. (serial numbers J1001 – J670600).

The Boulton’s sold from 1952-1954 used a 754 movement. Hamilton used the 770 movement in their wristwatches beginning in 1955.

The Boulton B came with the 754 movements. The 1960 Boulton II came with the 770 movement.

Hamilton 754 Swiss Movement

Now for some serious confusion that could use some clearing up.

Some observers believe Hamilton issued the Boulton in the mid-1950’s as the Boulton II with a Hamilton/Buren 754 Swiss movement. The Boulton II first appeared in the 1960 catalog. We can find no mention of the Boulton II until 1960.

Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère (SSIH) purchased Hamilton in 1971 and issued the Boulton in the 1980’s with an ETA manual movement and later with a quartz movement. It is also available today from Hamilton with an ETA quartz movement as part of their American Classic series. Notice the photo at the bottom of this page.

In the original Boulton’s, Hamilton used 18K applied gold hands and a subsidiary seconds dial located just above the 6 O’clock position. The measurements of the case is 39x23mm. The numerals were also raised 18K applied gold. The dial was a Silver-Oyster color also known as a Butler finish. The crystal was a raised curved design.

A great deal of confusion about the Boulton II has existed for some time. Below is a copy of the the Boulton II listing from the 1960-61 Hamilton Catalog, a photo of a “mint” quality 1941 model, photos of Boultons from the 1941, 1946 and 1954 catalogs. Hamilton Watch Company also markets a Boulton model – see below.

1941 Hamilton Catalog

1960 Boulton with “H” Logo

Boulton from 1946 Catalog

1954 Catalog

From HamiltonCompany.com

Boulton is possibly one of the most popular Hamilton watches ever. The original piece was produced back in the 1940s. Today’s Boulton has a reshaped strap that follows the line of the case. The silver dial bears gold-colored numbers and hands, plus a round second-counter. This classic has one foot firmly planted in the rich Hamilton heritage and the other in the ground of cutting-edge Swiss watch making. Boulton is powered by an ETA 980.163 movement.

US $748.52 Sale Price – US $544.84

This model is marketed in Japan. I rarely see one available in the US. It’s model number is H13431553. Outside of Japan it’s marketed as a ladies watch.

You can buy the 15 Jewel movement for $30.95.* (See specs below). The watch is not gold, so I wonder where the manufacturer put the $700-odd value. Regardless – as you can tell, the Hamilton Boulton has been and continues to be one of the most popular ‘retro’ watches available.

Gold-tone case with a brown croco-embossed leather strap. Fixed gold-tone bezel. White dial with gold-tone hands and Arabic hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Small seconds sub-dial at the 6 o’clock position. Quartz movement. Scratch resistant mineral crystal. Solid case back. Case dimensions: 43 mm x 28 mm. Tang clasp. Water resistant at 30 meters/ 100 feet. Functions: hours, minutes, seconds.

Movement specs: ETA 980.163, Linge size 51/2 x 6 3/4
2.20mm thick, 120/20 hand size, stem 401-1280, tap size 10,
Price $30.95