Hamilton offered this wristwatch in 1980 as the second of their reissued historical tradition series. The Collector’s Classic Edition Society had exclusive rights to market and called it Lord Hamilton.1
Unlike the model 992 issued the year before, this watch had an ornately engraved case.
Collector’s Classic Edition Society limited the release to 100 units and specified a gold filled case. ETA made the ebauche (plain plate) movement while Hamilton engraved the plates and bridges giving it the look of a late 1900’s model.
The Swiss Watch industry failed in 1974 leaving the vestigates to the Federal Government to resurrect. Hamilton continued to function profitably in the US, even though the company no longer operated as an American Company.2
Hamilton used an ETA Unitas 6497 with their logo and model number on the baseplate under the balance. They followed a traditional Swiss watchmaker’s practice.
Found in an estate, this Lord Hamilton remained in like new. Ten of the 100 watches may remain in existence as people recognized the value of the movement and the gold case.
1. Sauers, Donald J (May 1992) Time for America, Lititz, PA: Sutter House Publishers
2. Donzé, Pierre-Yves (April 2014) A Business History of the Swatch Group, London, Palgrave Macmillan
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