Undocumented Hamiltons can be identified if you know how – like with this Fero Feldman

Fero Feldman Swiss Watch

This isn’t a Hamilton watch, but it’s an example of how you can miss out on a special Hamilton watch when a seller doesn’t know what he has. I bought four undocumented Hamilton watches two years ago because the sellers thought they were replicas.

The Swiss watch pictured here is in Mint condition. It’s approximately 60 years old. It’s an automatic movement with a day-date.

I bought it for $2.25 on eBay. That’s right two dollars and twenty five cents. Fero watches are collector items even in medium condition. I’ve seen them priced between $150 to 150 pounds.

The watch was advertised as a paperweight because it was shipped in a heavy brass case. It looked like a paperweight.

When you get into the movement, it was made by a Swiss manufacturer for Robert Feldman of Germany. His company failed in 2007.

Heavy Metal Presentation Case

Jewelers, themselves, originally cased Hamilton and Hamilton Bruen movements. The movements were shipped ‘uncased’. In some instances, the Jeweler used a third party manufacturers, who made their cases to Hamilton specifications. I have found Hamilton movements in watches without a Hamilton brand. In August 2011, Mr. Poye explained how one of my 1920 Hamilton cases contained an Elgin movement.

You may have a Hamilton watch with a blank face.

This Fero Fedlman goes in my collection.

A decent researcher can identify the real manufacturer. A watch can say Croton on the face and movement, but the actual maker is another Swiss company. I love doing this kind of research, it’s not that difficult for me and it makes the owners happy!