Hamilton Bowman and Bentley

Bowman – 17 Jewel 980 movement

Hamilton Watch Company sold two watches in the 1930’s with similar designs. They made one with a 14K solid gold case and a 19 jewel movement and the other with 17 jewel movement and a 14k gold filled case. Bought have tubular lugs.

The company produced the Bentley from 1937 to 1939. The Bowman showed-up in 1939 and suffered the same fate and other consumer watches when the military came knocking on Hamilton’s door.

People consider the Bowman one of the most popular Hamilton watches even though the company only offered it for one year.

Notice the fancy lugs, the curved crystal, flat crown, 18K gold hands and numerals. The size of the second dial. Hamilton took the most popular features of their tank watches and designed a winner.

The Bentley has a slimmer body and a different dial. Note the design of the second hand positions. The Bentley also has a recessed ridge on the sides.

Bentley – 19 Jewel 982 movement

I restored the Bowman, but it didn’t need much. I found it in mint condition and rarely worn.

The movement had all original parts including the wheel train, escape key-less winding and setting mechanism.