On May 5, 2016, I received a Hamilton Ventura watch, model 6109 made in 1988. The owner wanted an assessment, planning to sell it. He wrote me:  I’ve attached photos of my watch.  It’s in really good shape, but the crystal seems to be “mottled” almost like there is a plastic film on it. (The photo […]

Hamilton Watches are manufactured by the Swatch Group, Ltd. Background: After Hamilton Watch Company purchased and absorbed its competitor, the Illinois Watch Company, America had the best timepiece manufacturer in the world. From 1930 to 1952, Hamilton became the innovators in watch technology and production. The company also excelled in the human side of enterprise.

In the late 1930’s extended, Americanized  Art Deco period, Hamilton designed several tank style watches with relatively high expectations. The masters of industry expected the country to emerge from the depression in 1937. Employment saw a massive increase and then the bottom fell out again. Hamilton Watch Company’s management loaded up on inventory and even

Early Hamilton Prototype When Hamilton opened its doors for business back in 1892, they had a jump on their competition. Railroad companies needed a dependable way to measure time. Though the railroads tried to establish a time system to keep trains on schedule, it failed often. When a slow train needed to pull over to the

Before 1914, people had difficulty with the idea of strapping a watch to one’s wrist. Manufacturers 1917 US Hamilton 981 made and sold pocket watches and nothing else. People could select a case, dial and hands and a jeweler would then suggest a movement.  Manufacturers of the time shipped uncased movements. That’s how they did