Gents Hamilton Fleetwood Manual Wristwatch Ref W503411
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Case Dimensions:Height: 1.23 in (31.2 mm)Width: 1.21 in (30.6 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940
- Condition:12 months warranty.
- Seller Location:Surfside, FL
- Reference Number:
Hamilton
In an era when the safety of America’s bustling railroads absolutely depended on accurate timepieces for its conductors, watchmaker Hamilton pioneered cutting-edge, impossibly precise watches in a complex that spanned one square city block of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, during the late 19th century.
As railroad tracks were laid across the United States and steam locomotives began traversing vast distances, the American railroad system ran into a problem. Back then, time was not standardized across the country. Therefore, in 1883, the railroad companies established the four time zones as we know them today. But, despite setting these zones, train conductors were not always synchronized, leading to deadly accidents on the railroads.
Enter watchmaker Hamilton, founded in 1892. Railway workers would be required to wear a pocket watch, as the timepieces were responsible for keeping conductors on schedule, and the watchmaking industry — and early American pocket-watch manufacturers such as Hamilton, Elgin National Watch Company and the Waltham Watch Company — benefitted.
Hamilton’s pocket watches were extremely alluring to train conductors, who began buying them en masse. The East Coast company’s timepieces eventually earned the moniker “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.”
Hamilton transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches in 1914, as it supplied timepieces to American troops fighting in World War I. Wristwatches, naturally, were more convenient to wear and use in battle. The new style of watch was also appealing to aviators, and Hamilton aeronautical watches became all the rage among pilots, specifically those flying for the new U.S. Airmail service.
The general public’s interest in Hamilton watches grew rapidly in the 1920s. Legendary polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd timed his historic flights over glaciers and chunks of sea ice with a Hamilton pocket watch in the late 1920s, and a Hamilton timepiece used by Byrd during these expeditions went on display in 2018 at the National Watch & Clock Museum.
Hamilton’s Piping Rock watch, an Art Deco–inspired design that featured elegant Roman numerals set in black for the hour markers, made its debut in 1928 and was gifted to the New York Yankees to celebrate their World Series win that year. The model was also featured in the film Shanghai Express alongside the brand’s Flintridge watch, further expanding Hamilton’s popularity. (Hamilton watches can also be seen in the films The Frogmen, Blue Hawaii, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Men in Black.)
In the second half of the 20th century, Hamilton became well known for several innovations: It developed the first-ever battery-operated electric watch, the Ventura, in 1957, as well as the first-ever digital wristwatch, the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer, in 1970. Three years later, superspy and watch enthusiast James Bond donned a Pulsar in Live and Let Die.
Today, the company is part of the Swatch Group, and its headquarters and production facilities relocated from Pennsylvania to Switzerland in 2003.
Find vintage Hamilton watches for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Surfside, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 10 days of delivery.
- Hamilton Raleigh Stainless Steel Automatic Wristwatch Ref Ref 759768By HamiltonLocated in Surfside, FLHamilton Raleigh manual wind watch in white gold fill on a calfskin strap. Auto w/ subseconds. 29 mm case size. Ref 759768. Fine Pre-owned Hamilton Watch. Certified preowned Vintag...Category
Vintage 1930s Wrist Watches
MaterialsSteel, Stainless Steel, White Gold
- Bulova Manual Wristwatch Ref W4282By BulovaLocated in Surfside, FLUnisex Bulova gold fill case & bezel with hooded lugs on a leather leather band. Manual wind 17 jewel movement. Circa 1940's. Fine Pre-owned Bulova Watch. Certified preowned Vintage Bulova watch...Category
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold-filled
- Rolex Cellini platinum Manual Wristwatch Ref 5240By RolexLocated in Surfside, FLRolex Cellini in platinum with mother of pearl dial on a black crocodile strap with a Rolex platinum tang buckle. Manual w/ subseconds. 35 mm case size. With box & papers. Ref 5240. ...Category
Early 2000s Wrist Watches
MaterialsPlatinum
- Chateau Stainless Steel Manual Wristwatch Ref W3012Located in Surfside, FLVintage Chateau watch stainless steel case, stainless steel bezel on leather band. Manual w/ Subsidary Seconds. Certified pre-owned. Circa 1950s...Category
Vintage 1950s Wrist Watches
MaterialsSteel, Stainless Steel
- Corum Classic 18k yellow gold Manual Wristwatch Ref 27218By CorumLocated in Surfside, FLCorum Classic in 18k yellow gold with onyx and mother of pearl dial. Manual. 26 mm case size. Ref 27218. Will fit up to 7.25" wrist. Fine Pre-owned Corum Watch. Certified preowned ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Patek Philippe Vintage 18k gold Manual Wristwatch Ref 3319/7By Patek PhilippeLocated in Surfside, FLPatek Philippe Vintage in 18k. Manual. 18.5 mm case size. Ref 3319/7. Will fit a 6.75" wrist. Fine Pre-owned Patek Philippe Watch. Certified preowned Vintage Patek Philippe Vintage...Category
Vintage 1960s Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold
- Vintage Garrard Manual Gents WristwatchLocated in London, GBThis is a delightful vintage wristwatch from the luxury jewellery designer Garrard. This piece features a circular face with a silver dial, gold hour markers and gold hands. It also ...Category
20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, Silver
- International Watch Company Manual Gents WristwatchBy IWCLocated in London, GBThis is a vintage 18ct yellow gold watch from the designer IWC. The watch features all its original pieces but the strap and buckle have been replaced. The heritage of IWC is deepl...Category
20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual WristwatchBy Patek PhilippeLocated in London, GBThis is a wonderful and rare 1940s gents Patek Philippe wristwatch. The watch features a silver dial with white hour and minute hands and a seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. The watch ha...Category
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, Silver
- Vintage Jaeger-Le Coultre Gents Manual WristwatchBy Jaeger-LeCoultreLocated in London, GBThis is a delightful vintage Jaeger-Le Coultre wristwatch from the 1950s. This piece features a circular face with a cream coloured dial, gold hour markers and gold hands. Yet its mo...Category
Vintage 1950s Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold
- Art Deco 17 Jewels Square Dial Gents Manual Wristwatch, c1930Located in Westward ho, GBFor those gentlemen out there who seek a stylish watch which reflects the Art Deco styling and also offers quality then look no further this watch maybe for you. Although unbranded we know this watch is Swiss, this watch has a good sized square dial...Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
- Vintage Omega Manual Gents WatchLocated in London, GBThis is a vintage Omega manual stainless steel watch with crosshair sub dial at six o'clock. Featuring a round yellow dial with raised hour batons and golden minute...Category
Vintage 1960s Wrist Watches
MaterialsSteel, Stainless Steel