Vintage Hamilton Watch Restoration

I recently did a post on a 1940s Martin that was outfitted with an early 1930s movement.  That's pretty unusual for sure.  However, taken in the context of the time period, is it really? We're talking the end of the Great Depression and a world at war. If you were lucky to have a fine watch, you probably didn't have two. Getting it repaired to work properly was probably mo...

When it comes to vintage Hamiltons, there's a lot of focus on rarity.  Some watches almost achieve unicorn status - everyone has heard of them but few have seen one.  At the other end of the spectrum is ubiquity. I've never really thought much about what model is the most common.

It could be the Boulton, because it was made for a really long time. It could be the Dods...

When it comes to 1970s watches I always think,  "I like 'em big, I like 'em chunky".  Like Moto Moto from the movie Madagascar II: Escape to Africa. Watches from the 1970s are a style unto their own and they are easy to spot.

 One of the interesting watch terms out there is "complication".  When it comes to watches, you can have a variety of complications and I think the term is very appropriate. The most basic elements for a watch are the hour and minute hands, and to get a watch to keep accurate time at all is arguably pretty complicated.

However, from there you can add things... like a...

It's been a long time since I bought a Hamilton watch out in the wild.  That's mainly because I rarely see them.  I enjoy perusing antique shops and thrift stores as much as the next guy, I suppose, but I rarely see nice vintage watches for sale. I suspect they're just easier to sell on line... easy to ship, etc. rather than waste time and space in a display case.  When I do...