Gold Hamilton Watches
20th Century American Modern Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1910s American Modern Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Early 2000s Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Wrist Watches
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
Vintage 1950s American Modern Wrist Watches
Gold-filled, White Gold
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, White Gold
Vintage 1960s American Retro Wrist Watches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century North American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century North American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Retro Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Wrist Watches
14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s American Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1950s Wrist Watches
10k Gold, Gold-filled
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century North American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Wrist Watches
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Wrist Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Gold-filled, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1960s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
14k Gold
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
White Gold
Vintage 1950s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Mid-20th Century American Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
White Gold
Mid-20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
14k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
White Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
20th Century American Pocket Watches
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Gold-filled, White Gold
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1940s American Retro Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1930s Pocket Watches
14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
White Gold
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Pocket Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
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Gold Hamilton Watches For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Gold Hamilton Watches?
Hamilton for sale on 1stDibs
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.
Finding the Right Wrist Watches for You
Antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.
Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.
Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.
Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.
In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.
Find antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024To identify a vintage Hamilton watch, grab a magnifying glass and look for its model number, serial number and case number. Most timepieces produced by Hamilton will display one, two or all three of these numbers. The model and case numbers generally appear on the back of the case, and you can usually find the serial number on the lugs. You can enter these numbers into the search tool on the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors's official website to learn about your watch's age, style name and other characteristics. If you have any difficulty, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer can help you. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of vintage Hamilton watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023No, Hamilton is not widely considered a luxury watch brand. The revered Swiss manufacturer’s timepieces are known for their quality workmanship and high-end materials, but its watches typically retail at attainable price points compared to the likes of Cartier or Rolex. Shop a collection of Hamilton watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.