The most prominent decorative art style in the 1920s and the 1930s was Art Deco. It features delineated geometric shapes and bold colors. You'll find Art Deco influences in all sorts of objects from household appliances to sky scraper buildings. It's sometimes applied incorrectly to the bold linear designs from the 1950s and 60s that would be better described as Mid Century Modern. However, you'll often find Art Deco influences in the watch designs from the 1930s. A great example is the 1937 Sidney. It was produced through 1940.
Vintage Hamilton Watch Restoration
Information about vintage Hamilton watch repair, restoration, models, and advice for collecting and collectors
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Monday, October 7, 2024
1937 Sidney
Sunday, October 6, 2024
1930 Raleigh (Plain)
In 1930 several new models were introduced to the Hamilton men's lineup. Hamilton had just completed the acquisition of the Illinois Watch Company and the future looked bright... that is to say, until the Great Depression came along.
However, the show must go on and one of the new models to be introduced was the Raleigh. Like several of the earlier models, you could get it with an engraved bezel or with a plain bezel. You also had several choices of gold fill - yellow, white, or green. The Raleigh was made through 1932.
The shape is reminiscent of the Coronado but the Raleigh's lugs are not hinged. It's also very similar to the Langley - which was cased in solid gold - so sometime's the Raleigh is referred to as "the poor man's Langley". $57 doesn't sound like a lot of money but in today's dollars that would be almost $1,100 - so I don't think a poor man would have sprung for a Raleigh... gold filled or not.
My project watch arrived in typical 90+ year old condition. The crown was unattached, the crystal is beat up, and the bezel shows the tell-tale wear through to the corners from decades of shirt sleeve wear.
One quick adjustment to the regulator arm and the movement is now running just a smidgeon fast. I'll leave it here though as I find that movements tend to settle down a little after they are overhauled.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
1948 Kirk
Vintage watches tend to be on the small size. Of all the decades Hamilton produced wrist watches, the 1940s are arguably the smallest. Some would make excellent ladies watches by today's standards but I actually like most mens models from this period. I think it's just the elegant simplicity that appeals to me. Dials were sterling silver, markers were solid gold, every model was of the highest quality and made in the good ol' US of A.
Nothing beats a Hamilton cased in solid gold, unless you want to discuss platinum. Most solid gold models were cased in 14K but there are a couple 18K or 10K models too. One of the 14K models from the 1940s is the Kirk. It was introduced in 1948 and produced through 1953 - so it was a popular model.