1949 Dexter

I recently completed restoring a 1949 Dexter.  I picked this watch up in my favorite local shop.  It was missing it's crown, not running and had a very poorly refinished dial.  So poor, in fact, that I wasn't sure that it was even a Hamilton design pattern.

The Dexter was originally introduced in 1949 and produced for three years.  Another Dexter was introduced 10 years later - but that's a totally different model.

The Dexter came in a 14K gold filled case in yellow.  Two dial options were available, the solid gold numeral dial with dots or the marker dial with dots.  Both dials are butler finished sterling silver.  The marker dial has a two-tone finish.

Under the dial you will find the 17 jewel, 8/0 sized 747 movement.

I think most of the Dexters that I have come across have shown at least a little bit of wear through to the  tops of the lugs.  Usually the rest of the case seems to hold up well.

Unfortunately, I neglected to take a "before" shot of my recently completed project watch.  This Dexter needed a lot of TLC to come back to life but with a new glass crystal and a professionally refinished dial, I think it turned out fantastic.

Here's a wrist shot of the numeral dial - I think this is the more common dial pattern that you will find out there.

While looking for other photos I came across another project watch that was pretty much the same as the one I just completed - although with a numeral dial.  Note in this before shot that this watch is missing it's crown as well.

I no longer have this watch but looking at it now I would say the dial is likely an older refinish but it cleaned up very well, as you can see in this "after shot" of the same watch.

1936 Watson

In 1936 Hamilton introduced the Watson.  It's easily mistaken for an earlier watch called the Webster, but the Watson has a smooth sided case while the Webster has slight steps to the sides.  The Watson was produced through 1939.

Another difference between the Watson and Webster is the Watson came only with a 10K yellow gold filled case while the Webster had a 14K yellow or white case.  Two dial options were available for the Watson, an AGN dial or a two-tone gold and black numeral printed dial.

The 10K gold filled case is prone to wear through to the edges of the bezel from the crystal corners down to the straps.

The style of hands you'll find on the Watson are called "spear" hands.

Since the Watson was made from 1936 to 1939, you're just as likely to find a 17 jewel 987E as a 17 jewel 987A movement under the dial.

Here's a shot of a Watson I recently acquired and overhauled.  It was listed by the seller as an "automatic"... go figure.  It was a bit of a wreck and took me a long time to get running but it turned out really well.  The original dial has some spots, but so will I when I reach 75 years old.

Here's a nice example of the black numeral dial courtesy of Tom Diss.

And just for comparison's sake, here's a shot of a Webster (this one is in white gold filled).  You can see the main difference is the shape of the side of the case and the seconds register is a little different too.  Both watches use the same crystal.

1935 Dixon

The Hamilton Dixon was introduced in 1935 and produced for four years.  Like many Hamilton watches from the 1930's, it exhibits classic Art Deco design features... mainly visible in the geometric shaped stepped lugs and printed dial patterns.

For the first two years of production the Dixon was available with either a white or a yellow gold filled case.  However, only yellow gold filled cases were available in 1937 and 1938.

As far as dial patterns go, the Dixon was available with either an AGN version, black enamel or luminous pattern.  So there are lots of possible combinations to obtain but I think the AGN version in a yellow gold filled case is the most common.  I don't recall ever personally seeing a luminous version.

The case tends to show a lot of wear through to the stepped lugs.  In fact, it's quite rare to find a Dixon without at least a little bit of wear to the bezel near the corners of the crystal.  The case back can also show wear through along the edges.

Since the Dixon spans the period from 1935 to 1938, you're more likely to see a 6/0 sized 17 jewel 987-E under the hood but it wouldn't be surprising to find a 987A either.

Here's a wrist shot of a yellow gold filled Dixon with the applied gold numeral dial in my collection.  If you look closely, you can see the ridges in the textured dial.

And here's a wrist shot of the white gold filled Dixon with AGN dial. Note the hands are black and the numerals are yellow gold, despite the cases white color. In the 1940's Hamilton would rhodium plate the gold numerals so they would be white in color - but not these earlier watches. Just the hands would be black with a white case.

Here's a couple of really nice studio shots of Dixons with enamel dials... one in a yellow case and one in a white case.  Photos courtesy of Tom Diss.  If you look closely you'll note that there are actually two different black figured dial patterns.

Here's a nice example of a luminous dialed Dixon I borrowed from Tom as well (the photo, that is).   I think this watch might originally have been from Bryan Girouard, another great Hamilton watch enthusiast, who restores and sells art deco watches.  You should check out his website if you're in the market ...

http://www.artdecowristwatches.com