Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Oct 04, 2009

LOT 129

Navigation Master Watch - 16 Size Enamel Dial Hamilton Watch Co., U.S.A., Model 3992B, movement No. 3C1054. Made for the U.S. Government and sent to the British Air Ministry (No. A.M. 480-1942), circa 1942. Fine and very rare, chromium plated nickel, keyless military pocket watch with indirect center-seconds, Hamilton balance, precision setting mechanism and the original mahogany fitted box. To be sold without reserve

CHF 1,000 - 2,000

USD 950 - 1,900 / EUR 650 - 1,300

Sold: CHF 600

C. Three-body, ?bassine et filets?, reeded bezels, threaded bezel and back, engraved bow. D. White enamel, bold upright Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions and Arabic five-second numerals, Broad Arrow mark below 12. Blued steel pear and lozenge hands. M. Rhodium-plated, half-plate, fausses cotes decoration, 22 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Hamilton monometallic balance with screws and adjusted to temperature and six positions, Elinvar self-compensating Breguet balance spring, micrometric regulator, flexible spring for stopping the balance for precision setting via the crown. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-6

Good

Slightly oxidized
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-23-01

Good

Later

HANDS Original

Notes

The 3992B Master Navigation Watch was made from 1942 to 1945. During that three year period 2,494 examples were made - a very small number compared to 116,262 for the 4992B model. Most were made for the Canadian Government. A very few, including the present watch, were used by the British Air Ministry. The special feature of this watch was the incorporation of a second setting mechanism comprising of a thin flexible spring which stops the balance when the winding crown is pulled out and starts it again when the crown is returned to winding position, therefore allowing precision setting from a master time source. See: Military Timepieces, Marvin E. Whitney, AWI Press, 1992, p. 334.