The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 612

Hamilton Watch Co., Lancaster, Pa., No. S5726, Grade 950B, 23 jewel Railway Special, made in 1949.Very fine and rare, 14K gold, keyless, 23-jewel Railway Special watch in a solid gold case.

USD 4,000 - 5,000

Sold: USD 5,290

C. Three-piece "Bassine, screw back and bezel, "carrure ronde", po-lished back, bezels chased with twisted rope pattern, box-type pendant. D. White enamel, double-sunk, overglazed, bold Arabic numerals, outer closed line minute track, sunk sub-seconds. Blued steel "Tapered Baton" hands. M. 16 size, nickel, bridge caliber damascened in parallel stripes ("fausses-côtes"), 23 jewels in raised gold settings, adjusted to temperature and 6 positions, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balanc, Hamilton's Elinvar self-compensating Breguet balance spring, Hamilton version of micro-metric Reed's whiplash regulator, motor barrel.Signed on dial, case and movement.Diam. 51mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

This type of watch was rarely made with a solid gold case. Hamilton designed its own self-compensating hairspring, the "Elinvar Special", which they also employed in Marine chronometers with amazing success.