Hamilton Buick Motor Division Service Award Watch

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were without question the golden age of American watchmaking. The implementation of mass production and interchangeable parts assured American supremacy. Brands such as Gruen, Elgin, and Hamilton vied against the Swiss to dominate the watch industry. The latter, in particular, was at the top of its game.

Specifically, the development of railroad chronometers gave Hamilton a reputation for accuracy and dependability in an age where these qualities were vital in a watch.
But the brand's production did not rest on railroad chronometers alone: Between the 1920s and the 1960s the Lancaster, PA-based company released a dizzying array of designs.

This particular piece is an awesome piece of history. It not only captures the 1960s watch industry, but also a stamped watch dial with the Buick logo exhibited. Flipping the piece over, we get the rest of the story: this watch was presented in 1966 following the end of an employee's 22 year tenure with the company. This type of provenance and story adds to the appeal of any timepiece. The watch itself is fashioned from 10K gold, has developed a lovely lemony patina with age and is powered by the manufacture's Thin-o-matic movement!

Don't sleep on this time capsule of a dress watch from the greatest of American watch manufacturers!

Hamilton is an inseparable strand of the tapestry of American horological history.
The brand is perhaps best known to modern collectors for their historically significant tool watches: robust field watches issued to the U.S. military from the Vietnam War to the 1980s, bulky precision chronographs, or divers in EPSA SuperCompressor cases.

But during the Golden Age of American watchmaking, Hamilton was master of all trades, from railroad timers to dress watches fit for kings. Their catalogs from the 1930s and 1940s were filled with elegant and innovative pieces that have all but faded to obscurity. A casual glance at these Art Deco masterpieces gives the picture of a company whose mass-production methods belied its heightened sense of style and design.

During WWII, Hamilton completely converted its production to accommodate Department of Defense contracts, supplying marine chronometers, wristwatches and more to the American armed forces. So prolific and important was this output that the firm was awarded the Army-Navy “E” Award for excellence in manufacturing in 1943. Its place in the annals of exploration and flight is no less storied or important, having provided timepieces to numerous expeditions over the years.

Today, Hamilton is part of the Swatch Group, a large Swiss conglomerate of brands such as Tissot, Certina and Omega. Though the firm is no longer American-owned, it continues to produce modern versions of some of its most classic and enduring designs.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.