Hamilton open-face pocket watch in good working order, featuring a Swiss-made 17-jewel movementsuch as the Caliber 699. This style of thin, elegant pocket watch was often referred to as a "Frackuhr" (dress watch) and was common during the 1950s and 1960s.
This is a vintage Hamilton Caliber 699 pocket watch movement, a notable model from the mid-20th century. While Hamilton is famous for its American-made timepieces, this specific caliber represents the era when the company began using Swiss-made movements.
Movement Specifications
* Caliber: Hamilton 699, which is a restylization of the Cortebert 624/630 movement.
* Jewels: It contains 17 jewels, as engraved on the bridge.
* Key Feature: The movement is distinct for its "sunburst" winding gears, a decorative feature also found in certain high-end movements like the Rolex 618.
* Case Size: This caliber was typically used in "thin model" dress watches, often around 42mm (Size 12).
Key Identification Features
* Brand: Hamilton, a historically American company that transitioned production to Switzerland in the mid-20th century.
* Dial: Features a sub-second dial at the 6 o'clock position and is marked "SWISS" at the bottom.
Detailed Breakdown of Markings:
* Hamilton W. Co., Lancaster, PA:This signifies the Hamilton Watch Company, which was famously based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
* 10K Gold-Filled: This indicates the case is made of a base metal sandwiched between two thin layers of 10-karat gold. This is thicker and more durable than standard gold plating.
* Star W. C. Co.: This identifies the Star Watch Case Company, a major supplier of high-quality watch cases for American watch brands.
* P512788: This is the case serial number.