Hamilton Baron II - Diamond Dial- 14K Solid White Gold   

Circa 1961-1963.

From the medalist series is this stunning Hamilton Baron II in a 14K solid white gold case with 5 diamonds on a sterling silver dial with the original black lizard strap all packaged in the original award box!  This marvelous timepiece has been well preserved and is powered by a genuine Hamilton grade 730 manual hand winding movement with 17 jewels that runs strong and kept good time over a 24 hour period. The dial, dauphine hands, and all markers and diamonds are in excellent condition.  The watch sets and winds smoothly and is quadruple signed by Hamilton.  The inside of the snap back case reads: Hamilton W. Co., Lancaster PA., 14K GOLD, B99423. Case measurements are approximately 30mm wide (excluding the crown) x 35mm from lug end to lug end. This is truly an exquisite solid gold piece by Hamilton that has retained its charm and character after all these years. A true gem that does not come by often.

Information/data collected from VintageWatchForums.

I have been a Hamilton Watch collector since the early 1980's.  I have owned every Hamilton tank watch ever made, in every color, metal and dial variation.  I became obsessed with Hamilton watches because of their quality and construction of the cases and more so of their movements, which were top of the line for all watches made world wide for the time.  Over the years, I have found that I have collected far more watches than I should have, and have started to sell off my seconds, and narrow my collection down to watches to interest and of importance.  

The Hamilton Watch Company was founded in 1892 and produced its first watch in the 1893 which was designed by one of its founding member H.J. Cain. The Hamilton Watch Company started off by making pocket watches, more commonly known was "rail road" watches, which were reliable timing devices for the railroads at the time.  In 1909, Hamilton made the O size 985 with 19 Jewel movement for a man's watch, which was made for the Military, and later the 983 would be used and marketed for the Military, Aviators, Drivers, Civil Engineers and those of other occupations.  In the later 1920's, Hamilton was producing some of the greatest watches ever made, the Spur, the Piping Rock which the Yankees gave out as World Series presentation watches, the Coronado and so on.  In the 1950's Hamilton invented the battery powered and worlds first "Electric Watch" with models such as the Ventura which Elvis and Rod Sterling wore, as well as the Pacer, which President Johnson (LBJ) wore.  Hamilton was in the USA until 1969 where the plant was closed in Lancaster, PA and moved to Switzerland where it operated in the Buren Factory. The last model American watch Hamilton produced was the "Coin" watch, which you see from time to time that featured the Hamilton 770, high grade 22 jewel movement.