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| Joined: | Thu Sep 8th, 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 1594 |
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It's from the first term of FDR's presidency - - 1936 to be exact - - the year of the Jesse Owens Berlin Olympics. This watch might have been worn by one of your grandfathers, or great-grandfathers.
This "Linwood" model (all Hamiltons back then had names, like Perry, Dickens, Sherwood, Brock, etc.) was a very long (43mm) curved streamliner design that was very popular in the 1930s. The stepped sides resembled skyscapers of the day. This model was made of 14K gold fill, meaning it had to contain at least 1/20 by weight of 14K gold. This gold layer was much thicker than gold plated (or RGP), often exceeding 80 microns in thickness - - compare that to the 5-micron or so plating on today's watches.
Of course, the 17 jewel caliber 980 Hamilton movement still keeps accurate time after 72 years.
A watch like this one looks best (I think) with a long-sleeve dress or sport shirt.
Once you try vintage it's hard to stop!
