Description

Folks we are pleased to offer for your consideration one of finest and most elusive of all Hamilton Pocket Watches. We have the Hamilton Grade 996 Railroad Pocket Watch circa 1921. This elusive Grade 996 Hamilton Pocket Watch is a size 16; measuring two inches in diameter the most popular of size pocket watches. This Grade 996 has one of the most ornate and beautifully damasked nickel plate movements Hamilton manufactured. The total Hamilton 996′s manufactured was only 23,500 in total from 1915 through 1927, a very low number keeping demand high for this fine pocket watch. This fine movement is housed is the original beautifully engraved Yellow Gold Fill Case. This Hamilton Pocket Watch has this very desired configuration with the Grade 996 Lever Set Movement, Railroad Dial, 14K Gold Fill Case highlighted with the original Blued Steel Spade/Whip Railroad Hands. Many are not aware of the Grade 996 due to the low production numbers and so few being offered on the open market. I so hope the pictures and extreme magnification helps in the description of this finest of Hamilton Pocket Watches.

This Hamilton 996 Movement is in pristine condition without corrosion or reckless jeweler’s tools marks. This Grade 996 is Lever Set and Stem Wound with 19 Ruby Jewels, Sapphire Pallet Jewel, Motor Barrel, adjusted to 5 positions with a Double Roller and is also adjusted to heat and cold. The Hamilton 996 has a high-grade Micro-Regulator, Gold Balance Weights, raised and flush Gold Jewel Cup Settings, Gold Center Wheel and Train with a Steel Escapement. This is one of the finest of all Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watches a truly fine design that makes for an incredibly accurate pocket watch. The 996 has a 19 Jewel Movement yet better crafted and designed than the 21 Jewel 992 in my and many others opinion. All the major pivot points are covered with 19 Jewels and the early Railroad Pocket Watches had 17 than 19 Jewels. The most obvious difference is the 996 has a Motor Barrel, Sapphire Pallet Jewel and again the most ornate damasking the Hamilton Watch Company offered for sale. This pristine 996 Movement is housed in this B&B Royal Case Company Case, in a rich Yellow Gold Fill finish. The fine case is in excellent condition functioning properly. The cartouche on the back cover is still without a personal monogram. This fine Hamilton Grade 996 Pocket Watch has just been serviced and is and excellent timekeeper as designed.

This Hamilton Grade 996 is faced with a Double Sunk Railroad Dial in excellent condition. These fine dials are made using 3 copper plates soldered together then baked with many layers of Silica giving the dial that deep rich Porcelain finish. The Hamilton Double Sunk Dial has the recessed center chapter with the Hamilton logo in the desired antique signed script. Then we have the raised outer chapter for the Hamilton stylized Arabic font numerals. Also on the raised around outer circumference we have each 5-minute maker highlighted in red Arabic numerals. Then we have a recessed sub chapter for the second hand. Truly the classic Hamilton Railroad Dial both beautiful and the height of functionality. This fine dial is highlighted with the original beautiful Blued Steel Spade/Whip Railroad Hands. This fine Hamilton Pocket Watch shows beautifully and is sure to be appreciated for generations to come.

This is another excellent example of the of the late 19th early 20th Century ingenuity that made the American Pocket Watch a world wide standard for accuracy and beauty in timekeeping.

This Antique Hamilton Pocket Watch has just been cleaned, oiled and adjusted for accuracy and is warranted for one full year from the date of purchase.