DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hamilton, Grade 992B with rare gold case, 21J, 16S, heavy 14K gold OF original Hamilton Model 17 bar-over-crown case, "Hamilton Railway Special" marked Montgomery white enamel DS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, mono-metallic balance with Elinvar hairspring, striped pattern nickel damascene, s#C288539. Watch comes with a scarce mottled raspberry colored hard plastic flip-top Hamilton box. Gross weight of assembled watch 73.9 dwt (114.9 g). This Model 17 case in 14K gold version is rare as Hamilton's pricing of this style limited its sales to a small handful of wealthy customers. From the well-known Hamilton collection of Robert Bennett of Olivehurst, California.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, virtually mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, nearly pristine surfaces with very few minimal micro-fine scratches; dial with two very small nicks to upper rim of seconds-register with one having associated very small surrounding hls, very small hl to inner rim of outer chapter near 2; excellent hands, hour and minute are black, seconds-hand is blue; case shows little wear, rear with some shallow ripples to its reflection over much of its surface possibly evidencing the polished removal of engraved initials, no dents or dings, we believe case serial numbers correctly match as case rear has s#P164739 and case band has two unambiguous handscratched Roman numerals of VII and III for the digits of 7 and 3 and has a third handscratched Roman digit of an "I" alongside an upside down "V" shape which we believe represents the 9, no serial number markings evident inside case bezel; tight bow, crown shows very little wear; clean plastic crystal. Box exterior shows light wear, small chips to front and rear of upper lid adjacent the hinge area, foil Hamilton seal is present with some abrasions, blue inserts are present and seemingly glued or otherwise secured within box, upper lid liner is present; watch slides quite tightly in and out of box likely due to its relatively thick plastic crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$1600
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$2400
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