HAMILTON WATCHES PAGE 2
Around 1885, the Chicago Watch Case Co. Moved to Brooklyn, NY, where it was reorganized and renamed the Crescent Watch Case Co. All production was sold through the Waltham Co. Agents, Robbins & Appleton. In 1904 the Crescent Watch Case Co. Was merged with the Philadelphia Watch Case Co., Bates and Bacon, and the Keystone Watch Case Co. Waltham watch serial numbers. Waltham watches are highly collectible and are perhaps one of the easiest timepieces to date due to their serial numbers. Every Waltham watch produced since 1852 was engraved with a serial number. Determining the date of your Waltham pocket watch involves opening the back cover. Note that we're using the serial number from the watch movement, not from the watch case. Looking at the table of Waltham serial numbers (see example below), you can see that number 20,900,000 was made in 1917 and 21,800,000 was made in 1918 (marked in red in the table below). The Star Watch Case Company was a company in Ludington, Michigan, that operated from approximately 1905 to 1982. It designed and manufactured watch cases. The company would receive the internal watch mechanism from other factories and did the final assembly. The final product was made ready for the customer and then could be sold.
The American Jewelry Company
Leadville, Colorado
A Personalized Hamilton 940
The history of Leadville, Colorado is filled with tremendous color and excitement. The famous Tabor Opera House attracted a multitude of prominent visitors and entertainers of the day. People such as Susan B. Anthony, John Phillip Souza, Harry Houdini and many others were often seen around town. Doc Holliday shot his last man in Leadville after leaving Arizona. Silver was king...fortunes were made and lost. This Hamilton 940 embodies the true history of Leadville, Colorado.
This is really the most incredible Hamilton 940 we have ever had. All screws and all attachments are gold plated. The lettering is beautifully gold inlaid. The damaskeening is wonderful. The movement is mint. The movement contains 21 jewels and is fully adjusted. This watch is loaded with history. The American Jewelry Company was located in Leadville, not far from where Doc Holliday shot his last man. The store was very attractive just like this watch.
The case is great. Not only is it made of silver, but the back of the case has the image of a minor with his shovel. This image is made of gold. It is worn, but you can still see the beautiful hand engraving. The sterling silver case weighs about 4 ounces and was made by the Crescent Watch Case Company. The serial number of this watch is 254603 and was produced in 1906. The dial is double sunk and has only minor damage by the setting lever and some minor chips at the center, hidden by the hands. The swing out case has its original extra thick glass crystal.
Over the years, we have had other Hamilton watches that have been marked 'Special For Mine Service', but this is the first one that is so directly related to such a famous area of the country. A very rare and special historically significant pocket watch.
Crescent Watch Case Co Serial Numbers 04335
Here are two nice old views of Leadville
Click on them to enlarge
Hamilton 992B With Gold Center Wheel
The Hamilton 992B is probably one of the best work watches ever made for use on the railroad. The U. S. Government also used many 992B's for military applications. These can still be found and are marked on the plates U. S. Govt. Most 992B's come with the standard dial that is marked Railway Special. These dials were made both out of porcelain and also melamine. The melamine dials were produced later and are often found with age cracks and flakes. They did not hold up very well.
The following pictures are of my favorite Hamilton 992B. The best thing about this watch is that it has a solid gold center wheel. Most 992B's came with the typical brass center wheel. Also this watch has a very good looking porcelain dial that is very simple and only marked with the Hamilton name. This dial is in perfect condition and does not have any hairline fractures or chips. The seconds bit or chapter is extra large. This dial is single sunk.
Case Construction Equipment
Epson l355 install navi mac. The movement serial number is C71423. The case is yellow gold filled and is marked 10kt. The serial number of the case is K032470. The case is a Hamilton model 11. The watch was manufactured in either 1942 or 1943.
The opportunity to own a fine Hamilton 992B is very good. There were many produced and it is still possible to find them in near perfect condition at very reasonable prices. When interested in buying one, always look for original watches. Avoid the melamine dials unless they are in near perfect condition. Try to buy them with good original cases that are free of brass and wear or dents. Glass watch crystals are a must with these watches and will really enhance the appearance of the pocket watch. These are great watches and will still provide many years of accurate reliable service.
Instructions for using our serial number look-up tables
This page contains INSTRUCTIONS for using the serial number look-up tables that are found on many of our watch company history pages. The example below uses information from the American Waltham Watch Company, but that is just an example. You should consult the serial number table for the specific brand of watch movement you are trying to date by selecting a company from the menu on the left.
Not all vintage watches can be dated using the serial number. Some American watch brands did not use a consistent series of serial numbers, but most of the big manufacturers did. Most vintage Swiss pocket watches did NOT have serial numbers and can't be dated by this method.
Can't find YOUR exact serial number in our lookup tables?
Many watch companies made hundreds of thousands of watches, and some companies made millions of watches! It would be impractical to list the individual serial numbers of EVERY watch made.. that would make some really long pages! Our serial number tables list RANGES of serial numbers. So to determine when your watch was manufactured, you will need to find where your serial number fits within the range of numbers.
Serial number look-up example:
Let's say you have a Waltham watch with serial number 21,607,210 as shown in the photo below. Note that we're using the serial number from the watch movement, not from the watch case. Looking at the table of Waltham serial numbers (see example below), you can see that number 20,900,000 was made in 1917 and 21,800,000 was made in 1918 (marked in red in the table below). Since your serial number falls between those two numbers, you know that your watch was made in 1917 or 1918.
Not sure which serial number to use?
You must use the serial number from the MOVEMENT of the watch.. the working part with the wheels and gears.. not the serial number from the watch case. Cases and watches were often made by different companies and each usually has its own serial number. You usually have to take the back off the watch case to see the movement serial number which may appear anywhere on the watch movement.
Use the movement serial number. Do NOT use the case serial number!
This is an example only. Your movement serial number may not be in exactly the same location as the one in the photo, but you are looking for the serial number that is on the watch mechanism itself.. not the serial number on the external case.
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1852 | 50 |
| 1853 | 400 |
| 1854 | 1000 |
| 1855 | 2500 |
| 1856 | 4000 |
| 1857 | 6000 |
| 1858 | 10,000 |
| 1859 | 15,000 |
| 1860 | 20,000 |
| 1861 | 30,000 |
| 1862 | 45,000 |
| 1863 | 65,000 |
| 1864 | 110,000 |
| 1865 | 180,000 |
| 1866 | 260,000 |
| 1867 | 330,000 |
| 1868 | 410,000 |
| 1869 | 460,000 |
| 1870 | 500,000 |
| 1871 | 540,000 |
| 1872 | 590,000 |
| 1873 | 680,000 |
| 1874 | 730,000 |
| 1875 | 810,000 |
| 1876 | 910,000 |
| 1877 | 1,000,000 |
| 1878 | 1,150,000 |
| 1879 | 1,350,000 |
| 1880 | 1,500,000 |
| 1881 | 1,670,000 |
| 1882 | 1,835,000 |
| 1883 | 2,000,000 |
| 1884 | 2,350,000 |
| 1885 | 2,650,000 |
| 1886 | 3,000,000 |
| 1887 | 3,400,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 3,800,000 |
| 1889 | 4,200,000 |
| 1890 | 4,700,000 |
| 1891 | 5,200,000 |
| 1892 | 5,800,000 |
| 1893 | 6,300,000 |
| 1894 | 6,700,000 |
| 1895 | 7,100,000 |
| 1896 | 7,450,000 |
| 1897 | 8,100,000 |
| 1898 | 8,400,000 |
| 1899 | 9,000,000 |
| 1900 | 9,500,000 |
| 1901 | 10,200,000 |
| 1902 | 11,100,000 |
| 1903 | 12,100,000 |
| 1904 | 13,500,000 |
| 1905 | 14,300,000 |
| 1906 | 14,700,000 |
| 1907 | 15,500,000 |
| 1908 | 16,400,000 |
| 1909 | 17,600,000 |
| 1910 | 17,900,000 |
| 1911 | 18,100,000 |
| 1912 | 18,200,000 |
| 1913 | 18,900,000 |
| 1914 | 19,500,000 |
| 1915 | 20,000,000 |
| 1916 | 20,500,000 |
| 1917 | 20,900,000 |
| 1918 | 21,800,000 |
| 1919 | 22,500,000 |
| 1920 | 23,400,000 |
| 1921 | 23,900,000 |
| 1922 | 24,100,000 |
| 1923 | 24,300,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1924 | 24,550,000 |
| 1925 | 24,800,000 |
| 1926 | 25,200,000 |
| 1927 | 26,100,000 |
| 1928 | 26,400,000 |
| 1929 | 26,900,000 |
| 1930 | 27,100,000 |
| 1931 | 27,300,000 |
| 1932 | 27,550,000 |
| 1933 | 27,750,000 |
| 1934 | 28,100,000 |
| 1935 | 28,600,000 |
| 1936 | 29,100,000 |
| 1937 | 29,400,000 |
| 1938 | 29,750,000 |
| 1939 | 30,050,000 |
| 1940 | 30,250,000 |
| 1941 | 30,750,000 |
| 1942 | 31,050,000 |
| 1943 | 31,400,000 |
| 1944 | 31,700,000 |
| 1945 | 32,100,000 |
| 1946 | 32,350,000 |
| 1947 | 32,750,000 |
| 1948 | 33,100,000 |
| 1949 | 33,500,000 |
| 1950 | 33,560,000 |
| 1951 | 33,600,000 |
| 1952 | 33,700,000 |
| 1953 | 33,800,000 |
| 1954 | 34,100,000 |
| 1955 | 34,450,000 |
| 1956 | 34,700,000 |
| 1957 | 35,000,000 |
| - | - |
| - | - |
This is an example using the Waltham serial number table. Be sure to use the table that is specific
to YOUR brand of watch when looking up your serial number.
Crescent Watch Case Company
Be sure to use the serial number on the watch movement (the mechanism).
Do not use the serial number from the watch case.