(Updated 8/19/11)

I have been collecting Hamilton watches for over 27 years now, and have been dealing in them professionally for 25 years. Over those many years I have continually upgraded my personal collection. I have bought and sold thousands of watches and have always kept the very best examples for myself. Consequently every watch in my personal collection is the finest of its kind I have ever handled.

My collection has now reached a point where it has simply become too large. In order to refine my collection I will be selling some of my finest pieces over the coming months, as well as some of my more common ones. Please check this page periodically, my plan is to list a few new offerings from time to time.

Also, if you have any specific wants, feel free to ask. I may be open to discussion on certain items.

VANTAGE - 18K ROSE GOLD - MODEL 502. They simply don't get any rarer than this! Made exclusively for export to South America, it seems very odd indeed that Hamilton would choose a design ordinarily made in gold-fill. All other 18K rose gold Electrics were based on 14K yellow designs: Ventura, Spectra, Van Horn, and Polaris. To date, only two 18K rose gold Vantages have surfaced. The other has an engraved back and shows some use; this example is so pristine it borders on new-old-stock -- even the original brushing on the case back is intact.

The movement is a "502" -- a Model 505 in which Hamilton recycled some of the model nameplates that had been made prior to the decision to designate this movement as 505. The few watches assembled with "Hamilton 502" plates were dumped in (tiny) export market, making even the movement a singular rarity.

Absolutely mint and a watch of stunning rarity and uniqueness, much rarer than the superlative 18K rose gold Ventura. Exceptional in every way. $12,500.

• "HOWARD" Grade H980. Hamilton bought the rights to the highly-regarded Howard Watch Company brand in 1931, at the height of the Depression. Presumably they intended to continue the brand, as they did with the Illinois Watch Company, which Hamilton had bought in 1928. The failure of Illinois in the market led to the closure of the company in 1933, and Hamilton did not pursue the Howard brand. however in the 1940s Hamilton made a small quantity of watches under the Howard name, in order to keep the trademark alive. A Hamilton report in 1957 indicated only 637 were made, other sources suggest 1,021 may have been produced. In any event, they remain exceptionally rare today.
  
  The movement used was the typical Hamilton 980, but with special and very elaborate damaskeening (see below) and marked with "Howard Watch Co., Lancaster PA." and "H980" as the grade number. This particular example bears the serial number "HW078", the lowest I have seen in 27 years of collecting.
  
  It is also one of only two I have seen complete with original box, both inner and outer. The box is even rarer that the watch, by a substantial margin! The condition is absolutely mint, virtually new-old-stock. The case shows absolutely no wear, the original dial is perfect, and the box is still superb.It is fitted with a new-old-stock Hamilton pigskin strap. A horological masterpiece. $3,500.

• AUTOMATIC K-300 - 10K gold. Starting in 1945 Hamilton awarded gold watches to all employees upon 15 years of service to the company. These were all specially photo-engraved with "TO A CRAFTSMAN, THE PRODUCT OF HIS CRAFT." One really has to wonder what Mr. Albright, who received this watch in 1955, thought about the fact that his watch contains a Swiss-made automatic movement -- most definitely not the product of his craft! Employees were deeply concerned about their jobs at the time, as Hamilton steadily increased its imports of Swiss movements. Ultimately, all US production would end in 1969, putting many Hamilton watchmakers out of work. It is also curious that it is a 10K gold watch, not 14K as found on most Hamilton employee awards. It is a very unusual and rare piece of Hamilton history, as well as an exceptionally attractive watch. PRICE REDUCED: $795.

• ARMSTRONG AWARD WATCH - 10K SOLID GOLD. This is one of a small series of Electrics which Hamilton never offered for public sale. They were only marketed through Hamilton's "Presentation Sales" division, for use as corporate awards. Hamilton produced very few 10K solid gold watches, and no 10K Electrics were marketed to the public. Armstrong was a logical buyer of Hamilton watches as awards since they were headquartered in the same city, Lancaster, PA. This special watch with logo dial and factory photo-etched 1964 dedication are near-mint. Fully overhauled and guaranteed $595.

The watches below are all works of horological art: brand-new, never worn, just as they left the Hamilton factory 45-50 years ago. For decades I have made it my collecting focus to seek out these pristine, flawless watches. They are literally time capsules, exactly as a customer would have found them in a jewelry store in the 1960s. For a watch collector this is as close to time travel as you could hope for.

Although these are all new and unused the old lubricants in the movements have long ago dried out. I have not overhauled these watches because I see no point in doing so. It would be a shame to wear these watches as that would immediately destroy their historic perfection. These are best preserved as the fantastic rarities they are. New-old-stock watches are excessively rare compared to their well-worn brethren and should be prized as works of art. These watches are expensive, but well worth the premium over ordinary examples.

• RR51 - New-Old-Stock in Box. Officially approved for railroad use, the RR50, RR51, and RR52 are all very popular today. Finding a brand-new example, never worn, is quite a rare event! Notice the special box with "Railroad Approved" printed in the lid, and the unique advertising stand-up. This watch is complete with original metal band and even the original price tag on the case back. It lacks the outer cardboard box, however. A masterpiece from the tail end of Hamilton's railroad era. $1,250.