19-jewel Ball Hamilton 999 w/ Rare Hairspring Mount

Just seven American companies made watches that were supposed to have complied with the new standards put forth by the upstart Ball Watch Company - the Aurora, Elgin, Hamilton, Hampden, Illinois, Seth Thomas, and Waltham factories. Hampden and Seth Thomas made only a handful, and Aurora's didn't even meet the required jeweling count, leaving only four outfits that made railroad-approved watches in any kind of quantity. Hamilton made the most Ball watches and the only factory to make them in both 16 and 18-size. Their 18-size 999 came in several grades and jewel counts, one of which was the 19-jewel model, the least-common variant. It's been fully restored for the next owner with all of its plate jewels still intact, even retaining its original dust band, and it's equipped with a rare Higginbotham-style hairspring stud mount that I've never seen before; Hamilton typically used its patented two-screw mount plate for the stud. It fronts a flawless ORRS dial behind matching blued hands, and it's housed in a new Brick Red replacement display case, made right here at American Timekeeper. The case is made of anodized aluminum and 360 brass, and the glass crystals on both threaded covers makes it easy to show off this exceptional survivor from the early 1900s. A matching lanyard with carabiner and display stand are always included with newly-cased watches.