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    • Services
      • Buying
      • Cleaning
      • Appraisals
      • Restoration
      • Verge Fusees
      • Display Only
      • Modern Cases
    • Shop
      • The Store
      • Sold Archives
      • The Accessories
      • Parts and Projects
    • FAQs
    • Learn
      • Basics
      • Dials
      • Jewels
      • Pitfalls
      • Histories
      • Accuracy
      • Advanced
    • About
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Services
    • Buying
    • Cleaning
    • Appraisals
    • Restoration
    • Verge Fusees
    • Display Only
    • Modern Cases
  • Shop
    • The Store
    • Sold Archives
    • The Accessories
    • Parts and Projects
  • FAQs
  • Learn
    • Basics
    • Dials
    • Jewels
    • Pitfalls
    • Histories
    • Accuracy
    • Advanced
  • About
  • Contact

Sold!

All-original 16-size 21-jewel Hamilton 992

It's debatable whether or not Hamilton's iconic 992 is the single best railroad watch of the era, but it's certainly in the top five. Regardless of the argument, it became the factory's 16-size workhorse in 1903 and was eventually produced in four distinct variants. Don't miss out on a completely original example that survived the Great Depression intact.

Watch Description

The Hamilton Co was incorporated in 1892 from the remnants of the Adams & Perry, Lancaster, Keystone, and Aurora companies, named for the Scottish attorney who founded the Pennsylvania town of Lancaster, where the original factory was located. They had a single goal in mind - to produce the best railroad watches of the era, and they succeeded. Their flagship grade in their 16-size family was the 21-jewel 992, first introduced in 1903 in a pattern matching the 940, its 18-size counterpart. This fully restored example is a 2nd-model example with pinstripes, which debuted in 1914 and continued for some 20 years. It's an original combination with everything matching and correct, right down to its factory dust band. The bold Arabic dial is snow-white behind a correct set of blued spade hands and the gold-filled Wadsworth bar-over-crown Model 2 case in delicious condition with a marked crown, a tight bow, and a new beveled glass crystal. Matching lanyard and display stand included.

Watch Specs

Manufacturer - Hamilton Watch Co

Serial Number - 2425215

Watch Size - 16

Watch Model - 2nd

Watch Grade - 992

Jewel Count - 21

Winding/Setting - Stem/Lever

Production Year - 1927

Company History

Just What Restored Means

Restoring a watch doesn't mean to make it brand new again, which isn't possible. Nobody can remove the mileage, the scratches, and the history.


What it means is complete disassembly and cleaning, and to examine every component for defects under a 30x scope. It means making sure that every gear, every screw, every spring, everything under the dial is the correct part and operating within the tolerances set at the factory all those years ago. It means timing it in all positions as close to zero error as its escapement will allow. It means making sure the dial is the proper one for a given model and that it's cleaned well and repaired if necessary. It means that all the hands are the ones that are supposed to be there and not just any ones found in a jar. It means the case is immersed in a tank and the pendant cleaned separately, that the bow and crown are right for that brand, and a new crystal.


It means a mechanical work of art you can be proud of.

The Accessories

Leather Straps

Leather Straps

Leather Straps

Straps are an alternative to chains, which don't grind up the metal bows. Prevent drops with these supple straps, hand-braided from top-grain leather in your choice of colors.

Don't Drop It

Display Cases

Leather Straps

Leather Straps

Safely store or display your favorite pieces in a custom wooden cabinet, designed and built to your specifications in your choice of domestic species, finishes, hardware and lighting packages.

Show Them Off

Buy Back Policy

There will come a time when you want or need to sell this watch for one of several reasons. If it's going to a fellow collector or someone who will genuinely appreciate it, then that's fine. On the other hand, if you're consigning it to an auction house or selling it to your local jeweler or gold hog it will almost certainly end up on eBay in pieces with the case melted down.


Instead of the watch being parted out for the bottom feeders to pick over, we will gladly buy the watch back from you, less 10% and the cost of a COA, plus anything else needed to return the piece to the condition in which you originally bought it.

Contact Us

The Warranty

You're Covered

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Restoration Highlights

One of Illinois's rarest watches was the 23-jewel Washington Lafayette. Only 190 were ever made.

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