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Production
Date: 1927 - 1928
Price When New: $87.00
Case: White and Green 14K Gold
Case Manufacturer: Fahys
Production for this Variation: There are 7 known examples
of the Oval Engraved "Two-tone"
Movement:
987 Series - 17-jewel Movement
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Comments:
The Oval is one of the rarest as well as one of the most desirable
models that Hamilton produced. It is a classic example of the
geometrically shaped watches that were commonly offered during the
mid to late 1920s by Elgin, Illinois and Waltham. However, unlike
other commonly shaped watches of the period, the Oval was unique in
style, shape and design and, subsequently, is distinctly "Hamilton."
Other geometrically shaped Hamiltons include the Cushion, Square,
Barrel, Tonneau and Rectangular.
This particular Oval is a "two-tone"
version - the bezel and case back are 14K white gold while the
center case is 14K green gold.
Two-tone Hamiltons are extremely rare
and Hamilton did not maintain production numbers for them. It is
believed that they were either "special orders" or were distributed
amongst several jewelers in extremely limited quantities. The
two-tone Oval Engraved pictured above is one of only four known
examples - one is in the Hansen Collection, and another
two-tone Oval Engraved resides in a prominent West Coast collection.
One other exists in private collection.
All known Hamilton
two-tone models, which include the Square Plain and
Engraved, the Barrel Plain and Engraved, the Oval Plain
and Engraved and the Barrel "B" Engraved were
manufactured by the Fahys Watch Case Company and all are
solid 14K gold.
This model was one of six
geometrically shaped wristwatches that were popular up
until the late 1920's. Hamilton's
"Geometric" offerings
spanned ten years - beginning in 1917 with the
0-sized Cushion and ending in 1927 with the Oval.
Included in the geometric models are the Cushion
(0-sized, Cushion Round and Cushion Form Opening), the
Square, Barrel, Tonneau, Rectangular, and Oval.
