Hamilton Fedora Style Steel case 1969

In 1900 more than 55 percent of America’s engine-drivers and other railroad workers for whom punctuality was a must used Hamilton pocket watches.

The Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster Pennsylvania was Americas biggest watch producer this Century.

Innovative from the outset their Art Deco designs wrist watch designs built with their reputation of accuracy stunned the world in the 20’s & 30’s. They supplied the US ARMY from 1943, they designed the Ventura in the 50’s (the first electric watch with General Electric).

In the 60’s they were involved with Breitling, Heuer and Buren on the micro-rotor auto chronograph of which this is a 1969 cal.11 version.

In the 70’s they developed the Pulsar watch which told the time with ‘LED’ featuring on the wrist of Roger Moore in ‘Live and Let Die’. They have recently started production again after falling foul of the Quartz Revolution 25 years ago I bought my wife a quartz Ventura and the quality now as then is very good.

Hamilton Pan Europ 703 – Chronomatic cal.11 1969 auto Chronograph

This watch is incredible and one of the most eye-catching I have ever seen. This is a total classic Hamilton, ultra cool detailing with just a great deal of quality finish for your money.

Let’s start with the provenance – This is a cal.11 from the original range that came from the micro-rotor chronograph development race with Zenith in ’69. It doesn’t have a ‘seconds’ hand as the left hand register is the 12 hour counter, on the right is a 30 minute elapsed time register so this is a true chronograph. Date at 6pm in the small portal’ window which is set like all of these calibers by winding forward from 9pm through 12am and back again.

The case is awesome, it looks like a Fedora with brushed sides and polished edges, This is the original case finish and has not been touched by me only to have it cleaned. There are a few marks were the original bracelet met the case but apart from that it is perfect. (By the way I have never seen this watch with its original bracelet so like the rest of these big watches it obviously wasn’t strong enough). The case really is beautiful and all the eccentric design is matched with the octagonal pushers aka Heuer.

Hamilton PanEurope 703 Chronomatic

The dial is sooooooo cool!

Outside edges is a bevel with black out of grey Tachometre leading down to the
main area which is a very deep blue, the finish is scored so that you get a two tone effect that combined with the red fringing around the edge makes the dial seem ‘purple’ at some angles too! The hour markers are steel baton applied and the rings around the markers are violet with red and dark blue markers. Chronograph recording hands are red and the registers are beveled and circular engine turned.

The cal. 11 movement which is in pristine condition has been over hauled, serviced and is purring along, nice ‘touch’ on this movement is the ‘blued’ plate screws great quality. The bi directional anodized blue bezel is in great condition and is marked in 5 minute intervals and is set for 12 hour recording also…

Basically this is an incredibly detailed vintage chronograph from the 60’s in pristine condition and for those of you that like case backs it has a great engraving of a winged horse and the markings – Stainless steel – 100m/300ft