The presence of a signed crown will add another piece to the puzzle. The inside of the case back will typically be marked with the name “Hamilton” the exterior of some case backs are also marked (particularly with models after the mid-1960s). The case back can also provide insight into the manufacturer. The only exceptions to this are the related or subsidiary brands, like Illinois (discussed further on the “ About Hamilton” page).

Until the late 1960s, all Hamiltons are marked clearly on the dial with the word “Hamilton.” In the late 60s and thereafter, a few models reduced the brand mark to the Hamilton “H” logo, but the mark still always appeared on the dial. If that fails, identify and date the movement to narrow your search and try again to identify the case.

Second, attempt to identify the model by matching the case to known examples (or to identification resources).First, establish that the watch is, in fact a Hamilton.Identification of a watch is a process, typically done as follows: So, though the watches may look different at a glance, they are in fact just variations of the same model. Put that all together, and the result is that some models were available in numerous variations. Within each named model there were variations, typically in one (or more) of four areas: The existence of a consistent naming schema makes your job much easier, but by no means does all the work for you. While there’s no magical formula for quickly identifying Hamilton watches, identification is simplified significantly by the fact that Hamilton named their models and, for the most part, stuck to unique names. Hamilton watches are relatively easier to identify than the products of many other manufacturers.

Hamilton watch serial number lookup