
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Hamilton 'Fab Four', Military, 2 Register Chronograph, Royal Australian Navy, 1970
- Maker / attribution
- Hamilton (maker)
- Date
- 1970
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 39 mm
- Stock no.
- VWS3251
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (VWS3251)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Hamilton - 'Fab Four' - Military - 2 Register Chronograph - Rare Royal Australian Navy - 1970 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number VWS3251), this is a wristwatch by Hamilton, made in Switzerland, dated 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 39 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Superb Hamilton Fab Four, Royal Australian Navy Issued Chronograph in Original Condition with Military Markings and Attractive Lume, 1970 In the late 1960s and early 1970s military organisations across the world were looking for more commercially viable timepieces for their service men and women. The result of this was the creation of watches over a decade by four brands –Hamilton, CWC, Newmark and Precista - The Fab Four. Despite the change in specs, these watches followed the specifications of its predecessor, the Lemania Mono-pusher, and remained housed in the 39mm asymmetric stainless-steel case. Also, instead of one chronograph pusher, there are now two, and the well-made workhorse movement, the Valjoux 7733 now powers the watch. What's on Offer This rare Hamilton Chronograph is a very collectable piece in its original form but this is even rarer to find a Royal Australian Navy-issued version, and we are delighted to offer it for sale in such fine condition. The dial is still rich black and retains the original tritium lume on the hour pips, Arabic numerals, and chunky hands. The two counters are still sharp and the dial displays the military pheon, denoting it as the property of the MoD (in this case the Royal Australian Navy) and this is also present on the case back alongside recognised military engravings. This watch is in full working order and we are sure it will pique the interest of military and vintage enthusiasts alike given the dwindling numbers on the market - especially in this condition.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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