Hamilton W10 Soldiers Issued Watch, 1975

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

Hamilton Watch Company has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. The company was originally established as the Lancaster Watch Company in 1892. In 1893, it became the Hamilton Watch Company after it was purchased by a group of investors. Hamilton quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality pocket watches, which were highly sought after in the industry. During World War I, Hamilton played a crucial role by providing precision timepieces to the military. The company transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches during this period. In World War II, Hamilton became a primary supplier of timepieces to the U.S. military, producing the iconic Hamilton Marine Chronometer and various military watches. What’s on Offer Here we have this highly collectible, vintage Hamilton W10 soldiers-issued watch from 1975. The original matte black dial remains in excellent condition. The circled “T” below the Hamilton signature denotes the use of tritium luminous material, which, on the hands and hour markers, has aged to a light yellow patina with no visible degradation under UV light. Above the 6 o’clock position, there is also the broad arrow symbol, denoting British government property. The monocoque cushion case (referring to both its shape and structure which prevents access to the movement through the caseback) measures 35mm in stainless steel, and remains in excellent condition. It retains its original matte finish, with only light signs of wear consistent with its military service history. Attached to the elongated lugs are fixed lug bars, which were originally designed to prevent strap failure in combat. We’ve paired the watch with a brown Swedish leather strap, complementing its rustic aesthetic, but are happy to swap this on request. The case back is engraved with the military issue number “W10-6645-99 523-8290", together with the broad arrow symbol. The “6657/75” engraving denotes the serial number and year of issue. The watch is powered by the calibre 649, ETA 2759 based movement, related to the manual-wind ETA 2750, but customised for the MoD with a hacking seconds mechanism. This means the seconds hand stops when the crown is pulled out, which during this watch’s active military service would’ve allowed soldiers to perfectly synchronise their watches. All in all, this watch is in excellent condition and would be a great addition to any collection.