Is this combination correct?

July 17, 2011, 10:45

Greg Campbell

Hamilton 992 #2368179 with a Keystone JBoss 14K Gold Filled WG case #7802661. This is one of mine so feel free to give your opinion.

July 17, 2011, 10:45

Greg Campbell

July 17, 2011, 10:46

Greg Campbell

July 17, 2011, 10:46

Greg Campbell

July 17, 2011, 10:46

Greg Campbell

Lastly #5

July 17, 2011, 12:54

Claude Griffith

I think the case is ok but I tend to think the hands are a bit too bold for this year movement. I think this year of movement would have more of the normal middle type spade hands.

July 18, 2011, 07:04

Greg Campbell

Thanks Claude I'll look more in to that.

July 18, 2011, 09:31

Mike Hodge

Nice watch Greg. I know they were factory casing some of the 992s by 1929 but I don't believe all were until later. That combination you have is very nice in my opinion.

July 18, 2011, 15:27

Greg Campbell

thank you Mike.

July 18, 2011, 16:25

Lindell V. Riddle

Hi Greg,

Your Hamilton 992 number 2368179 is according to the authoritative Gelson List from 1926 production. As was pointed out by Mike Hodge above, all through the 1920s the 992 was available to retailers as a movement, hands and dial only. For that reason your movement could have been either factory cased, which collectors prefer, or cased and timed by the retail jeweler using the buyer's choice of cases available at time of sale. Since this is a 1920s style of case and in the absence of other case-screw marks it could conceivably be the original case to this movement.

By the way, I especially like these early 1920s movements with their proud "Made In U. S. A." markings, that is something we see all too infrequently these days.

Both the hours and minutes hands on your watch were used as early as 1924 and by 1926 that style of seconds hand would also be correct. If those three hands are blued and the center on the minutes hand is polished steel, you have an acceptable set of hands. I agree with the substance of what Claude was saying inasmuch as those hands are bolder than we expect to find with that particular dial.

Speaking of the dial, that Hamilton "script-signature" dial was phased-out beginning in 1918 so the dial as shown pre-dates this movement by about eight years and your dial would be best used on an earlier pre-1920s movement. The good news is a correct dial for your movement should be fairly easy to find.

Hope this helps,

Lindell

July 18, 2011, 19:57

Theodore J. Brown Sr.

Hello Greg, that is a really sharp looking watch, I like it!The only thing I can see wrong is the center wheel has been changed, should be a gold round arm wheel.One of my 2 992's Had a bad center wheel, due to mainspring breakage, maybe the same thing happened to yours at one time.Like Lindell said, It is nice to see "Made in USA" again!Best regards, Ted.

July 19, 2011, 06:34

Greg Campbell

Thanks to both Lin and Ted. Guess I have a couple of things to look for on this watch.