I have a Hamilton 974L with a 4 footed DS dial. The watch is in very good condition. All my other 974's have a SS dial. It is my understanding that the 974 could have come with a DS dial. Am I correct. If not I can take the DS dial and use it on a number of different 16s Hamilton's I have that could use a better dial. I do not want to do this though if this could be the original dial.

Thanks,
Harry

Harry your DS dial is just as correct as a single sunk. Remember the buyer decided what case and dial was desired and the watch may have had a ss dial but the buyer wanted ds and that was a common switch. Look at all the Ohara type dials out there. Is that type of dial original to the watch? It is if that is what the buyer wanted!

Harry,

The Hamilton 974 was always advertised as coming equipped with a Single-Sunk dial but as Deacon pointed out the retail jeweler could have ordered something better for their customer. All that being said, with the scarcity of nice condition Double-Sunk four-footed Hamilton dials I would probably use that valuable dial on a higher grade movement that demands a four-foot dial and find a Single-Sunk four-foot dial for the 974 movement.

Don

Thank you Richard and Don. That was my understanding Deacon on the watch. Don does make a very good point though that the dial would be better served on a higher quality movement that did come with a DS dial.

Thank both of you very much,
Harry

According to Halligan's records, single sunk dials were normally fitted to the 974 but double sunk could be specified for an additional charge of $1.00. The double sunk was the standard one with the gilt trimmed version of the 974. That combination was $2.00 more that the standard version.

Thank you Robert. Now I wonder if I could trade my SS dials in for DS dials? I would be happy to pay the $1 charge to upgrade.