January 16, 2010, 16:48
Gregory S. HallHamlton 943--just how scarce are these?
I am a big fan of Illinois & Hamlton pocketwatches. Although I have focused on 16s watches I have also collected some 18s Ball & Hamlton watches. One of my long term collecting goals was to have a fully marked example of a 946, 940, 941, 942 and 943. I have the 940 and 941, a 946 that is not fully marked and a 942 that is unmarked. In all my searches on ebay, the internet and marts I have yet to encounter any 943 much less a fully marked example for sale. Until a little over a year ago I had never even seen a photo of any 943 movement, then one day a colleague and I were talking and I mentioned that I collected pocketwatches. He told he had inherited a nice large Hamilton pocketwatch in a solid gold case from his grandfather and asked if I would be willing to look at it for him to tell him what it might be worth. 
You betcha I would. SO a few days later he brings his watch to work to show it to me. He had mentioned that he thought it was a 23 jewel watch. So here it is, a beautiful old watch, yep in a nice solid gold case--a hunter case (so I'm thinking well this is no 946 and by now I'm thinking it is probably a 941). I open the hinged case back and what do I find, a fully marked 943--the only 943 I have ever seen much less had the privilege of holding. Needless to say I was excited and though technically it is valued less than a 946 or certainly less than a rare 947, but it is still to my way of thinking a very scarce watch. I have had this same feeling about the 991--both are listed as 1 star rarities in the Shugart guide, but jeeze you just don't see them, ever!! From my perception they should be 2 star watches and should probably be valued more--any ideas or input welcome.And no I didn't try to buy it off my colleague as it is a family piece--I did tell him that if he ever did desire to sell it to give me a call first, but that if I were him I would hang on to it and take good care of it because it is a really scarce watch.
