I'm looking for more information on a pocket watch/chronograph I inherited from my grandfather. It's a Hamilton model 23. He was a Navy dive bomber pilot during WWII in the Pacific. From the research I've done this was likely used in a sextant or octant for navigation during his flights. The crystal has broken some time in the past but the watch and chronograph both seem to function just fine when wound and keep remarkably good time. I would like to get a new glass for this piece, as far as I can tell it's a 43.4 MM but beyond that I'm not sure. I found this item on eBay but I'm unsure if it will fit: eBay ad

There was also this odd red plastic lens in the box with the watch, does anyone know what that could have been for? Was it the front glass that somehow shrivelled and discolored over the last 70+ years? Finally, since the glass has been off for some time the watch face shows some wear and tarnish. Would it be advisable to bring it to a watchmaker for a cleaning? Or should I leave the "patina" as-is? There is a very competent watch repair shop in the area that should be more than capable of working on this piece. I have included some photos below. The markings on the back read as follows:

AN 5742-1
FSSC 88-W-590
MFR'S PART NO. 37297
SERIAL NO. H-19517
CONTRACT NO. NOa(s)-3242
HAMILTON WATCH CO.

[Movement number: P22480]

Todd, here are the results of a search for Hamilton Model 23 here on IHC which should give you plenty of info.

Regarding the crystal, you could order one and hope it fits but a better way to go is to buy one from our resident
crystal manufacturing professional William White, info@whitescrystals.com

You could order from William what you think is the proper size (Hopefully someone here will know the proper size crystal for that case) then if it doesn't fit you have to send it back and get another so then you are into it for 3 shipping costs and still no assurance it will fit.

Alternatively you could send him the bezel and he will properly fit a beautiful crystal (snap fit, not glued in) that he has made himself, there is an installation fee.

Perhaps someone with more experience on those dials will chime in but don't start cleaning it until you know what you are up against.

As far as cleaning the watch movement itself, yes, especially since it is a family piece I would have it professionally COA'd (Clean, Oil, Adjust)

Whenever posting a watch please provide the serial number from the movement so it can always be found using the search function.

You can edit it into your first post by clicking on the little yellow eraser icon bottom right of the post.

Here is a screen shot of the search function, upper left of the page.

Just click on Find-Or-Search, type in what you are looking for then click GO.

By the way, welcome to the forum, that is a nice watch!

Lorne,

Thanks for all the great info. The only serial # I found was the one on the back cover, which I included in my text transcription of the back cover in my first post. Is there another serial I should be looking for?

And no, I wouldn't think of trying to clean/adjust it myself, I'd leave that to a pro. I just wasn't sure if having it cleaned/polished would decrease its value (not that I plan to sell it).

Thanks for the lead on William, I may look into that.

Todd, if you look at your second picture, that is the serial number to the movement on your watch.

It looks like the number is #P22480. I really cannot make out the 4 but the rest of the numbers I can.

Nice watch!

Regards,
Larry

Larry,

I must be blind, I didn't even see those numbers down there. You were spot on P22480. I'll update my first post.

Edit: Well it wouldn't let me edit my first post (but I could edit this one). I know some forums have timeouts for editing, maybe that's why? But either way the serial # is in the thread now which should help for searching.

Thanks,
Todd

Todd:
If you want a COA & a new crystal installed you may want to contact one of our members Rob Carter at pocketwatchrepairs.net or call him at 423-378-4607. He has cleaned & repaired my watches for several tears.

Todd:
Bad typo error. I should have said Rob has repaired my watches for several YEARS not tears.
Old people do not see or type very well.

Donald,

Thanks for the pointer, seems like there are a lot of great resources out there. I think I'll probably swing by the local shop first, I always find it easiest to deal locally if possible. But nice to know there are many options.

PS: I didn't even notice the tear/year typo until you pointed it out

Welcome Todd
How do you get 4 pics in one post?
Beautiful watch, I think they go for $ 600-800
Mike

quote:

PS: I didn't even notice the tear/year typo until you pointed it out

Ha ha, I noticed it right away, most appropriate typo ever for this forum.

Todd, get an estimate first, find out what he will be doing for the stated amount then if you want to, run it by the forum.

Also, many jewellery stores will say they work on pocket watches yet the vast majority don't. They just take it to someone who does and charge a middleman fee.

The watch P22480 was made and shipped out 4/20/1945. There were a TOTAL PRODUCTION of 25,291 of the Model 23's made.

During World War II, Hamilton stepped-up production of several models of chronometer to meet the US Armed Forces, mostly the U.S. Navy needed an extremely accurate timepiece which could be used for navigation at sea. Prior to WWII, such highly accurate instruments were only produced abroad. The very first Hamilton chronometers were delivered to the US Navy in February 1942. The Model 23 Military Chronograph was widely used during WWII as a navigational time and stop watch. Based on the new and reliable 992B with Elinvar hairspring and mono-metallic balance, the Mod 23 added a chronograph mechanism, making it one of the most complicated watches produced by Hamilton.

I see you are a "registered guest" on our site, for $12 a year you will have access to all of our Forums and may participate in our Buy/Sell Forums which are only available to our members.

regards,
bb

Debbie, I am confused, are Todd's images hosted off-site?

I just assumed he was using something like Picassa which enabled him to create a collage yet host them here.

Disregarding the hosting it seems a pretty efficient way to display his watch.

Todd, if you are still around, I ran across this by accident:Need Crystal for Hamilton Model 23

Wow, lots of activity here even in my short absence!

re: the images, yes they are hosted off-site, in my basement in fact! I work in the IT field and host a couple personal sites from my house, so I'm set up to do this kind of thing. Most people would need to use an imagebucket or flickr type service. I generally try to avoid using forums to host pictures as they are generally restricted to forum members. So someone who stumbles upon a thread would need to register to see all the content of a thread, a little extra hassle. And since I own the domain/servers that host the pictures I can guarantee they'll always be available and won't turn into a broken link in the future. But again, my situation is a little unique.

Back to the watch... bb, thanks for all the great info, very interesting to get some history on this piece.

Lorne, sounds like good advice on getting an estimate and a firm idea of the work that will be performed. I've heard of situations like what you describe, where a jeweler just mails the piece out to be serviced. I'm pretty sure that's not the case with this particular vendor, but I'll make sure. Any idea roughly what it should cost to get an item like this adjusted, cleaned up and glass replaced?

Also, I tried clicking on your link but it said I needed to be a member, presumably what bb was referring to. I would consider joining but I honestly don't have any involvement in timepieces other than this one, which is more sentimental attachment.

Well if you are in need of a new addiction this is a good one.

Based just on my local experience a "dip-n-wish" cleaning will run $50 to $100 but truthfully if you are not going to run the watch it need not be cleaned.

Williams prices may have changed but earlier this year he had a special, $12 for the crystal or $29 installed including return shipping of bezel and case.

The thread I linked was about one of our members looking for the same crystal you need and I am assuming the cases are identical.

The following text and accompanying photo was from William White:

--------------------------------------

If Mike doesn't have one, let me know. I am making glass crystals for these watches.

William

Hello Todd,

I do make these and the price is $12 individually (+$3 Ship) and $24 installed (+$5 Ship). These are identical to the glass mi-emp crystals found in the M23 field repair kits. A regular convex crystal will not work well for these watches since the tip of the center chrono hand needs the extra clearance.

William

William,

Thanks for chiming in, that price sounds more than fair and I'd much rather give the business to a member of this forum than a random eBay seller. Just knowing that it will fit is a great advantage. I'm fairly handy so would like to go the route of self-installation. I'll email you shortly to work out the details.

Thanks again everyone, you all have been amazingly helpful, I'm glad I stumbled across this great resource!

Todd

I would encourage you to send the bezel to William and let him install the crystal for you. Bezel's are never perfectly round and I don't think I've ever found a perfectly round crystal either. Williams crystals are precisely made to snap in and don't require glue. It takes a good touch and experience to install one that is as closely fit as Williams are. JMHO.