At the Greater Los Angeles Regional last weekend, I came across this little gem... it is a Hamilton Glenn Curtiss in 18K gold made for Tiffany & Co... only 26 examples were produced in total.
Actually, I came across 2 of them at that show... but the second one was pried from my fingers and is now residing in a West Coast collection.
The watch is EXTRAORDINARY! What a tremendous rarity. It really doesn't get more interesting than this. Bryan has shared with us some remarkable Hamilton watches. Remember those Amazing Cadillac Meadowbrooks? They have fantastic engravings. This watch is even more special. As an aside, check out the photo. Look at the quality of the photo. Notice the positions of the hour, minute and second hands. 10:12 and 30 seconds. Perfect in every way. I'm a huge fan of Bryan Girouard, and greatly appreciate the education. This is fantastic.
Bill Hansen IHC# 198 Life Member# 17
Posts: 813 | Location: Cincinnati, Ohio USA | Registered: January 22, 2003
Thanks... I intended to shoot the photo with the hands at straight-up 10:12 like Hamilton used in its catalog illustrations, but the phone rang at the critical moment and spoiled the shot.
Any chance of sharing your photography techniques (especially the lighting position)? Many of us are unable to achieve your quality, and I for one, would love for my collection to look as nice as your website shots.
Posts: 113 | Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin USA | Registered: September 10, 2006
According to records this model, and a few others like the Capt.Rice, have "hand-made" cases - is there any more known on how these cases were made and about the case Co. which made them -- as they do seem of very fine quality.
dan
Posts: 423 | Location: West Walton, United Kingdom | Registered: November 16, 2005
The first batch of Glenn Curtiss cases was produced for Hamilton by Perrin Co., an evidently obscure watch case company. Later ones were made by Luttringer & Wittmer, which later produced a number of models for Hamilton in the 1930s and 1940s.
Hamitlon's records do indicate that these were handmade cases, although I don't know what was involved in their manufacture. I have records of Hamilton's cost to have the cases made, and the handmade cases cost siginficantly more than those cases not marked as handmade.
For example, the 14K Cambridge case (NOT noted as handmade) cost $19.00, while the 14K Glenn Curtiss case (handmade, [and with similar gold content as the Cambridge]) cost $30.00, and the 18K Glenn Curtiss case cost $34.00 and later $36.25.
As a side note, the handmade cases tend to be EXTREMELY tight-fitting. I've broken several crystals on my Byrd and Glenn Curtisses snapping the cases together.
Tom, regarding watch photography, I simply place two 40W or 60W soft white incandescent bulbs on either side of the watch, about 2 feet away. I shoot under a home-made light tent pieced together from several sheets of onion-skin paper. Camera is about 5 inches above the watch.
