Men’s 1919 Hamilton Rare Trench Watch w/Shrapnel Guard

As hard as it is to believe, there was no men's wristwatch market prior to WWI. Wristwatches, or "wristlets" were primarily ladies novelties — small altered pocket watches worn on ribbon straps around the wrist or hooked to bracelet chains. While men's wristwatches were produced in very limited numbers for certain military applications as early as the turn of the century, men of the day considered these pieces to be effeminate and undesirable. World War I changed these views, as intensified warfare made fishing around in one's pocket for a watch a bit too time-consuming. Rumor has it that a German infantry officer took out his pocket watch, tied it to his wrist with a handkerchief, and thus the men's military wristlet was born — not of fashion but of sheer necessity. While America was the leader in the world's watch production until well beyond WWII, some American companies, such as Hamilton and South Bend, didn't see the wisdom in chasing such a foolhardy fad during the early part of the 20th century.

While Hamilton Watch Company is known for its innovation and forward-thinking, it was late entering the wristwatch market. Hamilton executives believed wristwatches were a passing fancy that could not unseat the venerable pocket watch. Consequently, during WWI while Hamilton was content producing produced pocket and deck watches, Elgin and Waltham gained a crucial foothold in the fledgling wristwatch market.

Eventually Hamilton saw the error of their ways. Among their first efforts were a handful of 983 "0" sized movements, featuring enamel dials with box-car numerals fitted in either "Fahys" cases or contract cases for the British or European market.

This rare early 1919 17 jeweled "983" movement in a sterling silver Fahys case is one such example. In very good overall condition, it is quite an exceptional bit of history; a brilliant piece featuring its original "Hamilton" marked dial and stained-glass hands, fitted in a wire-lug sterling silver 42mm lug-to-lug by 36mm shrapnel-guard case. This timepiece is a fine example of the birth of the Hamilton wristwatch. These movements would be marketed as the first official domestic Hamilton wristwatch.

Grossly undervalued, these early examples look stunning and are as appealing aesthetically as they are historically. We are proud to offer several variations of the early trench watch and remain committed to being one of the world’s leading dealers in early vintage timepieces.

Please take a moment to regard our correctly re-created black cordovan strap with matching sterling buckle. We faithfully render these in our own shop of the world’s finest leather, matched with a rendering of a period sterling buckle. Only available from Strickland Vintage Watches and only on one of our timepieces, these straps are the perfect way to wear an early wire-lug work of wrist art!