FOUND Hamilton 992b Pocket Watch with Model 11 case and porcelain dial

Hello folks,

Thank you for this community and the space for this post.

I am looking for a correct Hamilton 992b in working condition (I'll get it serviced locally). I am completely captivated by the model 11 case, and prefer an early version, with shoulders - photo courtesy of the web, for illustration purposes. A flawless 24hr Canadian porcelain or Montgomery porcelain dial is a must please. I am located in Vancouver Canada.

Thank you for your time 👍



I don't buy a lot, but references here on OF include:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/davek-is-a-okay.122847/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/smooth-sale-with-davek.118449/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/great-doing-business-with-davek.115094/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1526754/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1526354/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1523244/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1519343/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1518441/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1526353/
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1507331/

Edited above post. Now seeking either a Montgomery or 24 hr Canadian dial, as per the pedantic details above

Found. Thank you to the forum for the space

Now, for the elusive 24-hour dial,version! When you find it, that will be one busy looking dial!

?

The only “tribute” Hamilton 992B pocket watches I have ever seen, had the ETA 6498 ((Unitas) movement in them.

I got it cheap because the seller said it needed a new battery 😝 Actually, neither of those things are true. Far from a reissue 😉, it’s actually from the first year of the 992bs That’s the seller’s pic, excessive photos to come once it arrives.

Seller also has a sweet 1st year 992e if you’re interested, batteries not included, anyone want details on that one before it goes on EBay ?

You didn’t jumping the 992E as well? As I sad in in an earlier post, don’t become so obsessed with your search for a grail watch that you wear “blinders”, and miss a nugget like the 992E!

It’s interesting. I collected stamps for a month when I was a kid. I haven’t collected anything since...until I found the enabler’s forum 😉. Right now I think I’m still in the phase of collecting eye candy, sparks of joy.

How to form a collection - collecting vs accumulating - is a different level of knowledge. I just have one foot in that door. But the 992e? Good point, damnit, well...

We’re waiting, 🍿

So, my Hamilton 992b Railway Special has arrived! It takes a village to raise a watch collection, so thank you to @Canuck @Fritz @Mad Dog for their guidance 👍



This is the first watch that I specifically hunted for, I pretty much just “happened upon” my other watches. But this one I researched and dug in deep. If you’ve done this type of research yourself, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, then trust me, you will be driven a little nuts...



...but you will have fun and learn SO MUCH, and will appreciate your watch much more deeply.

I’ve read that design and research for the 992b was started in 1931, and the "Railway Special" branding was registered as a trademark in December of 1939. The 992b finally shipped to market in November of 1940. Eventually over 525,000 ended up being made. This watch, with a serial number putting it into that first year of production, was amongst first few released 😎. Not only is it a low serial #, it is also one of the few early models with the small lettered serial numbers.



The 992b was sold in a number of different cases from Hamilton (though I understand that after WWII, Hamilton shipped movements to Canada to be cased locally), and I was searching particularly for a # 11 case. Why was I so obsessed with this particular case model? The design features stylize “speeding train wheels” around the bezel and back of the case. To me, this, on a railroader’s watch, is simply “mic drop” cool.



As you can read in the two letters below, the Keystone No. 11 case was the first used to introduce the new 992B movement to the marketplace. Apologies to those who originally sourced the historical documents that I have posted below, as I failed to note the various sources from the interwebs during my research . My sincere appreciation to the historians amongst us 👍



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The Montgomery dial is, IMO, one of the most handsome designs I’ve seen. And as the ad below implies, it really is very easy to accurately tell the time with. If you haven’t seen an enamel dial in person, then get one, you are in for a treat. The colour saturation and texture is extremely rewarding to look at.



Thanks for putting up with this, I am, as you can see, a little excited

Oh, and a shout out to the seller who you can check out on Ebay as db2469. You can also PM me for his email.

Have a great week everyone 😀

Indeed, a watch to be proud of. May I recommend a leather lanyard from @DaveK ? And maybe a nice chamois sachet to protect that perfect case? Wow, just WOW!

Thanks @Canuck , and excellent idea about the lanyard 🙄