Discussion
I'm finding that I need another 'dressy' watch. Not generally a fan (I tend to favour dive watches), nso not intending to spend a lot.
I've taken a bit of a shine to this
But know nothing much about Hamilton, with regard to quality, fit and finish. Given it's a £1k watch, not a £5k watch, what are peoples' opinions?
I've taken a bit of a shine to this
But know nothing much about Hamilton, with regard to quality, fit and finish. Given it's a £1k watch, not a £5k watch, what are peoples' opinions?
Mid range company owned by Swatch using ETA movements. Hamilton, when they were independent were a fantastic maker (take a look at my last posts in "incoming".) Now-a-days they are just a Swatch subsidiary.
If you like the watch, then there is no reason not to go for it.
You might also want to look at Ball, I think they're a bit pricier.
If you'd consider second hand or vintage, you can get some pretty good stuff for a grand.
Concentrating on dress watches, a 60's JLC Memovox can be had in mint condition for around £800. If you're very patient you could pick up a Reverso for £1200 ish. There are a whole range of very nice vintage Longines, Zeniths and Omegas that you can get for a grand. Or for something completely different a more modern ceramic Rado. Cartiers (Richemont group) tend to start around a grand ish. A decent Santos should be £1000 to £1500. The planet upon which we live is your slightly dubious crustacean.
A lot of people wouldn't entertain a second hand watch. I don't understand, they'll happily drive a second hand car, and they don't insist in living in a brand new house. Mint condition old watches do exist and the good ones were designed to long outlast their owners... Each to their own.
If you like the watch, then there is no reason not to go for it.
You might also want to look at Ball, I think they're a bit pricier.
If you'd consider second hand or vintage, you can get some pretty good stuff for a grand.
Concentrating on dress watches, a 60's JLC Memovox can be had in mint condition for around £800. If you're very patient you could pick up a Reverso for £1200 ish. There are a whole range of very nice vintage Longines, Zeniths and Omegas that you can get for a grand. Or for something completely different a more modern ceramic Rado. Cartiers (Richemont group) tend to start around a grand ish. A decent Santos should be £1000 to £1500. The planet upon which we live is your slightly dubious crustacean.
A lot of people wouldn't entertain a second hand watch. I don't understand, they'll happily drive a second hand car, and they don't insist in living in a brand new house. Mint condition old watches do exist and the good ones were designed to long outlast their owners... Each to their own.
mikeveal said:
Mid range company owned by Swatch using ETA movements. Hamilton, when they were independent were a fantastic maker (take a look at my last posts in "incoming".) Now-a-days they are just a Swatch subsidiary.
If you like the watch, then there is no reason not to go for it.
You might also want to look at Ball, I think they're a bit pricier.
If you'd consider second hand or vintage, you can get some pretty good stuff for a grand.
Concentrating on dress watches, a 60's JLC Memovox can be had in mint condition for around £800. If you're very patient you could pick up a Reverso for £1200 ish. There are a whole range of very nice vintage Longines, Zeniths and Omegas that you can get for a grand. Or for something completely different a more modern ceramic Rado. Cartiers (Richemont group) tend to start around a grand ish. A decent Santos should be £1000 to £1500. The planet upon which we live is your slightly dubious crustacean.
A lot of people wouldn't entertain a second hand watch. I don't understand, they'll happily drive a second hand car, and they don't insist in living in a brand new house. Mint condition old watches do exist and the good ones were designed to long outlast their owners... Each to their own.
I don't have an issue with second hand, but I'm not a fan of vintage, because small watches don't suit me. I couldn't wear a Reverso because I detest square watches. If you like the watch, then there is no reason not to go for it.
You might also want to look at Ball, I think they're a bit pricier.
If you'd consider second hand or vintage, you can get some pretty good stuff for a grand.
Concentrating on dress watches, a 60's JLC Memovox can be had in mint condition for around £800. If you're very patient you could pick up a Reverso for £1200 ish. There are a whole range of very nice vintage Longines, Zeniths and Omegas that you can get for a grand. Or for something completely different a more modern ceramic Rado. Cartiers (Richemont group) tend to start around a grand ish. A decent Santos should be £1000 to £1500. The planet upon which we live is your slightly dubious crustacean.
A lot of people wouldn't entertain a second hand watch. I don't understand, they'll happily drive a second hand car, and they don't insist in living in a brand new house. Mint condition old watches do exist and the good ones were designed to long outlast their owners... Each to their own.
I've looked at Ball, and they're not out of the running, but they can be a bit 'busy'.
I'm just looking for a decent non-dive watch, and to start considering vintage would require a level of interest that I don't have. I've posted on here that I have no real concern over the heritage of a brand, but I am concerned about the quality of the product that they produce.
I'm not going to spend £60 on an Asian clone, but I'm not going to spend £1,000 on something that everyone says I should like, and I don't (Rado, Cartier, vintage etc).
I know it sounds like I'm throwing your advice in your face, and I'm not, but I've considered my options, and I'm looking at the likes of Hamilton (of which I have no experience), Oris (which I've had before, and one of which I bought yesterday), or similar, including Ball, Longines, Stowa and so on.
Doofus said:
I'm not going to spend £60 on an Asian clone, but I'm not going to spend £1,000 on something that everyone says I should like, and I don't (Rado, Cartier, vintage etc).
My advice is always: get what you like, sod everyone else.Doofus said:
I know it sounds like I'm throwing your advice in your face, and I'm not,
I didn't infer that at. I hope then I answered your question in the first part of my post, the rest was just fluff about other things you could consider. If you want to consider and reject, then that's entirely up to you, I'm not going to take offence.Hamilton are currently part of Swatch, producing middle of the road stuff with ETA movements. You'll get a solid watch, priced about right for what it is. It's not a red flag, for gods sake don't buy it brand.
Great watches for great prices. I bought an second hand Khaki King Navy Scuba, complete with box and papers for a very reasonably price. The quality is excellent and it uses the ETA 2484-2 movement. Maybe gains a few seconds a day. Nicely made, very well priced and good value IMHO. You don't see many of them either.
I bought it on a whim and it has became my go to watch.
I have become a bit of a Hamilton fan now and almost bought 2 the other day. I really fancy an Intrmatic as a simple dress watch.
I was looking at skeleton watches after seeing the Rado one. I liked the Hamilton skeletons, but in reality they are very busy. I prefer the older models as the modern ones can be busy.
In the end I bought the Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart on brown leather and a Rado Coupole Classic automatic.
Whilst not considered "high end" they are really great. Straps could be a bit better though. I'm switching the Jazzmaster to deployment clasp soon.
If you like them just go for it. I was advised against Rado, Hamilton as the are not considered "premium". Nuts to them.
I bought it on a whim and it has became my go to watch.
I have become a bit of a Hamilton fan now and almost bought 2 the other day. I really fancy an Intrmatic as a simple dress watch.
I was looking at skeleton watches after seeing the Rado one. I liked the Hamilton skeletons, but in reality they are very busy. I prefer the older models as the modern ones can be busy.
In the end I bought the Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart on brown leather and a Rado Coupole Classic automatic.
Whilst not considered "high end" they are really great. Straps could be a bit better though. I'm switching the Jazzmaster to deployment clasp soon.
If you like them just go for it. I was advised against Rado, Hamilton as the are not considered "premium". Nuts to them.
Edited by Wildfire on Monday 12th June 10:30
Wildfire said:
Whilst not considered "high end" they are really great. Straps could be a bit better though. I'm switching the Jazzmaster to deployment clasp soon.
That's the only problem I had with mine, switched it to a rather nice NATO strap though and am very happy with how it looks.weeboot said:
Wildfire said:
Whilst not considered "high end" they are really great. Straps could be a bit better though. I'm switching the Jazzmaster to deployment clasp soon.
That's the only problem I had with mine, switched it to a rather nice NATO strap though and am very happy with how it looks.
Doofus said:
I'm intrigued with Meistersinger, but I had a regulator that got pinched, and I'm not itching to replace it...
As a watch I don't feel short changed for the physical quality (for the price bargain I paid) ... but again it only has generic ETA mechanicals (known proven fault free internals). It works as a dress watch as once seen it is a bit of a conversation starter 
Should have added ... Whilst not looking for another watch (partially of that style) but that Hamilton appears a very nice choice .
Most on here would have directed me to a CW rather than a Ball running the same ETA 2824 and saving a couple of £££ but I've gone with what I wanted .... so if it floats your boat ... go for it.
Whilst I'm a lowly factory worker and by no means wealthy it's only £1k and split that between now and 3 score & 10 it's only £3 a month
Edited by T6 vanman on Tuesday 13th June 21:20
Just picked this Hamilton up
I really hated it in the pictures and loved the full skeleton watches. Didn't like the Jazzmaster skeleton, a bit small and the Railroad was just too busy and I couldn't read it.
I wanted the Rado Centrix but it was too small.
In the end I was looking at the Hamilton Intramatic in black as a dress watch,
But ended up with this:
I really hated it in the pictures and loved the full skeleton watches. Didn't like the Jazzmaster skeleton, a bit small and the Railroad was just too busy and I couldn't read it.
I wanted the Rado Centrix but it was too small.
In the end I was looking at the Hamilton Intramatic in black as a dress watch,
But ended up with this:
Another thumbs up for Hamilton, I have a multi-touch Khaki watch, which I purchased in the states 8 years ago. As far as I'm aware it's never been sold in this country. Anyway, I've battered the s
t out of it while wearing it, it's been in deserts, in the sea, everywhere and still works.
t out of it while wearing it, it's been in deserts, in the sea, everywhere and still works.
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