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1931 Catalog Description

The Barrel "B" Engraved

Grade 987 - 14K filled gold, green or white.  Consumer price, $50.00. 

Engraved case of 14K gold, Green or White . . . $87.00

Production Info | Comments

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Production Date: 1929

Price When New: $87.00

Case: White and Green 14K Gold

Case Manufacturer: Fahys

Production for this Variation: 14 (There are currently two solid gold Barrel "B" Engraved examples known - both are two-tone)

Movement: 987 Series - 17-jewel Movement

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Comments: The 14K gold Barrel "B" is the rarest model variation Hamilton produced with a total of only 14 examples made in both white (9 examples) and green (5 examples).  This particular Barrel "B" is a "two-tone" version - the bezel and case back are 14K white gold while the center case is 14K green gold.  It is without question, the rarest two-tone model in existence and could indeed be a unique specimen.

Two-tone Hamiltons are extremely rare and Hamilton did not maintain production numbers for them. It is believed that they were either "special orders" or were distributed amongst several jewelers in extremely limited quantities.

All known Hamilton two-tone models, which include the Square Plain and Engraved, the Barrel Plain and Engraved, the Oval Plain and Engraved and the Barrel "B" Engraved were manufactured by the Fahys Watch Case Company and all are solid 14K gold.
The Barrel "B" was introduced in 1929 as a replacement for the Barrel which ceased production in 1930. It was one of three "B" styles introduced during 1929 and 1930 and was not popularly received by the consumer. The Square "B" and Cushion "B" were the other two "B" models. The Square "B" was introduced in 1929 and replaced the Square which ceased production in 1929 and the Cushion "B" was modeled after the Cushion Form Round and was introduced in 1930.

The Barrel "B" was one of Hamilton's least successful models. A total of only 14 were produced in 14K solid gold, 1,237 in 14K white gold-filled and 272 examples in green gold-filled. The Barrel "B" Plain is even more scarce with a total of 87 produced in 14K gold-filled.

The Barrel "B" was offered with the Hamilton 987 17-jewel movement for both gold and gold-filled versions. The Barrel "B" was produced for only one year - 1929.