Hamilton Watch Co. America's Finest Watch

The watches

Welcome

< back to Et Alia

Description Notes

Vancott

The Vancott did not appear in any Hamilton catalogs nor are there any existing catalog inserts describing the Vancott.  There is however, one known Hamilton production drawing which appears to have been originally made for catalog inclusion.

Production Info | Comments

_____________________________

Production Date: 1946 - 1947

Price When New: Unknown

Case: 10K Gold Bezel and Stainless Steel Back

Case Manufacturer: S&W (Schwab & Wuischpard)

Production for this Variation:  2,918 (Hamilton records indicate that not all Vancott's produced may have been released sighting "awaiting technical OK" [for the 987-S]. This may explain why the Vancott is so rarely found)

Movement: 987S - 17-jewel Movement (with "hack" feature)

___________________________

Comments: The Vancott is one of the more interesting Hamilton models manufactured in that it was produced in two variations - 10K solid gold bezel with stainless steel back and a 14K solid gold example with a 14K solid gold back (984 of the 14K solid gold examples produced).

Hamilton purchased the 10K gold variation from Schwab & Wuischpard (S&W) for $8.00 per case and manufacturing began on November 11th 1945. The Vancott was the first wristwatch Hamilton offered after World War II. Considering that production began on November 11th 1945, Hamilton had to order the cases from Schwab & Wuischpard (S&W) well before that date and possibly ordered the cases, during wartime.

An interesting feature of the Vancott was that it utilized Hamilton's 987-S 17-jewel movement. This movement contained a "hack" feature that enabled the user to set the sweep second hand exactly to the desired time by pulling the crown out. Pushing the crown back in would set the sweep second hand in motion once again thereby allowing precise timing to the second.

The Vancott was the first Hamilton to utilize two metals in one watch - 10K gold bezel and stainless steel case back.

Note: Until recently, the Vancott was not known to exist and has only recently been identified as a Hamilton model - Special thanks to co-discoverer Bryan Girouard