For watches, at their very essence, their reason for being is their utility. It is the use for telling the time that defines them. As a watch collector, I have found myself drawn to military watches, and wondering why. When it comes to "utility", no other watches can match the military watch. They are accurate, and ergonomic for fit, function, and readability. There are no frills, and the jewelry component has been omitted. Virtually everything about these watches can be explained in terms of their utility. The term to describe these wonderful timepieces is "elegant".

I was unable to find the information I wanted about Hamilton military watches in any book. I have tried to put together what I have learned from a variety of sources. Since there is still more to know, I invite anyone with additional information or corrections to please forward them. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

There is no single categorization scheme that seems to work perfectly, so I have made some concessions. The following categories make the outline of this section. Please note that the American section is broken down by era, where the British section is by model, all of which were post WWII.

American Hamilton Wrist Watches

• Pre WWII
• WWII [including Canadian and Russian]
• Post WWII

British Hamilton Wrist Watches

• Type 1, RAAF Issue
• 6B
• 6BB
• GS and Tropical
• W-10
• 0552 Chronograph

Other Hamilton Wrist Watches

• Type 1, RAAF Issue

American Hamilton Wrist Watches

There was a need for timekeeping in WWI, but wrist watches were not in use during that time. While pocket watches were used extensively, some officers found a need for faster access to the time. There are watches that are often referred to as "officers' watches", that are small [usually ladies] pocket watches or pendant watches that had been converted to be worn on a leather strap. These are sometimes seen with schrapnel guards designed to protect the glass crystals.

Current wisdom has it that these were not supplied by the government, but were purchased by individual officers. Therefore, they have no US Government markings. Since Hamilton was a popular maker of watches of the time, Hamilton watches were used for these "officers' watches" along with many other American manufactures' watches.

In the early stages of WWII, there were government issued watches that had no markings. The Hamiltons contained 987A movements, and usually were supplied with a dust cover over the movement. They were contained in generic cases that were plated over base metal, and usually had a stainless steel snap back cover.

In 1940, the Ordnance Department published the requirements for military watches. The list includes pocket, wrist, and stop watches. Note also, that there was a provision for watches produced before 1940 to be retroactively marked if they were serviced.

Cases can be found with a variety of configurations. The center watch has a parkerized case, and the other two are plated and showing wear. The first has no markings, but has a 987A movement with a dust cover and a screw back. The last has a snap back and is most likely later than the first.

The 987A has sub-seconds, and the later 987s and 2987 both have center seconds. The center seconds was more desireable simply because it was easier to read. None of these variations had the hack function found on later watches.

During WWII, Hamilton supplied watches for the US Army, Navy, and Marine Corps [the Air Force was the Army Air Force]. Hamilton also supplied some watches for allies in WWI, specifically for Russia, and for the Royal Canadian Air Force [RCAF]. There were a total of 168,560 made by Hamilton during WWII. It is believed that this does not include pre-1940 production.

Fortunately, some records were kept that let us know the production for the Hamilton watches and their variations.

As a note, there was a standard established for watch production called the A-11. Elgin, Waltham and Bulova produced many military watches under this standard, but Hamilton never did. They did make for the US Navy a similar type watch using the G-987S and G-2987 movements, and left the type A-11s for Elgin, Waltham and Bulova. Also, the USMC received them too, only they had white dials instead of black for the USN.

Apparently those with the 2987 movements would typically be marked on the back "R88-W-800 / MFR'S PART NO. 39108 / HAMILTON WATCH CO. / K-H-3".

Canteen Watch

Many of these old Hamilton military watches were later recased into more civilian friendly cases. One of my favorite watches is a recased military movement with inner dust cover from WWII. It is a true "Frankenwatch", as it has the movement and case [remember, recased] that I got, a NOS dial, and hands off of another Hamilton watch. So, it is possible to find these revived relics as they surface for a new life. They are of course no longer of much military interest, but can make a very nice watch.

Post WWII

GG-W-113

June 6, 1967 the Military Specification for the GG-W-113a were established, for the USAF. These were issued to pilots, usually with a black one piece band, and look very much like the field watch MIL-W-46374 that was issued to Army personnel. The watch was even more legible becasue of the slightly larger size, and the removal of the radiation warnings on the dial. The early GG-W-113s are one piece case designs. The movement is removed from the front after removing the crystal. In 1982 or 1983, the GG-W-113 was made with a two piece case. DTU 2APMIL-W-38188 [1965]

Type 1

In 1970, the Air Force came out with a slightly larger pilots watch, the Type 1 Navigation Watch. This watch was also issued to the Royal Australian Air Force. Inside, the screw down caseback features a nice Swiss 17 jewels Hamilton Grade 684 manual wind movement with hacking device. It is shielded by an antimagnetic dust cover. The dial layout is very similar to the GG-W-113 and the British Mark XI, but has "Swiss" at the bottom. The case is about 36mm in diameter (excluding crown), and 47mm lug to lug, with 17mm lug width with solid fixed bars. the American model is marked as a FAPD 5101, although collectors refer to this watch as the "Type 1 Navigation".

British Hamilton Wrist Watches

6B

The movement is a Hamilton 8758 based on the ETA 2390. There is a 75 and probably "S" marking the movement.

6BB

GS and Tropical

Hamilton G.S. ["General Service"] watches were specifically made for the UK's General Services. They were actually issued to Government personnel, that were not Military. These watches were used by a number of Government agencies overseas, Foreign and Commonwealth Office aid groups helping with education and health stuff like that from the mid 60's to the late 70's. They also acted as a cover for a number of former military men who helped nations organise their own security and law enforcement on behalf of HM Government.

The G.S. Tropical seems to have been a specially sealed series of watches for use in tropical climates. They are marked "Tropical" on the stainless steel case back, These are rarer than the standard G.S. watches. The case and movement appear to be the same for both watches. The Tropical does not have the broadarrow found on military watches of Great Britain.

The W-10 is a tonneau shaped British Army issue watch. Caliber 649, 17 jewel unadjusted.

0552 Chronograph

The watch has a heavy asymmetric case stainless steel case with recessed winder, fixed bars, heavy screw back and round waterproof pushers. The rear of the case has the British Broad Arrow and the issue numbers, showing its date of issue. It has a 17 jewel ETA 7733 movement with Incabloc shock protection, the movement is signed Hamilton on the main bridge.

The watch was a product of the Swiss Hamilton company after its purchase by SMH and is not an American Hamilton.