Thursday, December 8, 2016

1949 Hamilton Todd: The Perfect "Small Vintage Watch?"

Picked this one up on eBay for a reasonable price a few months ago... already serviced, but came on a stretch gold band that I replaced with vintage pigskin.  I found a Hamilton buckle to match.

The Hamilton Todd features a very capable 748 movement and measures just 25.5 mm in diameter.  This one has been keeping time within seconds a day.  This is an interesting model which bridges the divide between tiny 1940's watches and the larger 1950's models that would replace them.

In 1949, the Todd was advertised to "Technicians and Doctors Alike" (presumably male)...


But by 1951, it was being advertised along with women's models, along with the "Dale" model (see bottom center for the "Todd"):


And in 1954, the "Todd" is featured under both "Watches for Men" as well as "Watches for Women" in a Hamilton catalogue:



There are reportedly 3 variations of this watch, with radium or stick hands and in both white and yellow gold.  I like how clean mine looks and how easily it tucks under a shirt sleeve:


1949 Hamilton "Todd", Caliber 748, 18 jewels
10K yellow gold filled case
Period pigskin strap and signed Hamilton buckle