Five Affordable Hamilton Watches for New Collectors

[koimaster]

Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892, Hamilton watches became synonymous with precision timekeeping, supplying pocketwatches to railroads, marine chronometers for ships, and clocks for aircraft. Today, Swiss-owned Hamilton offers a wide range of timepieces at accessible prices. Here are five models we can recommend for new collectors.




Pilot Pioneer Auto

Hamilton’s Pilot Pioneer watches are inspired by timepieces the company manufactured for the British Royal Air Force in the 1970s. There’s a chronograph version, but we’ve selected the time-and-date model because, at less than $1,000, it offers very good value. Officially, the 41-mm case is described “round”, but for practical purposes, the look is asymmetrical, owing to the crown-side construction. The lugs have a slightly different shape, allowing them to form part of the crown-guard system, along with a piece mounted between the crowns. The top crown adjusts the inner ring that carries the 60-minute scale, giving the user an effective countdown timer. The bottom crown handles the traditional winding and time-setting functions. The H-10 Hamilton automatic caliber is visible through a display back, and it offers an 80-hour power reserve.


http://www.watchtime.com/blog/affordabl ... BUNIQID%5D

[foghorn]

I love the way these magazines use the word "affordable" and the range it encompasses.
If one of these editors saw my Hamilton Pan-Europe that I just dropped just north of a grand on (I didn't-this is what they call a hypnothermical situation) and said "Nice looking affordable" I'd likely knee him in his groinals.

[Racer-X]

To me, affordable is $500 or less. I don't think the average consumer is looking to drop a grand. New collectors, sure.

[Dr.Morningwood]

I agree! You can find "affordable" Hamilton's in this price range. Quite a few in fact.

To me, affordable is $500 or less. I don't think the average consumer is looking to drop a grand. New collectors, sure.

[biglove]

For the majority of the watch buying public is well south of $200.

Like $10 WalMart south.

A $150 Seiko dress watch is high end for probably 50+% of the watch buying public.

[conjurer]

For the majority of the watch buying public is well south of $200.

Like $10 WalMart south.

A $150 Seiko dress watch is high end for probably 50+% of the watch buying public.

Quite so. I myself rarely tell coworkers or friends what I spend on watches, because they are generally aghast at the prices.

Getting into the Wayback Machine and stopping around 1975 or so, when POS quartz watches became really cheap, watches were mechanical and somewhat expensive and generally made to last--as the shills like to say on Urine-Live, watches were (and possibly still are) fine gifts for important milestones in life. Back then, when a high school diploma meant something, quite a few people were gifted watches when they were graduated, and plenty of those people wore those watches for the rest of their lives. A hundred bucks, while a lot of money back then, wasn't considered too much to spend for a watch, because a watch was important, keeping time and being on time was important. Granted, a Rolex Sub would have cost you about $350 back then.

Today, with watches very nearly irrelevent to modern life, as the Loafmeister says, a ten-buck Walmart timepiece will do ya.

I agree that a $1000 Hammy being called "affordable" is douchebaggery.

[Beau nidle]

I agree entirely - but then the article was written in a specialist watch publication. Few readers would be interested in a blister packed Walmart special? Amongst watch enthusiasts calling $1000 affordable is probably more valid, but even so it is a meaningless term as it relates to an unspecified personal disposable income. It's affordable to me, but to my 11 year old (currently rocking a Zeno Explorer on Bond NATO I should add) it isn't.

[TemerityB]

I'm such a prick. This was an actual conversation I had at my local Macy's as I eyeballed their Hamilton selection.

Clerk: Can I help you?

Me: Not right now just browsing. Nice selection.

Clerk: Hamilton! The American brand!

Me: What? Hamilton hasn't been made in the U.S. for decades now. See the "Swiss Made" all over those dials?

Clerk: (Dead silence. Red-faced.)

Me, feeling bad: But they - those are really nice watches, and Swiss-made means a lot. They're legit Swiss, too.

Clerk, back on her horse: Cool! Wanna try one on?

[conjurer]

I'm such a prick. This was an actual conversation I had at my local Macy's as I eyeballed their Hamilton selection.

Clerk: Can I help you?

Me: Not right now just browsing. Nice selection.

Clerk: Hamilton! The American brand!

Me: What? Hamilton hasn't been made in the U.S. for decades now. See the "Swiss Made" all over those dials?

Clerk: (Dead silence. Red-faced.)

Me, feeling bad: But they - those are really nice watches, and Swiss-made means a lot. They're legit Swiss, too.

Clerk, back on her horse: Cool! Wanna try one on?

[TemerityB]

Wow, I didn't know Harrison Ford was Swiss!

[conjurer]

Wow, I didn't know Harrison Ford was Swiss!

A little known fact. He started his career in Swiss Donkey Porn loops.

[foghorn]

Wow, I didn't know Harrison Ford was Swiss!

A little known fact. He started his career in Swiss Donkey Porn loops.

Yup. Went by the name Hands SoLow

[conjurer]

Wow, I didn't know Harrison Ford was Swiss!

A little known fact. He started his career in Swiss Donkey Porn loops.

Yup. Went by the name Hands SoLow

As usual, the fucking rewstar gets a bigger laugh.