Hamilton Conservation Watch- Harrison Ford Approved!

[NewJerseyRaider]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but here's a watch that has actually been designed with Mr. Ford's help!
I really like the design and look of it...the price on the other hand, not so much....
http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/webapp/en- ... c=ka&y=132

[Insomniac]

Interesting where did you get the background info?

P.S. The price tag is a bummer!

[Indyzane]

That's a nice watch I like it. The price is a lot but worth every penny I'm sure. I am a watch guy and I received a Tag Heuer for a wedding gift from my wife and I love it. The price on my Tag is about triple the price on the Hamilton. All I can say that you get what you pay for with watches. 

[Imahomer]

Man that is a very nice looking watch! Yes, it is a wee bit pricey but if I didn't already have a very expensive watch, I'd pick one of these up.

Mike

[knibs7]

I'm obviously missing something- I can't even find the price

Kyle

[Digger4Glory]

What is the price for this watch? I did not find it in the link... maybe that's a bad sign..

[ron521]

I'm a watch guy as well, and have owned a Hamilton Pilot's watch since 1991, still works well and keeps good time for an automatic watch.
Some watch companies trade too much on their history, and don't really try hard enough to deliver a good product.
In 1996 I purchased a new Omega Speedmaster "Moon Watch", which was quite disappointing...it gained nearly 45 seconds/day, inexcusable for a watch claimed to be built with any degree of precision, and certainly, anything in the price range of the Omega.
By comparison, the Hamilton ran within 7 seconds/day at the time. I've not checked it recently so can't say for certain if it still that accurate, but it still doesn't gain or lose a noticeable amount.
The Omega was eventually adjusted (by a Rolex tech, the Omega dealer had no one who could make the adjustment!) to run with accuracy comparable to the Hamilton. However, I gave up on it when I had to send it to their service center in Pennsylvania for some other issue, and they returned it with an unsightly gouge in the back of the case caused by their ham-fisted service techs.
I've since purchased several other, vastly LESS expensive mechanical watches (Orient and Timex) which both appear to be built to equal standards of quality AND run with equal or better accuracy. I would put either of these watches up against the Omega in any kind of comparison test, including the famous NASA tests for spaceflight qualification.
In my experience, you do not always get a "better" watch when you spend more money, you just get a name on the dial, and whatever prestige is attached to that name.

[Dragonlady Jones]

Interesting where did you get the background info?

P.S. The price tag is a bummer!

Found this...
conservation.org
and this...
presentwatch.com

[NewJerseyRaider]

Insomniac- If you do a google search on the name, it'll show that Hamilton contacted Harrison Ford, he helped design it, for a bit of an "Indy" feeling toward it.
Also, I believe if you buy it straight from Hamilton, 100% proceeds go to some charity for helping the habitat...or something along those lines, which makes it feel a little better spending the money on it.

Knibs7- It's listed somewhere on that page, I believe they say it retails for around $1100. But I've seen them cheaper at other places like amazon for around $890 or so....
Also on the bay there's a couple being shipped from Singapore, so I kind of doubt they're real.

I've personally never had an expensive watch, closest thing is a Luminox my father gave me, so this is awfully tempting....

[HarryStreet]

In my experience, you do not always get a "better" watch when you spend more money, you just get a name on the dial, and whatever prestige is attached to that name.

Ron521, I'll have to second that experience. I have had a similar history with my Omega Speedmaster and have friends with vastly more expensive watches from other prestige brands (Rolex, Ulysses Nardin, etc) who would say the same.

I have heard good things about Hamilton and other mechanical watches in that price range, like Oris, etc. But the time where I would consider spending more than few hundred dollars on a watch is long past.

I have a twenty year old Swiss Army watch my sister gave me that simply refuses to die. I think she paid $50 for it...

[ANZAC_1915]

I have a Brietling Aerospace (titanium, blue face, "gold" digital display) and a Tutima 1941 Flieger Chrono (replica Luftwaffe pilot watch), not had any issues with either of them. I can't imagine buying another watch at that price level though, two is enough.

I bought a couple of interesting cheaper watches in a similar style to the Hamilton (one modelled off a Spitfire instrument gauge) from a small manufacturer in Nice (Davis).

I haven't found another "expensive" watch I'd consider, but I do like the look of the Hamilton Khaki Conservation!

A lot of the time on the weekend I wear a $9.99 Coleman velcro strap camping watch from KMart! (I have two of them, one for camping, one for working on stuff)

[Michaelson]

Considering Hamilton has been owned by the Swiss Swatch time group since the late 60's/early 70s, this is a fairly standard Swiss chronograph ebauche in military window dressing.

Tough movements (Wenger uses the same movement in their automatics), mostly 25 to 30 jeweled, and will last a lifetime, but keep in mind that the only thing 'Hamilton' about this watch is the name. Everything else is purely Swiss in nature and manufacture.

I personally own one of the Wenger GST Field watches with the 25j movement and found it to be an EXCELLENT time keeper, keeping within 5 seconds of the atomic time clock in Boulder, CO every 2 week time check. 10 seconds loss a month is even better than the required 30 second +- time keeping per month of a railroad approved watch. One of the best trade acquistions I've made to date in my watch collecting.

I guarantee the only thing Mr. Ford had to do with it's 'design' was to sign off as an endorsement so the funds would go to that conservation fund, him being on the board of directors. Name only and nothing more.

Nothing wrong with that, but it's always a good idea to recognize when they're just selling the 'sizzle' and not necessarily 'the steak'.

Regards! Michaelson

[Bruce Wayne]

Speaking of Hamilton watches, the one i really want is a model 23 WW2 cronograph pocket watch. Unfortunately I just cannot justify the price. But it is a darn good looking watch!

[whipwarrior]

Nothing wrong with that, but it's always a good idea to recognize when they're just selling the 'sizzle' and not necessarily 'the steak'.

Thanks, Michaelson. I really needed that laugh today!

[fenris]

I saw this in one of the watch shops here. I noticed it because of Harrison Ford's large picture. I didn't even bother to see how much it was because I was sure I wouldn't be able to afford it.

[Michaelson]

Speaking of Hamilton watches, the one i really want is a model 23 WW2 cronograph pocket watch. Unfortunately I just cannot justify the price. But it is a darn good looking watch!

Uh, would you believe I have one ticking away in my pocket as we 'speak'? Fantastic time keeper, and an amazing 19j movement. Mine is from 1944, and marked for the Army Aircorp. As you say, an amazing piece of machinery! They cost anywhere from $325 to as high as $550, depending on condition and markings. Once again, another trade I was able to do a few years ago.

I hope you finally chase one down. They're worth having if you're a collector and appreciate a really fine time piece.

Regards! Michaelson

[Michaelson]

Nothing wrong with that, but it's always a good idea to recognize when they're just selling the 'sizzle' and not necessarily 'the steak'.

Thanks, Michaelson. I really needed that laugh today!

[Castor Dioscuri]

Thought this might be a fitting place to add that I just acquired the #1 numbered Hamilton Conservation watch!

I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get a chance!

[sneakertinker]

I had one that I purchased because of the connection with Mr. Ford but I ended up selling it as I never wore it...Have 2 Omega's that I never take off...In particular I have an Olympics Limited Edition Omega watch that my wife purchased me as a surprise and that one gets worn a great deal...

[Castor Dioscuri]

So today I finally had a chance to take some pictures of my Hamilton International Conservation timepiece. It admittedly is not the best looking time piece in my collection, and yes, I sadly only acquired this one for the 'Harrison Ford' connection, but it is an interesting piece nevertheless. And I can't complain too much, considering that this is the #1 numbered Hamilton Conservation watch in a limited edition of 6000(?).

It still has the plastic covering on it, as I haven't had a chance to sport it around yet. I'm still waiting to get a replacement metal band to replace the nubuck strap: despite the great look of the strap, leather watch straps just need too much care than I'm willing to afford, and I also want to preserve a piece of this watch before I break it in.




And just for the heck of it, here's Ford sporting one:

[Indiana G]

that's a very nice piece castor.....i like the retro look of it. how did you get #1?....thought that was reserved for harry himself

....oh btw.......can i have it

(good to see you around sir)

[Castor Dioscuri]

G! Where've you been hiding yourself (and your pretty pink bike)? It's been a while!

Thank you G, it's in the mail to you as we speak! ...No, not really...

I actually won this in a charity auction, where it was donated by Hamilton. As for the provenance of the piece, I've no idea who the previous owner was, or even if there was one, although I'd like to think that Ford had owned this at some point... (Hey, I can dream, can't I?)

[tym]

In my experience, you do not always get a "better" watch when you spend more money, you just get a name on the dial, and whatever prestige is attached to that name.

Ron521, I'll have to second that experience. I have had a similar history with my Omega Speedmaster and have friends with vastly more expensive watches from other prestige brands (Rolex, Ulysses Nardin, etc) who would say the same.

Agreed as well. Many marques are vastly overvalued, including Rolex and, to a lesser extent, Omega. Regarding the Omega Speedy, many movements have been used for that model, so a Speedy that one purchases may not have the same movement calibre that was approved by NASA for spaceflight.

As for Hamilton, the Conservation watch looks nice, but I agree with Michaelson that under the hood is a thoroughly unremarkable ebauche movement which I assume to be from ETA. Vintage Hamiltons are an entirely different matter, however. The most accurate watch I currently own is my Hamilton GCT housing the famed 4992B movement.

[NewJerseyRaider]

If anyone is looking to get this watch, I'm selling mine. For about half of what it's being retailed for also. I put a post up in the classifieds below. I would be keeping it, if it wasn't for my current financial state

[Michaelson]

Saw it, and your price is dead on the money for a used chronograph like this one.

A VERY good price for someone wanting a high end Swiss automatic chrono.

Regards! Michaelson

[NewJerseyRaider]

Sold! Thanks to Indiana Jeff!

[Michaelson]