Cushion Engraved
1927–1932 · Gold Filled
About the Cushion Engraved
The Cushion Engraved was produced from 1927 through 1932, built around Hamilton's caliber 987, a 17-jewel movement that was a reliable workhorse in Hamilton's dress watch lineup of the era. The case is Gold Filled, available in green or white 14K, and sits in a cushion shape that was very much in step with the geometric sensibilities of late 1920s American watch design. Buyers who wanted to step up could also order the watch in 14K solid gold, and a two-tone dial with raised gold numerals was offered as a paid upgrade.
Cases from this period are soft enough that wear shows up fast, and the bezel area near the crystal corners is particularly vulnerable on cushion-shaped cases like this one. Finding a sharp example means looking closely at those corners before anything else. The dial on a well-preserved Cushion Engraved still has real presence, and the option for raised gold numerals gives surviving examples a tactile quality that printed dials simply don't.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1929 catalog offered the Cushion Engraved starting at $54.00 in 14K filled gold, with the solid gold version running to $77.00. By 1931 the filled gold price had settled at $52.00, with an optional two-tone dial featuring raised gold numerals available for an extra $5.00.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1929
1930
1931
1932
What to Look For
| Dial | Check for spotting, fading, or separation at the applied numerals and markers. Refinished dials are common on watches this age and will look too clean and flat compared to an original. The raised gold numeral option (dial No. D4) adds a small premium if present and intact. |
| Crystal | Original crystals on these will be glass. Inspect for chips or cracks. More importantly, check the bezel channel around the crystal for cracks or separation, which affects how securely the crystal seats. |
| Movement | Dried lubricants in a movement this age can create enough friction to stop it entirely even when the mainspring winds fine. A service history matters here. The caliber 987's hairspring and balance pivots are known to be fragile during adjustment, so verify any prior service was done with care. |
| Case | The corners of the bezel, right where the cushion shape curves toward the crystal, are the first place gold filled cases wear through to the base metal. Inspect those corners under good light. Case backs on watches from this era can be fitted tightly and are sometimes forced open incorrectly, leaving damage to the case back lip or threads. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown is original and not a generic replacement. It should seat fully and wind and set smoothly without slipping or grinding. |
The Movement
The caliber 987 is a 17-jewel manual-wind movement that Hamilton produced for its dress watch line through much of the late 1920s and into the 1930s. It runs at a conservative beat rate suited to the era and is generally straightforward to service when the parts are in good shape. The balance assembly is delicate, and the hairspring in particular does not tolerate rough handling, so the condition of a prior service matters as much as whether the watch is currently running.