Forbes
1948–1951 · 14k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Forbes
Made from 1948 through 1951, the Forbes is a manual-wind tonneau-cased dress watch running Hamilton's caliber 747 with 17 jewels in a 14K yellow Gold Filled case. The dial carries applied gold numerals at all positions except 6 o'clock, where a subseconds dial sits instead, giving the face a clean but substantial look. The Forbes sits in a close family with the 987A and 987S, which share similar design language from the same period. At $71.50 new with a Gold Filled bracelet, or $60.50 on a leather strap, it was positioned as a mid-tier dress piece that didn't cut corners on dial quality.
One detail worth keeping in mind on the Forbes is the dial construction. The catalog specifically calls out 18K applied gold numerals, and on surviving examples those numerals can show separation or minor detachment if the watch was ever exposed to moisture or amateur cleaning. Silver dials in silver-finished are known to appear on some examples, which adds some variety to what shows up in the market. A Forbes in solid, unpolished condition with its numerals intact and dial untouched is genuinely satisfying to find.
From the Catalog
Hamilton offered the Forbes in 1948 with an 18K applied gold numeral dial inside a 14K natural gold-filled case, priced at $71.50 with a matching gold-filled bracelet, or $60.50 paired with a leather strap.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1948
1949
1950
1951
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at each applied gold numeral for separation, gaps at the base, or signs that the numeral has shifted. The silver dial finish can show fading or spotting if moisture ever got inside. Any evidence of cleaning attempts around the numerals is a red flag. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, deep scratches, or a replacement crystal that sits proud of the bezel. A well-fitting crystal matters on a tonneau case like this, where the curve needs to follow the case profile. |
| Movement | A watch that has sat unworn for decades will have dried oil, and on the 747 that dried-up lubrication creates enough friction to stop the watch entirely or cause it to run erratically. Ask whether it has been serviced and when. |
| Case | Gold-filled cases from this era can show brassing at the lugs and case edges where the gold layer has worn through. Also check the case back for evidence of forced opening, which can damage the threads or leave tool marks. |
| Crown | Pull the crown gently through its positions to feel for looseness or roughness. A worn crown on a 14K GF case can be tricky to match, so confirm the threads are intact and the crown seats properly. |
The Movement
The caliber 747 is a 17-jewel manual-wind movement made by Hamilton in the United States during the post-war era. It winds from the crown, keeps a conventional lever escapement, and was a reliable workhorse for dress watches in this price range. The subseconds dial at 6 o'clock is driven directly from the movement's fourth wheel, which means the seconds hand is a small but mechanically meaningful indicator of whether the watch is running well.