Greenwich
1930–1934 · 18k Solid Yellow Gold / 14k White Gold Filled / 14k Green Gold Filled / 14k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Greenwich
The Greenwich was produced from 1930 through 1934, giving it a solid four-year run during one of Hamilton's most active periods for dress watch development. It runs on either the caliber 987F or 987E, both 17-jewel manual wind movements that Hamilton leaned on heavily throughout the early 1930s. The case came in a range of gold options including 18K yellow gold and 14K Gold Filled in white, green, and yellow, all in a clean square shape that suited the period's taste for geometric forms. Dial options included luminous versions with painted lume numerals at all positions except 6 o'clock, as well as applied gold numeral dials and enamel dials.
Finding a Greenwich today means navigating nearly a century of potential wear, and the case material matters here. The 14K Gold Filled versions can show brass at the lugs or case edges if they've been polished aggressively over the years, while the 18K examples hold up differently but carry their own condition considerations. Dial variety across the run is genuine, so knowing which version you're looking at, luminous painted, applied gold numerals, or enamel, affects both originality assessment and value.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1931 catalog listed the Greenwich in 14K gold-filled yellow or white at $50.00, with the option to upgrade to a raised gold figure dial for an additional $6.00, bringing the total to $56.00. A separate listing offered the watch at $55.00 with a raised gold figure dial available for $8.00 extra.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1931
1932
1933
1934
What to Look For
| Dial | Check carefully for hairline cracks on enamel dials, which are fragile and essentially irreplaceable. On luminous dials, the painted lume numerals often discolor or flake with age. Look for touch-ups or repainting, which will appear uneven under a loupe. Confirm the numeral layout: all positions except 6 o'clock. |
| Crystal | These left the factory with flat glass crystals. If a domed synthetic crystal is present, it's a replacement. A correct flat glass crystal is worth keeping if it's intact. |
| Movement | Oil dries out completely on a caliber 987E or 987F of this age, and that dried friction alone can stop the watch or cause erratic timekeeping. A watch that runs on the bench but stops in the pocket hasn't been serviced properly. Budget for a full service, and note that the hairspring and balance pivots on these movements are delicate during adjustment, so choose a watchmaker who has worked on this caliber before. |
| Case | On gold-filled examples, examine the lug tips and case edges for brass showing through. The back can be tricky to open, and any signs of prior forced entry, dents, scratches around the back edge, suggest the movement may have been handled carelessly. |
| Crown | Make sure the crown is original in proportion and finish. A crown that's too large or clearly newer than the watch suggests a replacement. Check that winding feels smooth, not gritty or loose, which would point to wear in the stem and setting mechanism. |
The Movement
The caliber 987F and 987E are closely related 17-jewel manual wind movements that Hamilton used extensively in its dress watches of the early 1930s. Both wind and set conventionally, keep good time when properly serviced, and are thin enough to suit the slim square cases Hamilton was producing at the time. They are not particularly difficult movements to work on, but the hairspring is prone to damage during balance adjustment, so they reward careful, experienced hands.