Livingstone
1933–1934 · 14k White / Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Livingstone
Made from 1933 through 1934 and available from November 1st of that year, the Livingstone is a 12/0 size rectangular strap watch offered in 14K white Gold Filled or 14K yellow Gold Filled cases. It runs on the caliber 401, a 19-jewel manual wind movement, and its most distinctive feature is the indicator dial: applied gold markers in place of numerals, which Hamilton promoted as having a "definitely modern appeal" for the period. The Livingstone is part of a group of rectangular models from the same era that includes the Byrd, Ericsson, Andrews, Wilkinson, and Stanley.
Applied gold markers on a silver dial age differently than printed numerals, so the condition of those markers tells you a lot about how the watch was handled over the past ninety years. Loose or missing markers are common and difficult to address without a period-correct example to work from, so a Livingstone with all markers intact and flat to the dial is genuinely harder to find than the scarcity of the model alone would suggest.
From the Catalog
Hamilton introduced the Livingstone as a fresh direction in rectangular dress watches, calling out the indicator dial specifically as a departure from conventional numerals and positioning it as having a modern sensibility. At original retail, the watch was priced at $70.00 in 14K gold filled, with availability beginning November 1st, 1933.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1934
What to Look For
| Dial | Examine the applied gold markers closely under magnification. Look for any that are separating, tilted, or missing entirely. The silver dial itself should be checked for spotting, moisture damage, or polishing marks from past cleaning attempts. |
| Crystal | The original crystal is almost certainly long gone. Check that any replacement fits the rectangular bezel cleanly with no gaps and no stress cracks at the corners. |
| Movement | The caliber 401 is scarce, and spare parts are not available through normal supply channels. Servicing one generally means sourcing parts from a compatible Illinois movement. Make sure the watch actually runs before buying, and expect that any watchmaker unfamiliar with the caliber will have a hard time with it. |
| Case | Gold filled cases from this period can show brass showing through at high-wear points, particularly the lugs and case back edges. Check those areas carefully. The Livingstone comes in both white and yellow gold filled, so confirm which version you have. |
| Crown | Verify the crown is original to the watch or at minimum period-appropriate in size and profile. A mismatched crown on a small rectangular case like this is immediately noticeable. |
The Movement
The caliber 401 is a 19-jewel manual wind movement built to the 12/0 size format, intended for slim rectangular cases. It shares ancestry with Illinois-era lever movements, which is why sourcing parts today almost always means cannibalizing a compatible Illinois caliber rather than finding Hamilton-branded spares. For a movement of this age, dried lubricants are a real concern, and the friction they cause is enough on its own to stop the watch entirely.