Meadowbrook
1928–1933 · Platinum / 18k Solid Yellow Gold / 14k Solid White Gold / 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Meadowbrook
The Meadowbrook ran from 1928 through 1933, placing it squarely in Hamilton's early rectangular wristwatch era alongside models like the Oakmont. It carries the caliber 979 or 987, both 17-jewel manual wind movements built for a 6/0 size case. The case itself is 10% iridium platinum, a material Hamilton reserved for its more serious offerings, and the rectangular form sits with a slightly tonneau quality that gives it a softer look than Hamilton's more rigidly geometric cases of the period. Hamilton positioned the Meadowbrook as a dress piece with real presence, offering it in platinum at the top of the range and 14K gold as the more accessible option.
Platinum cases from this era develop a particular warmth in the metal over decades of wear, and the Meadowbrook is worth examining carefully for how that patina reads on the bezel and lugs. Three dial variants are documented: an exploding numerals luminous dial, a traditional luminous dial, and a raised gold figure dial, so part of the interest in finding one is figuring out exactly which version you have in hand. The silvered dials on surviving examples can range from crisp and bright to gently aged, and either condition has its own appeal.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Meadowbrook in 1928 as a watch of unusual smartness, available in hand-made platinum cases with white gold or platinum buckles at $360 and $400 respectively, or in 14K yellow or white gold at $100. The platinum option put it among the most expensive wristwatches Hamilton offered at the time.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
What to Look For
| Dial | Confirm which dial variant is present. The exploding numerals, traditional luminous, and raised gold figure dials are all documented. Check for hairline cracks around the subseconds register at 6 o'clock, and look at the condition of any applied numerals to see if they are separating from the dial or have been disturbed. |
| Crystal | The rectangular crystal on a watch this age has almost certainly been replaced at least once. Verify it fits flush with no gaps at the corners, and check whether the replacement is period-appropriate glass or a later acrylic substitute. |
| Movement | Confirm which caliber is inside. The Meadowbrook ran with the 979, 979F, or 987. On all of these, the balance staff pivots and hairspring are fragile enough that an inexperienced service can ruin them during adjustment, so ask about the service history before assuming a recently cleaned movement is in good shape. |
| Case | Platinum cases are dense and wear differently than gold, but the bezel on this case shape is prone to wear near the corners of the crystal. Run a fingertip across those edges to feel for softening or depression in the metal, which can indicate years of contact wear. |
| Crown | Check that the crown is correct for the period and pulls out smoothly through its positions without slipping or grinding. A mismatched replacement crown on a platinum case is worth noting when evaluating overall originality. |
The Movement
The 979 and 987 are both 17-jewel manual wind movements from Hamilton's American production, built to a 6/0 size that suited the slender rectangular cases of the late 1920s and early 1930s. They are hand-wound movements with a subseconds register, designed to run quietly and reliably in a dress watch context. The 979F is a variant of the 979 with a few internal refinements, but all three calibers share the same general character: precise, finely finished American movements from a period when Hamilton was building some of the best movements on this side of the Atlantic.