Palisade
1930–1931 · 14k White / Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Palisade
Made from 1930 through 1931, the Palisade is a tonneau-cased manual wind watch built around Hamilton's caliber 987F and offered in 14K white or yellow Gold Filled cases with an integrated Gold Filled metal band. Hamilton introduced it specifically in response to demand for a watch sold as a complete bracelet unit, which was still a relatively fresh concept in the American market at the time. The Palisade is related to the Cushion B and fits within Hamilton's early 1930s tonneau family, though its band-integrated design gives it a distinct identity. Two dial options were offered at the same price point: a luminous painted numeral dial and an embossed gold numeral version.
Finding a Palisade with its original integrated metal band intact is the real challenge. Bands on watches of this era were often replaced, resized, or simply wore out, and a Palisade without its original band loses some of the specific appeal Hamilton was selling. The embossed gold numeral dial is the more visually striking of the two variants and tends to hold up better cosmetically than the luminous version, where the lume material can discolor or flake with age.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1931 catalog framed the Palisade as a direct response to customer demand for a watch with an attached metal band, describing it as having quality, appearance, and performance combined in a moderately priced package. Both the luminous and embossed gold numeral dial versions were offered at the same retail price of $65.00, with Hamilton noting it as a necessary addition to every jeweler's Hamilton selection.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1931
What to Look For
| Dial | Check which variant you have. The luminous painted numeral dial shows Arabic numerals at all positions except 6 o'clock, and lume of this age will often be yellowed, cracked, or partially missing. The embossed gold numeral version tends to age more gracefully. Look for hairline cracks, fading, or amateur refinishing on either variant. |
| Crystal | The crystal on a watch of this age has almost certainly been replaced at least once. Make sure the replacement fits the tonneau case properly and sits flush without gaps at the edges. |
| Movement | Oil in a caliber 987F of this age is almost certainly dried out, and dried lubricants create real friction that can stop the watch or cause erratic timekeeping. The hairspring and balance pivots are also fragile points on this caliber and can be damaged by careless servicing. Ask whether the watch has been recently serviced and by whom. |
| Case | Gold filled cases of this era show wear through the plating at high-contact points, particularly on the lugs and case back edges. Inspect the bracelet attachment points for cracks or stress. The case back can be stubborn to open, and forced attempts sometimes leave tool marks or damage the edge. |
| Crown | Check that the crown is original to the watch and not a generic replacement. A mismatched crown is a minor issue but worth knowing, and an ill-fitting crown can affect how smoothly the movement winds and sets. |
The Movement
The caliber 987F is a 17-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton used across a range of its early 1930s dress watches. It winds and sets reliably, keeps good time when properly serviced, and is small enough to fit in the refined tonneau cases Hamilton favored in this period. Parts availability is not unlimited for movements of this age, so finding a watchmaker with genuine experience on pre-war Hamilton calibers matters.