Perry (1948)
1948–1952 · 14k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual
About the Perry (1948)
The Perry entered Hamilton's lineup in 1948 and stayed through 1952, giving it a solid five-year run during a period when Hamilton was producing some of its most refined American-made dress watches. No caliber data is available for this specific reference, but the Perry fits the broader Hamilton ethos of the late 1940s: clean, legible, and built to wear every day.
Finding a Perry in honest condition is the goal. These are watches that were worn, and the dials and cases show it. Look for originality over cosmetics, a dial with honest patina is far preferable to one that has been refinished or touched up.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Perry in its 1948 catalog as running the grade 982 movement at 19 jewels, housed in a 14K natural gold-filled case, and fitted with an 18K applied gold numeral dial. The retail price held steady at $71.50 through 1950, the last year for which pricing is documented. The 1950 catalog reinforced the same key details, specifying 19 jewels, a 14K natural gold-filled case, and 18K gold numerals on a silver dial. That consistent pricing across three catalog years suggests Hamilton positioned the Perry as a stable, mid-range dress watch in its lineup, accessible without being entry-level, and presentable enough with its applied gold numerals to serve as everyday formal wear.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1948
1949
1951
1952
What to Look For
| Dial | Check for refinishing. A redone dial loses collector value and often shows telltale signs: overly uniform color, filled-in text, or numerals that look slightly soft at the edges. Original aging is expected and fine. |
| Crystal | Expect a replacement crystal on most examples, original crystals rarely survive decades of use intact. What matters is that the fit is correct and the crystal sits flush without lifting at the edges. |
| Movement | Even a movement that ticks can be running on congealed lubricants. A watch that winds and runs today may stop tomorrow once those dried remnants are disturbed. A proper service is the only way to know what you actually have. |
| Case | Check the case edges and lugs for wear. Heavy polishing rounds out the crisp lines Hamilton put into these cases and is difficult to reverse. Some honest wear is expected; aggressive re-polishing is a different matter. |
| Crown | Make sure the crown is original or at least a correct period replacement. An oversized or mismatched crown affects the look and can suggest the original was lost during a previous service. |
The Movement
The caliber 982 is a 19-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is one of several grades that appeared in the Perry across its production run, alongside calibers 770, 987, 653, and 995, reflecting Hamilton's practice of fitting different grades to the same case depending on production runs and retailer specifications. The caliber 982 runs at 18,000 beats per hour and offers a power reserve of approximately 45 hours on a full wind. As a manually wound movement, it requires the wearer to wind it regularly at the crown rather than relying on wrist motion. The Lancaster-made Hamilton movements of this era have a well-earned reputation for solid, dependable timekeeping, and parts remain reasonably available among watchmakers who specialize in mid-century American watches. A fresh service is advisable on any example that has been sitting unworn, as decades-old lubricants do more harm than good.