Square Cut Corner Engraved
1927–1930 · Gold Filled
About the Square Cut Corner Engraved
The Square Cut Corner Engraved comes from one of Hamilton's more distinctive periods, the so-called geometric era of the late 1920s when rectangular and shaped cases dominated the wristwatch lineup. Made from 1927 through 1930, it runs on Hamilton's caliber 987, a 17-jewel movement that anchored much of the American-made Hamilton line during this period. The case is Gold Filled, with a rectangular profile measuring 28.6mm in length and 9.2mm thick, and the engraved decoration at the cut corners is what separates this reference from plainer siblings. It sits within a broader family of rectangular Hamilton models from this era, each distinguished primarily by case shape and surface treatment.
Finding one in decent shape after nearly a century is genuinely satisfying, but expect the engraved detail at the cut corners to show some softening from polishing or general wear. The bezel near those corners is especially vulnerable, so look closely before assuming a crisp example. Hamilton offered this model in yellow, green, or white Gold Filled, and the color of the case metal can meaningfully affect how the engraving reads visually, with green gold in particular aging in ways that are hard to predict.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1929 catalog listed the Square Cut Corner Engraved in 14K gold at a consumer price of $87.00, with a white dial and black Arabic numerals. A gold filled version was also offered at a lower price point, giving buyers access to the same case design at different levels of investment.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1929
1930
What to Look For
| Dial | The original dial is white with black Arabic numerals. Look for cracks, staining, or amateur refinishing. A redial loses significant collector value, and on a watch this age, the dial condition is often the first thing that tells you how it was stored. |
| Crystal | The rectangular crystal should sit flush and undamaged. On cut corner cases like this one, crystals are harder to source, so confirm the fit is correct and that no one has substituted an ill-fitting replacement. |
| Movement | Lubricants in a movement this age will almost certainly have dried out, creating enough friction to stop the watch or cause damage during wear. A service is not optional on a 90-plus-year-old caliber 987. Ask when it was last done. |
| Case | The engraving at the cut corners is the defining feature of this reference, and it is also the most vulnerable. Check for wear or polishing loss around the bezel corners, and inspect the case back for prying marks from previous openings. Case backs on these can be stubborn, and improper opening attempts leave clear evidence. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown is original or at least period-appropriate in size and profile. An oversized replacement crown changes the whole look of a small rectangular watch like this. |
The Movement
The caliber 987 is a 17-jewel, American-made movement that Hamilton used across a wide range of its rectangular-cased watches during this period. It is a manual-wind movement built to fit the slimmer proportions that shaped case designs demanded. The 987 is generally reliable when properly serviced, though the balance components are delicate, and both the hairspring and balance pivots can be damaged if the adjustment is handled carelessly.