Webster
1931–1935 · 14k Solid White Gold / 14k White Gold Filled / 14k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Webster
The Webster was made from 1931 through 1935, a tonneau-cased dress watch offered in 14K white gold, 14K white Gold Filled, and 14K yellow Gold Filled. Depending on the year and configuration, it ran on Hamilton's caliber 987F, 987E, or 979F, all manual wind movements in 17- or 19-jewel versions. The Webster sits in the same family as the Glenn Curtiss, sharing similar case proportions and dial sensibilities from that early 1930s period. At its 1932 retail price of $55, it was a respectable mid-range offering, and Hamilton gave buyers the option to upgrade to a raised gold figure dial at no additional charge.
Silver dials on Websters from this era are prone to the full range of age-related issues: spotting, hairline cracks in enamel, and fading lume that has often shifted to a warm cream or brown. The black enamel dial variant shows up occasionally and tends to hold up well visually when it does. Finding one with a clean case and original crown intact is the harder part of the hunt, since four-plus decades of handling have a way of working through Gold Filled cases.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1932 catalog introduced the Webster as the latest addition to the Grade 987 line, offering it in 14K gold-filled white or natural yellow gold at $55, with the raised gold figure dial available at no extra cost.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1932
1933
1934
1935
What to Look For
| Dial | Check for spotting, cracking, or flaking on the silver dial, particularly around the lume numerals, which can pull away from the dial surface or discolor significantly at this age. If the dial claims to be the raised gold numeral variant, look closely to confirm those numerals are original and not a later replacement. The black enamel variant has its own things to watch: chips at the edges and around the crown opening are common. |
| Crystal | The crystal on these is almost certainly a replacement by now, and that is fine. Confirm it fits the tonneau shape cleanly with no gaps or separation at the edges. |
| Movement | Dried lubricants in a movement of this age create real friction that can cause erratic timekeeping or stop the watch entirely. Budget for a full service regardless of whether it is running. On the 987F and 987E, the balance pivot and hairspring are both fragile during adjustment, so this is not a movement to hand to someone who is not familiar with it. |
| Case | Gold-filled examples from this period will show wear-through at high-contact points: lugs, case back edges, and crown area. Check those spots carefully. On the 14K solid white gold versions, look for deep dings or bends in the soft lugs. Case backs on these can be stubborn to open, so look for evidence of prying attempts around the seam. |
| Crown | Original crowns are often long gone on watches from the early 1930s. Confirm the crown threads smoothly and pulls out cleanly to the winding and setting positions without slipping. |
The Movement
The Webster was fitted with one of three related Hamilton movements depending on production year: the 17-jewel caliber 987F, the 17-jewel caliber 987E, or the 19-jewel caliber 979F. All three are manual wind movements that were workhorses of Hamilton's American production during this period, built to a high standard but now well past the service intervals any of them were designed for. The 979F, with its additional jewels, is the most refined of the group, though all three are capable runners when properly serviced.