Hi all,
Although being a fan of watches and movements, I had never heard of Hamilton. Until last week!
Sadly my grandfather past away in December. When visiting my grandmother last week, she asked me: “Aren’t you interested in watches? Your grandfather has a watch which hasn’t ran for 10 years, but is I very nice brand I believe. If you want you can have it.”
The watch turned out to be a Hamilton Fontainebleau purchased for 495 guilders (I’m Dutch , at the time 250 dollars) in 1975. After Googling Hamilton, the Fontainbleau, Caliber 11, electrics, etc….a new Hamilton fan was born! Maybe this is common knowledge, but the Caliber 11 movement is the first automatic chronograph movement ever made. It was developed by a consortium of various brand: Hamilton/Breitling/Hauer/Buren. A very interesting clockwork that changed the business. For more info: google caliber 11.
Although delighted with this inheritance, that has a very high emotional value for me, I am very concerned with the state of the watch. It has been absolutely abused. Since there was no internet at the time (nor a Hamilton dealer in the Netherlands), my grandfather wasn’t able to find a jeweler or watchmaker to properly have it serviced. When the bracelet got damaged, he brought it to a local (cheap) jeweler in his hometown. The jeweler mounted a terrible Citizen (OMG) bracelet and a short while later the watch stopped running.
I took it to a vintage watch specialist today for a quote to repair the Fontainebleau. The watchmaker has opened the watch and diagnosed that water has gone in to the case. The movement is rusty at a few places and the crown is damaged. It needs to be taken apart, cleaned and serviced. I’m guessing that the jeweler that mounted the citizen bracelet has opened the watch and didn’t close it properly. Anyway, to make a long story short, the watchmaker has quoted the repair around 700 euro’s (950 us). Definitely worth it because, besides the emotional value it has to me and I would never sell it, a Hamilton Fontainebleau is offered in between 1500 and 2500 euro’s in Europe (2k to 3k us).
Perhaps you guys can help me with few things:
1. Is the watchmakers quote reasonable in your opinion?
2. Are you guys all in the US or do you recommendations for good watchmakers in Europe or even in the Netherlands?
3. Do you know if it’s possible to get a new plexiglass cover (no idea what it’s called in English, I mean the glass on the case)?
4. Do you know if it’s possible to get original or replica leather or steel bracelets?
Thanks so much for your help. I’ve made some pictures with my phone. Not very good quality, but it gives you an impression. As you can see on the pictures, I'm not yet used to the crowm on the left
Although being a fan of watches and movements, I had never heard of Hamilton. Until last week!
Sadly my grandfather past away in December. When visiting my grandmother last week, she asked me: “Aren’t you interested in watches? Your grandfather has a watch which hasn’t ran for 10 years, but is I very nice brand I believe. If you want you can have it.”
The watch turned out to be a Hamilton Fontainebleau purchased for 495 guilders (I’m Dutch , at the time 250 dollars) in 1975. After Googling Hamilton, the Fontainbleau, Caliber 11, electrics, etc….a new Hamilton fan was born! Maybe this is common knowledge, but the Caliber 11 movement is the first automatic chronograph movement ever made. It was developed by a consortium of various brand: Hamilton/Breitling/Hauer/Buren. A very interesting clockwork that changed the business. For more info: google caliber 11.
Although delighted with this inheritance, that has a very high emotional value for me, I am very concerned with the state of the watch. It has been absolutely abused. Since there was no internet at the time (nor a Hamilton dealer in the Netherlands), my grandfather wasn’t able to find a jeweler or watchmaker to properly have it serviced. When the bracelet got damaged, he brought it to a local (cheap) jeweler in his hometown. The jeweler mounted a terrible Citizen (OMG) bracelet and a short while later the watch stopped running.
I took it to a vintage watch specialist today for a quote to repair the Fontainebleau. The watchmaker has opened the watch and diagnosed that water has gone in to the case. The movement is rusty at a few places and the crown is damaged. It needs to be taken apart, cleaned and serviced. I’m guessing that the jeweler that mounted the citizen bracelet has opened the watch and didn’t close it properly. Anyway, to make a long story short, the watchmaker has quoted the repair around 700 euro’s (950 us). Definitely worth it because, besides the emotional value it has to me and I would never sell it, a Hamilton Fontainebleau is offered in between 1500 and 2500 euro’s in Europe (2k to 3k us).
Perhaps you guys can help me with few things:
1. Is the watchmakers quote reasonable in your opinion?
2. Are you guys all in the US or do you recommendations for good watchmakers in Europe or even in the Netherlands?
3. Do you know if it’s possible to get a new plexiglass cover (no idea what it’s called in English, I mean the glass on the case)?
4. Do you know if it’s possible to get original or replica leather or steel bracelets?
Thanks so much for your help. I’ve made some pictures with my phone. Not very good quality, but it gives you an impression. As you can see on the pictures, I'm not yet used to the crowm on the left