Hamilton – Piping Rock Original 1930`s Vintage 14kt. Gold Watch – Cal. 987

The Hamilton Piping Rock was introduced in April 1928 and takes its name from the Piping Rock Club on Long Island—a private club whose members included J.P. Morgan, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Averell Harriman.

That same year, 1928, Hamilton presented custom-engraved Piping Rock watches to every New York Yankees player following their World Series victory. Both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig received one; Gehrig’s watch was sold at auction in 2014 for over $340,000.

Only 3,815 watches from the initial yellow gold series were produced before manufacturing ceased in 1932. Its tonneau-shaped case—featuring a black enamel bezel with fired-enamel Roman numerals and flexible lugs that pivot to follow the wrist—made it one of the most recognizable and iconic American watches of the 20th century.

This Piping Rock features a 14kt yellow gold case measuring 28.5 × 42 mm. The case is in excellent condition, showing only light signs of wear. The black enamel bezel is also in excellent condition, with only very slight traces of use. The flexible lugs are secure and free of play.

The silver-toned dial features “indelible” enamel markings; the graphics are not merely printed but are enameled directly into the dial surface, rendering them permanent. The dial is in excellent condition with only very slight signs of wear. The hands are original to the watch.

The movement is the Hamilton Caliber 987, a true in-house manual-wind movement (rated “Manifattura+” by our standards, as even the hairspring was produced in-house) manufactured at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania factory. This caliber is finished to Hamilton’s highest production standard: hand-applied *Côtes de Genève* striping, gold jewel settings secured by screws, and hand-engraved lettering—quality typically found in top-tier watchmaking. The movement has been serviced and runs well.

The watch is fitted with a genuine vintage-yet-new, USA-made lizard strap, complete with its original vintage Hamilton buckle.

This watch has been serviced in our workshop and is in perfect working order. It comes with our six-month warranty and a certificate of authenticity.

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