A Mysterious Hamilton Estoril 300
Calling all watch sleuths!
I was hoping someone might be able to tell me a bit about this particular Hamilton Estoril. I picked this up a while back and spent some time cleaning it up. The crystal was completely scratched, but a bit of polywatch and elbow grease took care of every single one. It's really come alive!
The question I have is about the word "Solar" that is sitting below the Hamilton logo. In all the other models I have researched, the word "Hamilton" generally sits below the logo and there is no sign of the word "Solar." I have yet to come across one with the same marking.
The model number: 64059-4
I would also like to know about the movement. It keeps really good time so far but does not have a number designation. Instead "Unadjusted" appears written on the rotor. I am hoping someone will recognize it from the images.
Finally, any strap suggestions are welcome.
Thanks and happy sleuthing,
Caley
Quite possibly a presentation watch from a company called SOLAR.
Quite possibly a presentation watch from a company called SOLAR.
Interesting.Thank you. I'll try to find out more with this as a stating point.
Estoril was Hamilton's European market skin diver (allegedly 300 ft. of water resistance). It is similar to the Dateline A-578. You have the higher jeweled Caliber 64. I agree with @foghorn that it may be a presentation watch of some sort.
Odd, here's what my grandfather's looks like:
I do know he got his in the late 60s or early 70s, and that Estoril is a famous casino in Portugal, and I'm guessing this was some kind of tie-in marketing. This one has never been serviced, still works, and only loses 5-8 seconds per day. Shown here on a Delugs Dark Brown Mud slim strap 19mm wide. There's no way the "300" on the reverse side means 300m (or feet); I doubt the crown could resist immersion in 3 inches of water.
This is an interesting one. I’ve never seen any tie-in between Solar and Hamilton. It has every appearance of being a factory printed dial which makes it more unusual.
The format of the case number 64059-4 indicates that it should be between 1969 and 1972, after Hamilton closed it’s American manufacturing and moved all production to its Buren plant in Switzerland but before it sold a partial stake in the brand to SSIH in 1972.
This is an interesting one. I’ve never seen any tie-in between Solar and Hamilton. It has every appearance of being a factory printed dial which makes it more unusual.
The format of the case number 64059-4 indicates that it should be between 1969 and 1972, after Hamilton closed it’s American manufacturing and moved all production to its Buren plant in Switzerland but before it sold a partial stake in the brand to SSIH in 1972.
Thanks. This is great input. Do you know anything about the company, Solar?
Thanks. This is great input. Do you know anything about the company, Solar?
My interest is vintage Hamilton. I haven’t heard any reference to Solar watches in relation to Hamilton. Hamilton had relationships with Illinois, Howard, Buren, Huguenin, Pulsar, Vantage, Standard Time Corp. and Ricoh. Solar may have slipped in there somehow. Hamilton was a giant conglomerate at that time with many other brands and trademarks in its portfolio.
Odd, here's what my grandfather's looks like:
I do know he got his in the late 60s or early 70s, and that Estoril is a famous casino in Portugal, and I'm guessing this was some kind of tie-in marketing. This one has never been serviced, still works, and only loses 5-8 seconds per day. Shown here on a Delugs Dark Brown Mud slim strap 19mm wide. There's no way the "300" on the reverse side means 300m (or feet); I doubt the crown could resist immersion in 3 inches of water.
Wow, that's amazing. Looks great with that strap.
I've noticed two differences between ours. Your grandfather's hands do not contain lume, where mine has a sliver in the middle of each. And the crown on yours looks like it's flat on the edge where mine is rounded. Is yours signed? Mine is not.
The crown on mine is not signed, and appears smaller/thinner. That's the one place where the gold plate has deteriorated. The hands do have lume, as well as tiny plots on the ends of the indices, but it only glows for ~5 seconds after hitting it with the blacklight. Given the age of the watch, pretty impressive that it works this well.
There's the back - maybe some differences there too. I need to get mine cleaned and serviced, and I do wear it on occasion, e.g., yesterday, which was my late grandfather's birthday (1909) 🥳
The crown on mine is not signed, and appears smaller/thinner. That's the one place where the gold plate has deteriorated. The hands do have lume, as well as tiny plots on the ends of the indices, but it only glows for ~5 seconds after hitting it with the blacklight. Given the age of the watch, pretty impressive that it works this well.
There's the back - maybe some differences there too. I need to get mine cleaned and serviced, and I do wear it on occasion, e.g., yesterday, which was my late grandfather's birthday (1909) 🥳
Ah, it does have lume. Very nice!