| Author | Message | ||
     SteveL Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
My brother inherited my grandfather's Hamilton Contour quite some time ago. Since I became a watch fanatic a few years ago, I thought I would try to find out more info about it for him. Unfortunately, other than the fact that they are uncommon due to initial market failure, I have been unable to find much info. Does anyone out there have anything out there I can pass along to him? An approximate value for insurance purposes would probably also be useful, since I have not been able to find a sales or auction price for one anywhere. Thanks in advance, Steve | ||
| Don Baker Moderator Username: Don Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
 The "Contour" was released by Hamilton on July 15, 1938. It was advertised as a "driver's watch" - "..styled as a side-of-the-wrist watch that can also be worn conventionally on the top." Hamilton told its jewelers "we've had dozens of side-of-the-wrist models under consideration during the past year, but none filled all the natural requirements of such a watch. The right answer is a sturdy watch which fits on the side of any wrist, but is not limited to this position only. It should also fit the top (or bottom), whichever the owner desires." It was a novel idea, obviously meant to compete head-to-head the Gruen "Curvex" models, but was not well received by the public. In January, 1940, Hamilton finally acknowledged its failure and in a very unusual move offered to exchange returned (from jewelers) "Contour" models for credit against any other 14K gold-filled grade 982 watches. Production of the "Contour" model ended that year. Production records are not available for the "Contour" model, but it is a scarce model. Finer Times has sold four over the past few years priced in the mid to high $400. Given the continuing interest among collectors in Hamilton, the prices of all Hamilton models continues to increase. I would estimate the current value of a "Contour" model in fine condition would be in the $500-$600 range. |