Hamilton watches, used to be an American brand with the motivation of being America’s Finest Watch Co. It is now a subsidiary of the Swiss Watch Group or Swatch. Its history is denoted as one characterized by mergers and takeovers. The Hamilton Watch Co., was established from the demise of the Keystone Standard Watch Co. In 1892. The subsequent mergers of the Lancaster group with the Aurora Watch Co., of Illinois eventually led to the inception of Hamilton Watch Co. in the same year.
Hamilton was known as a producer of high quality watches during the early 1900s, among its offerings then were the “Broadway Limited” or “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy”, the Oval, the Hamilton Electric 500, the Tonneau, the Piping Rock, the Spur and the Glendale.
Hamilton purchased the Illinois Watch Company in 1928 and prevented its own takeover by the Benrus Watch Company.
One could characterize the watch company as a conflict ridden and embattled. Not only was this true on the business end, it is also true with regards to the utility of their watches. Hamilton’s first wristwatch, created in 1917 was primarily used for World War I soldiers. While in World War II, Hamilton was among the constrained to provide the American soldier with watches to further the cause of the war.
In 1962, Hamilton engaged in an exploratory partnership with Japanese firm Ricoh to venture in the Asian markets. The partnership however was not fruitful and was ended in 3 years.
The American company again embarked on expansion when it acquired the Swiss company Buren Watch in 1966. It was from this on when Hamilton Watch moved its operations from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Switzerland.
Owning a replica Hamilton watch is a commemoration to what has been America’s Finest Watch Company until it was acquired by the Swiss Watch Group in 1972.