This watch is a bit of a mystery to me, but what a great watch!
This is a Hampden "Chronometer" pocket watch. It's 16 size, has 21 jewels and is adjusted to 3 positions. It's stem wind and pendant set. The serial number is 3278404, which dates it to about 1915. The dial is simply marked "Hamilton", and the movement is marked "21 Jewel", "Chronometer", "Adjusted to Three Positions", "Double Roller", "Safety Pinion", "3278404" and "Canton, O."
Now, here's where it get's mysterious.... Shugart's "Complete Guide to Watches" lists one 16 size Hampden with the grade name "Chronometer". That particular watch [which just so happens to be a rare, 2-star watch worh as much as $1,000] is listed as having a detent escapement, however, whereas this watch has a standard lever escapement instead. In the back of the listings for size 16 watches, there are a few other possible candidates. There is the "555" grade, which is supposed to be marked "Chronometer" on both the dial and the movement [and is also worth big bucks]. At first, I thought this watch might be a 555 with a replacement dial. But then I heard from a number of watch collectors who said the 555 grade is adjusted to 5 positions, instead of just 3. The next candidate would be the "120" grade. However, that is listed as being marked "Chronometer" on the dial [and presumably not on the movement], whereas this watch is marked on the movement and not the dial! So, this watch is not the "Chronometer" grade, it's not the "555" grade, and I don't believe it is the "120" greade, either. So what grade is it? I really don't know. I do know that it is fantastically accurate whatever grade it might be, and definitely deserves to bear the marking "Chronometer".
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