#208 • Hamilton, Ball & Co, Grade 962, 17J, very low serial #50010

Part of 261022 - "Fall Featured Auction" Horology, Jewelry & Coins - October 1 - 22 (timed auction by Jones & Horan Auctions)

High bid $1,600.00

Status: Available

Live bidding starts Oct 22, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

APW - Hamilton, "Ball & Co. Cleveland" marked mvt and dial, Grade 962, 17J, 16S, nickel OF display recase with Illinois Watch Co. marked bezels, white enamel SS dial, SW-SS, bull's-eye pattern nickel damascene, s#50010. A very rare watch with a compelling combination of Hamilton and Ball history. While the Grade 962 itself is rare, with total production of only 350 examples, a review of Hamilton’s factory ledger reveals that just 47 were ordered by Ball, highlighting the particular rarity of these Ball-marked variants. The present watch comes from the first run of Grade 962 production, which was also very significantly the first run of 16 size Hamilton production in any grade. As this run began at serial number 50001, this makes the present watch just the 10th 16 size Hamilton by serial number. Interestingly, the Hamilton ledger shows that seven of the first ten watches of this run were made for Webb C. Ball, with the present watch having been sold to Ball on December 31st, 1896. CONDITION: Mvt: Running, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, plates with scattered fine to micro-fine scratches, steelwork with scattered oxide, center jewel setting is brass so presumably is a replacement; dial with hls at 4, fractured triangular segment at perimeter at 4 that appears likely to have been re-secured with glue, upper field of seconds-register with a small fine scratch and pinpoint nick; excellent hands of mismatched color - hour is blue, minute and seconds-hand are plum colored; case shows light wear, few nicks, no dents, good bezel marking detail; tight bow, brass replacement crown is larger than appropriate and rubs on bow while winding; good front glass crystal, rear glass crystal with some scratches. Estimate: $1,000 - $1,800 JH-80040