WW2 Hamilton UDT Canteen Watch

[River Rat 1]

Got this incoming Had a chance years ago to buy the Elgin Version for a 1000 at the time I thought too high. I goofed there going for more today. The last couple months I got a couple rare military issued watch this one and a RCAF issued Waltham same as the A-11 issued to the US Army Air Corps but has a white dial with RCAF of the dial. Hard to believe US Navy UDT divers only had fins, mask, Kbar, swim trunks to swim on to a beach to clear it and don't forget explosives to blow up those beach obstacles. The cap a replacement a lot of these they're missing there a guy in Europe who had some made. I was told this before I bought the watch. I got a second hand for an Omega 6B from him before so knew were he got the part for this.

[Tonomachi]

Great find as I have always wanted one of these but the asking prices on these types of wrist watches are just more than I want to spend.  I hope you don't mind but of all places I recently saw one of these watches up for bid on the online auction site run by Goodwill Industries.   I was surprised by the winning bid of $4502.00 back on January 15, 2026.  My guess is that it sold for this much because it was worn by a former member of UDT-3 during WW2 (see photos).  

 

 

 

 

 

[River Rat 1]

going to send you a PM on what I paid. And I seen a fixer upper I will tell you about I saw.

[River Rat 1]

I was searching for what type of straps went on these and found these Ranger-Tennere US Navy Strap there made out of ether rubber or plastic I guess the cloth type and water determinate so later these were used I thought I would look on eBay for the hell of it did not think I had a chance and one pop up unused for 60 bucks so I bought it really did not want to spend anymore after buying this Hamilton but the chance of finding another strap probable nil.

[River Rat 1]

Seller's photos of the correct strap used on canteen watches I think nylon was used later like early Vietnam before better watches were used like the Benrus type 1&2 then Tudor and Rolex and Tornek Rayville issued divers. Lucky, I got a Benrus type 2 in the cheap days. I would love to own a Tornek Raville or a Tudor with documentation it was issued but never could afford it.

[River Rat 1]

One thing that makes military issued watches expensive is because you have a bunch of different collectors collecting them. Like vintage watch collectors who collect any type of vintage watch, military collectors like most here and then watch collectors who collect only vintage military issued watches and clocks. There is some watch collectors that only collect Hamiton, then some of us who concentrate on UDT gear. They made less of these so cost and demand. They might be high there was one watch I bought years ago and at the time I thought I overpaid for it. It had tripled in price since. I started with a Bulova A-11 since they made more of them the price has went up a little but most collectors here could afford to buy one. One of these days I will get the Hamilton version of the A-11 most were issued to the US Navy for pilots but for some reason the Hamilton cost more than the Elgin, Waltham, Bulova A-11's and has stopped me. But since tariffs I have stopped buying European issued watches I been going back to my roots because I started with US issued watches. I wonder if you buy a US issued watch from Europe to be back where it belongs if the point of Origin being US made gets you out of the tariff has anyone here bought a US made issued item from outside the USA have you been hit with a tariff?

[River Rat 1]

Well, got the watch today had the strap waiting for it since Saturday put them both together even with these WW2 watches smaller size it sort of has wrist presence. It;s like history on the wrist.

[River Rat 1]

Been finding out a lot of info on this watch. The days of finding one not messed with is harder they all been picked up by collectors and the parts too. The second hand is wrong probably from an Elgin A-11 I just found the correct hand for 17 bucks on eBay. It had the wrong dust cover for the movement from an Elgin found a parts Hamilton issued watch I got it just for the dust cover so it's sort of correct. It's the correct type 987S movement but the numbers were lower than the ones used in the Hamilton Canteen watches but might have been switched during repairs in its military service. The dial might have been redone on the lower part of the dial should be stamped into the dial Hamilton. I got it cheaper than a all original would have been those could go for 3000-5000 remember when they were 1000-1500 should have got one 20 years ago had one friend an old-time watch collector got one for 150, he told me. Well, the case is original except for the screw cap and chain so still has history. Just thought I would tell what I found out the movement date 1942 should be around 1944-1945 for a Hamilton canteen watch there are serial number look up sites on the net but still happy if I paid what these in all original condition I would be annoyed and wanting my money back. But it was easy to scrunch up a few correct parts. Do your homework on these just thought I would share what I learned. On Monday calling the seller to find out everything on this watch.

[River Rat 1]

When I got this watch, I notice a few things. It had the wrong second hand and was missing the dust cover. For some reason I could not see the Hamilton reprint stamp make on the dial. Someone at another forum thought it might be something funny with the dial. Well, when the watch was getting service and the correct hand was getting put on the lume fell off so my watchmaker had to relume it and sent me a photo of it. Clear as day the Hamilton mark. It was also missing a Hamilton dust cover I bought a parts Hamilton on eBay just for the correct dust cover. Should get it back next week. That wrong second hand bothered me glad to have it corrected.

[River Rat 1]

Back from getting a service and new mainspring correct second hand and dust cover.

[Just an Old dude]

Great find and a beautiful watch!  

 

OD

[aznation]

Oh boy, that's an awesome looking watch now.  Congrats!

[River Rat 1]

Hamilton Canteen watches in action in WW2. Read about 2000 of these Hamilton were manufactured wonder how many are left in collections. These photos are from 1943 so these watches might have been in use before 1944 most collectors think 1944 was when these watches were produced but the Navy wed site said 1943 for these photos. Phots came from this link more interesting photos.

https://www.nsw.navy.mil/NSW/HistoryV2