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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face military pocket watch

Hamilton 4992B 24-Hour Military Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This Hamilton 4992B open face military pocket watch dates to circa 1941, produced for the US Government during World War II. The dealer reports a size 16s nickel three-quarter plate movement featuring 22 jewels, a lever escapement, micrometer regulator, and a hacking mechanism. The black-painted metal dial is signed G.C.T. and displays an inner 24-hour chapter ring alongside an outer minute track, tracked by white-painted hands and a central sweep seconds hand. The base metal Keystone case measures 51 mm wide and 15 mm deep, featuring screw-off bezels, a fluted crown, and a contoured bow.

Hamilton 4992B military pocket watch dial showing 24-hour chapter ring and G.C.T. marking
Hamilton 4992B military pocket watch dial showing 24-hour chapter ring and G.C.T. marking — Antiques Boutique / Atlam Watches. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face military pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Hamilton Watch Co
Reference
4992B
Catalogue / lot identifier
4.260 (AB-193615)
Source-reported date
c1941
Country
USA
Source-reported serial
4C5583

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Visual Dial and Case Configuration

In the provided dial-side photograph, the watch exhibits an open-face format with a black dial bearing painted white markings. The display features an inner 24-hour chapter ring numbered 1 through 24, along with an outer minute track calibrated to 60. The dial is marked with a central painted inscription reading 'G. C. T.' and is paired with a white-painted handset comprising a spade-tip hour hand, a lance-shaped minute hand, and a counterbalanced sweep center seconds hand.

The surrounding case bezel displays a reeded coin-edge pattern, and the winding stem is mounted with a ribbed, fluted crown paired with a wide, contoured metal bow. The seller notes that the dial is black paint on metal and fitted with a synthetic glass crystal, describing the dial surface as retaining 'very small marks'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Black dial bearing the central painted inscription 'G. C. T.'”
  • “Inner chapter ring with Arabic numerals 1 through 24 and an outer minute track calibrated to 60.”
  • “White-painted handset comprising a spade-tip hour hand, lance minute hand, and counterbalanced sweep seconds hand.”
  • “Reeded coin-edge pattern around the front screw bezel.”
  • “Ribbed fluted crown paired with a wide, contoured metal bow.”
  • “The watch has a synthetic glass”
  • “very small marks”

Reported Movement and Technical Specifications

According to the seller's listing, the watch contains a size 16s, nickel three-quarter plate movement identified as reference 4992B. The seller describes the mechanism as incorporating a lever escapement, a micrometer regulator, and a hacking function that stops the balance wheel when setting the hands to permit synchronization.

The seller further states that the movement includes an added wheel and extra jewel on the top plate to bring the total count from 21 to 22 jewels. The movement plate is reported to be inscribed 'Hamilton Watch Co, USA, 4992B, 22 Jewels, US Govt, Adj Temp & 6 positions' and numbered '# 4C5583'. The watch is reported to be stem wound and stem set, with the hands completing one revolution every 24 hours.

Evidence for this section
  • “This is a 16s 22J pocket watch made for the US Government during WWII.”
  • “Movement – the high quality nickel ¾ plate movement has a lever escapement and a micrometer regulator.”
  • “The movement has a hacking feature, so that when you set the hands the balance stops allowing you to synchronise your watch with others.”
  • “The movement has a wheel and extra jewel positioned on the top plate, this brings the jewel count from 21J to 22J.”
  • “Hamilton Watch Co, USA, 4992B, 22 Jewels, US Govt, Adj Temp & 6 positions”
  • “# 4C5583”
  • “The watch is stem wound / stem set”
  • “the hands make on revolution every 24 instead of 2.”

Reported Case Markings and Photographic Limitations

The movement is housed in a Keystone base metal open-face case measuring 51 mm in width by 15 mm in depth, equipped with a screw-off front and back. The seller reports that the reverse is engraved with military contract specifications: 'PART NO AN 5740, MFR’S PART NO 4992B, SERIAL NUMBER NO. 25-4, CONTRACT  NUMBER 8686, HAMILTON WATCH CO'.

Because only a single frontal dial photograph is provided in the record, the movement details, movement serial number, and case back engravings are not recorded in this photographic view. Additionally, the seller explicitly observes that the case back military engraving is 'extremely faint'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case – the movement comes in a keystone base metal open face case, which has a screw off back and front.”
  • “The case is engraved on the back “PART NO AN 5740, MFR’S PART NO 4992B, SERIAL NUMBER NO. 25-4, CONTRACT  NUMBER 8686, HAMILTON WATCH CO””
  • “51mm wide x 15mm deep”
  • “BUT THE ENGRAVING IS EXTREMELY FAINT”

Open research questions

  • Can direct photographic inspection of the case back clarify the complete legibility of the reported faint markings ('SERIAL NUMBER NO. 25-4')?
  • Can the movement serial number '4C5583' and reported plate inscriptions be confirmed with an interior movement photograph?
  • Do military procurement records for contract 8686 correlate with the dealer's circa 1941 dating and serial 4C5583?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Hamilton 4992B 24-Hour Military Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement Serial4C5583“# 4C5583”
Jewel Count22 Jewels“22 Jewels”
Movement InscriptionHamilton Watch Co, USA, 4992B, 22 Jewels, US Govt, Adj Temp & 6 positions“Hamilton Watch Co, USA, 4992B, 22 Jewels, US Govt, Adj Temp & 6 positions”
Case Part NumberPART NO AN 5740“PART NO AN 5740”
Case Contract Number8686“CONTRACT  NUMBER 8686”
Dimensions51mm wide x 15mm deep“51mm wide x 15mm deep”
Case Serial NumberNO. 25-4“SERIAL NUMBER NO. 25-4”
Manufacturer Case Part Number4992B“MFR’S PART NO 4992B”

Visible details

  • Black dial bearing the central painted inscription 'G. C. T.'
  • Inner chapter ring with Arabic numerals 1 through 24 and an outer minute track calibrated to 60.
  • White-painted handset comprising a spade-tip hour hand, lance minute hand, and counterbalanced sweep seconds hand.
  • Reeded coin-edge pattern around the front screw bezel.
  • Ribbed fluted crown paired with a wide, contoured metal bow.

Research qualifications

  • Movement and case back engravings are reported by the source dealer but cannot be verified from the single dial-side photograph.
  • Source notes the case back military engraving is extremely faint.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Hamilton 4992B 24 Hour Military pocket watch c1941 in Antique Mens Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 0268598155

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other open-face military pocket watch records