1942 Model 22 Marine ChronometerDuring World War Two Hamilton dedicated production to US military purposes and the war effort. This included wrist watches for military personnel as well as specialized timers for precision bombing runs. Hamilton also produced clocks for aircraft. And finally, Hamilton produced highly precise chronometers for the US Navy, Army and our allies. One of these chronometers was called the Model 22.
So the first thing to point out on this watch (often referred to as a deck watch) is it's large size. It's a 35 Size and about 70mm in diameter at the main plate of the movement. The largest pocket watch Hamilton made was an 18 Size, so this is a very sizable time piece.
It's presented often in a gimbaled box, although you will also see it in a stainless steel pocket watch-like form (I think that might be the Army version). The brass case on the gimbaled version is very heavy and the design is such that the dial always faces up - thus eliminating a cause for timing variation. Regardless of the boxes relative position, the dial always faces up.The sub-dial below the hour and minute hands is the seconds. The sub-dial above the hands is the mainspring tension - or how wound up the watch is. Like a fuel tank indicator, the little hand will move from right to left as the 60 hours of run time are elapsed.


In the photo above, the watch is wound with the large knob (crown) on top of the 12. Next to the 11 is a pin that you push in so that you can pull up the crown and set the watch to the appropriate time. The other four protrusions on the sides of the watch are screws for mounting the watch in the gimbaled box.
All movements are marked US Navy BU SHIPS and the year they were made - even the ones that saw service with the Army.Exquisite restored condition.