How to Identify Fake US Military Watches

The number of fake US Military watches for sale will stagger the imagination, especially for people who collect militaria. According to The War Times Journal, 

The last decade has seen a huge increase in the number of people who collect militaria and war relics. There are many reasons for this including the recent passing of the fiftieth and sixtieth anniversaries of World War II. Other reasons include the Internet and the popularity of newer and more realistic movies such as the fictional Saving Private Ryan and the even better non-fiction story of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Band of Brothers. Renewed interest is likely to continue as follow-up movies are released, such as the upcoming Band of Brothers sequel The Pacific. The rapidly approaching one-hundred year anniversary of World War I is likely to push militaria from that war further into the limelight that World War II items already enjoy. 

The article continues to explain the complications for beginners.

No one ever discussed the notion of fake WWII and Viet Nam era watches. I focused on a different military specification - the one that Hamilton used to create the Khaki model.


I received a letter that opened my eyes. It came from a watch guy in Malaysia. I'm sharing the exchange between us here.


CK Lim wrote:

Good day. I'm CK here from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

I came to know your website after helping my uncle to identify a vintage he recently acquired - Hamilton Type A-11 for U.S. servicemen (please refer attachments).

However I was unable to find any info about this piece, therefore would like to seek your advice whether this piece is genuine or a fake Hamilton.

Thank you in advance.


CK included these pictures. You can click on an image to enlarge it.




I replied:

CK. I think it's fake. I'm attaching a pdf file that covers everything one might know about these watches. Take a look. Maybe you can find a specification that fits. If Hamilton made this watch, they wouldn't have made it in the US. The movement doesn't look like it fits in an A-11.

(Take a look at "US Government issued Vietnam War Watches with a Section on Fake" from  GSW Suwanee, GA, USA)

GSW has extensive information on most watches about which I know. You can find the download at http://lsyf.com/download/military-id/US-GOV-ISSUE-VIETNAM-WATCHES.pdf but I encourage you to visit GSW's website.

CK replied:

Judging from the info in the PDF file, I believe most likely my uncle's Hamilton is fake.

Below are some of the reasons:

1. The brand "Hamilton" should not appear on the dial of military contract watches (except Bulova).
2. The dial design does not fit military specification.
3. There is no luminescence on its marker, minute and hour hands.
4. There is no second hand.
5. The stainless steel case does not look like A-11 design.

In fact, I had also found a forum indicated that Hamilton never developed Type A-11 -

http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?46212-Why-didn%92t-Hamilton-make-a-Type-A-11-Watch


I wrote again:

Thank you for the opportunity. I had a blog entry discussing World War II, but it never went into great depth. Hamilton had already supplied the US Military with a few hundred thousand watches when the A-11 went into production. Supposedly, Hamilton did have a small hand in the A11 project but did not retrofit their assembly line, due to the needs of the Allies.

I hope you find this helpful when you shop on eBay. If you choose Amazon instead, I hope you will use extra caution. Please, do not take that as a knock on Amazon, I just find eBay's process for returns easier. - That's my opinion.