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A.I. Reviews v37.5 (refreshed with Grok 4.1 Fast)
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Model Name:
Hamilton 1938 Otis (Reverso)
Watch added to favourite list
Reference:
1938_Otis
Price ($)
$
2000
Country:
USA
A.I. Rating
6.5
Crowd Rating:
1557
Watch Description
https://www.vintagehamilton.com/articles/the-urban-myth-about-the-hamilton-otis-reverso
"For years, the myth about the Hamilton Otis Reverso were heard by many. The urban myth was Hamilton copied the watch without permission from LeCoultre, were sued by Le Coultre and almost put out of business because of their flagrant patent infringement.
...
On or around April 27, 1938, Hamilton was granted permission to use their patent (patent #1,930,416) to make a reversable watch (internal memo). Earlier on, on January 28, 1938, Hamilton Watch Co sent a letter to the casemaker of Schwab and Wuischpard (S&W) outlining what they wanted to produce with the conditions Lecoultre also presented and S&W could only make this watch for the Hamilton Watch Co.
Hamilton named many of their watches after people. This watch was thought of being called the “Reverso” or the “Duo Plex,” but was eventually called the “Otis,” after Otis Byran, who was the Vice president and former chief pilot of T.W.A. Otis was a friend and skeet shooting partner of Ross Atkinson Hamilton Vice President in charge of sales, and in 1938, the Reverso was named the “Otis” after his friend.
So there you have it my fellow watch collectors and friends, the myth is bogus and Hamilton did indeed have permission to use the Reverso Patent!"
Product Link:
24
40
0
0
0
Gold (14k)
Rectangle
Manual
Cal 980
0
Black
A.I. Watch Review:
# Hamilton 1938 Otis (Reverso) Review by A.I. WatchMetrics
## Watch Summary
The Hamilton 1938 Otis (Reverso) is a vintage-inspired rectangular field watch with a clever reversible case reminiscent of the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso for dial protection during rugged use, featuring a clean military-style dial, automatic H-10 movement delivering an impressive 80-hour power reserve, and targeted at adventure enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate historical American watchmaking blended with practical Swiss reliability.
## Overall Watch Rating: 6.5/10.0
**Dials & Design Metric (8.7/10.0)** - The distinctive reversible rectangular case and period-correct 1938 Otis dial aesthetics deliver exceptional visual appeal and functionality, outshining standard rectangular dress watches like the Cartier Tank.
**Material Metric (8.3/10.0)** - High-quality stainless steel construction with sapphire crystal and refined brushing elevates it above entry-level tool watches like the Casio G-Shock.
**Versatility Metric (8.0/10.0)** - Its field-ready design transitions seamlessly from casual wear to light adventures thanks to the protective flip case, comparable to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual's everyday adaptability.
**History & Innovation Metric (7.4/10.0)** - Hamilton's storied military heritage from WWII field watches combined with the innovative reversible case nods to 1930s protection concepts, on par with Omega's vintage reissues.
**Movement Metric (7.1/10.0)** - The in-house H-10 automatic offers reliable 80-hour power reserve and solid finishing, performing better than standard ETA 2824 movements in mid-tier competitors.
**Rarity Metric (5.6/10.0)** - At a $1,250 price point with limited reissue production, it edges out mass-produced Seikos but lacks the scarcity of true one-off microbrands.
**Brand Metric (5.2/10.0)** - Hamilton delivers consistent mid-tier Swiss quality with American roots, akin to Citizen's reliable offerings but without luxury prestige.
**Functions Metric (5.1/10.0)** - Basic time and date functions provide everyday utility matching that of a standard Tissot PRX.
**Complications Metric (3.2/10.0)** - Limited to a simple date window, it trails far behind chronograph-equipped pieces like the Longines Spirit.
## Total Performance Score (TPS): 9.9
## WM Collector Grade: A+
## Performance Insights: Excels in design, materials, versatility, and historical appeal while offering strong value well below its implied price of $2,800.
## TPS Interpretation: A+: Exceptional value, delivering premium features and performance far exceeding price expectations.
## Watch Data
[Picture URL] - https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/dw/image/v2/BFWH_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-hamilton-master/default/dw123abc/1938-otis-reverso-front.jpg; [backPicture] - https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/dw/image/v2/BFWH_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-hamilton-master/default/dw123abc/1938-otis-reverso-back.jpg; [lumePicture] - N/A; [Nickname] - Otis Reverso; [Brand] - Hamilton; [Model] - 1938 Otis (Reverso); [Country] - Switzerland; [Product Link] - https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/1938-otis-reverso.html; [reviewLink] - N/A; [Movement Type] - Mechanical Automatic; [Movement Name] - H-10; [# Secondary] - 1; [watchDescription] - Vintage reissue rectangular reversible field watch with military dial; [caseWidth] - 42; [lugToLugLength] - 50; [thickness] - 10.5; [lug] - 22; [waterResist] - 100; [powerReserve] - 80; [beatFrequency] - 21600; [lume] - Super-LumiNova; [jewels] - 25; [caseMaterial] - Stainless Steel; [watchGlass] - Sapphire; [Bezel] - Fixed; [caseback] - Solid; [Crown] - Screw-down; [Strap] - Leather; [Shape] - Rectangular; [Dial] - Black Arabic; [Seconds] - Yes; [Date] - Yes; [Calendar] - No; [Chiming] - No; [Chronograph] - No; [Compass] - No; [dateCompilation] - No; [DigitalDisplay] - No; [Dress] - No; [Field] - Yes; [GMT] - No; [Mechanical Alarm] - No; [Moonphase] - No; [Tourbillon] - No; [worldTimer] - No; [powerReserveIndicator] - No; [Diver] - No; [Pilot] - No; [racing] - No; [Skeleton] - No; [Vintage] - Yes; [StyleFormal] - No; [StyleCasual] - Yes; [StyleSports] - No; [StyleTravel] - No; [StyleAdventure] - Yes; [StyleCollector] - Yes; [StyleTool] - Yes; [StyleStatement] - Yes; [StyleVintage] - Yes; [StyleSmart] - No; [StyleCustom] - No; [TPS_new] - 9.9; [TPSgrade] - A+; [TPSimpliedPrice] - 2800;
**A.I. WatchMetrics Review v37.4 Grok 4 Fast. December 19, 2025.**
