Junction Borough, the Hampton Branch and a name change in 1909
When the Legislature incorporated this place on February 20, 1895, from parts of Lebanon and Bethlehem Townships, it was called Junction Borough, and the name was literal. The Central Railroad of New Jersey's main line crossed the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western here, and a 5.2 mile connector called the Hampton Branch ran from the junction to Washington from 1856 until it was abandoned in 1958. The borough took the name Hampton in 1909 and picked up a little more land from Glen Gardner and Bethlehem Township in 1931.
Two mix-ups follow the name around. New Hampton is a separate village a few miles away in Lebanon Township, and the Hamptons are on Long Island, well over a hundred miles east. This page is for Hampton borough, ZIP 08827, and the farms and townships around it.
Railroad pocket watches, Voorhees class rings and wedding gold
Railroad men were required to carry watches that met railroad time-service standards, and a good number of those pocket watches are still in Hampton drawers along with their chains and fobs. Most cases are gold-filled rather than solid gold. Gold-filled means a thin layer of gold bonded over base metal, so it is not priced like 14K, but the maker and movement can carry collector value that a melt price would miss. Solid 14K and 10K cases do exist, and the XRF tells them apart in seconds. The watch buying page covers how a watch is judged.
Hampton teenagers go to Voorhees High School in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees district, and their class rings are mostly 10K, which is 41.7 percent gold, or 14K at 58.5 percent. Add the wedding bands, crosses and chains a small borough holds on to for generations, and a coin tin or two, and that is most of what reaches us from here.
A quick first sale, in a customer's own words
“Had a gold ring that I never wore, so figured I’d bring it in. Ed was kind and very helpful! The process was very quick and ready. Would recommend!”
Megan, five-star Google review of Cash 4 Gold Trading Post in Middlesex
Leave the case closed and the chain attached
Do not pry open the case back or try to wind a watch that has stopped; a forced crown or a scratched movement costs more than it reveals. Keep the chain, fob and any box or paperwork with it, and bring every watch in the family even if you think the case is plated.
For a family house with more than a drawer or two of jewelry, the estate buyers service can come out, and the New Jersey estate jewelry guide covers what an executor needs.
Route 31 south to Clinton, then I-78 east
From Main Street, take Route 31 south past Glen Gardner to I-78 at Clinton, head east on I-78 past Whitehouse Station to Bedminster, take I-287 south, and follow Route 28 east through Bound Brook into Middlesex. The store is at 748 Bound Brook Rd, around 34 minutes from Hampton, with parking in front.
Which parts of Hampton and its neighbours do we hear from?
Main Street and the streets around the old junction, the Route 31 corridor, and the homes along the Musconetcong. Glen Gardner, Lebanon Township including New Hampton, and Bethlehem Township use the same drive, as do Washington Township and Washington borough across the Warren County line.
What do Hampton sellers bring?
Pocket watches, class rings, wedding gold and coins lead the list. Pick a category to read how it is judged.
What happens after a Hampton seller walks in
Show your ID and set everything down. Watches are looked at for maker and movement before anyone thinks about the case metal. Rings and chains are read by XRF one at a time, sterling is split from plate, and each lot is weighed on a certified scale facing you. You get one firm number built on that day's live market, with watch, diamond or collector value called out separately. Accept and you leave paid; decline and you owe nothing.
A railroad pocket watch, a Voorhees class ring, a band nobody wears anymore? Bring it down Route 31 and I-78 from Hampton and see it tested, free.
📞 Get a Free Appraisal: (732) 629-7600Hampton cash for gold: frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Hampton to the Middlesex store?
About 34 minutes. Take Route 31 south to I-78 at Clinton, I-78 east to I-287 south, then Route 28 east through Bound Brook to 748 Bound Brook Rd in Middlesex. Phone (732) 629-7600.
Is Hampton, NJ the same as New Hampton or the Hamptons?
No. Hampton is a borough in Hunterdon County, ZIP 08827, first named Junction Borough in 1895. New Hampton is a separate village in Lebanon Township, and the Hamptons are on Long Island in New York.
Is a gold-filled railroad pocket watch worth bringing in?
Often, yes. The gold-filled case is not priced like solid gold, but the maker and movement can have collector value. Solid 10K and 14K cases also exist, and the XRF tells them apart.
Is a Voorhees class ring real gold?
Usually. Most class rings are 10K or 14K. The karat is read and the ring is weighed in front of you; a synthetic stone does not add value but does not stop the gold being bought.
Why was Hampton first called Junction?
Because it grew at the crossing of the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. The borough was incorporated as Junction in 1895 and renamed Hampton in 1909.
Do you also buy from Glen Gardner, Lebanon Township and Washington?
Yes. Sellers from Glen Gardner, Lebanon Township, Bethlehem Township, and Washington Township and borough in Warren County come to the same Middlesex counter.
More for Hampton sellers
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