Accumatic X-B
1961 · Stainless Steel · Automatic
About the Accumatic X-B
Made only in 1961, the Accumatic X-B is a stainless steel automatic from Hamilton's Accumatic family, running on the caliber 679 with 17 jewels and a sweep seconds hand. The dial is white with embossed silver numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12, luminous markers, and a pearled track that gives the dial a bit of texture and visual depth. The Accumatic line was Hamilton's flagship automatic series of the era, and this model fits within that broader group of round-cased, everyday-wear automatics from the early 1960s.
Finding one in good shape means paying close attention to that white dial, which can yellow or develop spotting with age, and checking that the embossed numerals and pearled track detail haven't been damaged by a careless cleaning attempt. Hamilton offered the X-B both on bracelet at $75.00 and on strap at $69.50, so examples turn up in both configurations, though original bracelets in decent condition are harder to come by than the watch itself.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1961 catalog described the X-B as featuring a stainless steel case with white embossed numerals, luminous markers, and a pearled track, offered on bracelet for $75.00 or on strap for $69.50. That price difference reflects the cost of the original bracelet, which was a meaningful premium at the time.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1961
What to Look For
| Dial | White dials from this period are prone to yellowing, spotting, and moisture damage. Look closely at the embossed numerals and the pearled track detail around the chapter ring. Any flaking, peeling, or discoloration in those areas is worth factoring into your assessment. A light, even patina is one thing; damage to the surface texture is another. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches, chips at the edge, or crazing in the plastic. A hazy crystal can often be polished out, but a badly scratched or cracked one needs replacement before the watch is wearable. |
| Movement | The caliber 679 is an automatic and should keep itself wound from regular wrist motion. Oil dries out on movements this age, and even modest friction from dried lubricants can be enough to stop the watch or cause it to run erratically. A watch that winds manually but won't sustain itself on the wrist is a strong signal that a service is overdue. |
| Case | Stainless steel holds up well over time, but check the lugs for thinning if the watch has been polished repeatedly, and look at the caseback for signs of forced opening. The caseback on watches like this can be tricky to remove, and improper tools leave marks or distortion around the edge. |
| Crown | The crown should screw or snap into position smoothly and pull out cleanly to set the time. Any wobble, slippage, or roughness when winding is worth investigating, and be aware that the two-piece stem design common to this era can be fragile if the movement has been removed without care. |
The Movement
The caliber 679 is a 17-jewel automatic made by Hamilton for its round-cased Accumatic models of the early 1960s. It winds from a bidirectional rotor, meaning normal wrist movement keeps the mainspring charged without any hand-winding required under typical conditions. It's a solid, serviceable movement, not flashy, but well-built for everyday use and straightforward for a watchmaker familiar with Hamilton's automatics of this period.