Auto Date Clermont
1974–1976 · 826 or 827 / 14k Gold Electroplate / Stainless Steel Back
About the Auto Date Clermont
Made from 1974 through 1976, the Auto Date Clermont is a round-cased date watch from Hamilton's Auto Date family, running on either the caliber 631 or the caliber 826 depending on the example. The case is 36mm wide and 43mm long, built in 14k Gold Electroplate over stainless steel back, and runs fairly large for its era at 15mm thick. The Clermont sits in the practical, everyday end of the Auto Date lineup, a range of automatics Hamilton offered through the mid-1970s as Swiss-made movements became the norm for the brand.
Finding a Clermont in decent shape usually means checking that Gold Electroplate carefully, since 50 years of wear tends to show first on the lugs and the high points of the case. The hidden lug design keeps the profile clean but also means case edge wear can catch you off guard if you're not looking closely. The black dial with applied indices has aged well on most examples, though look for any separation or peeling at the edges of those indices.
From the Catalog
Hamilton listed the Clermont in 14k gold electroplate with a black dial at $169.95, positioning it as a solid midrange automatic date watch for the period.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1972
1974
1975
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the applied indices. Check each one for separation, loose edges, or gaps where moisture may have crept under over the years. The black dial itself should be uniform in color, with no fading, spotting, or discoloration around the date window. |
| Crystal | Expect scratches on a crystal this age. What matters more is checking for deep gouges or crazing that will scatter light and make the dial hard to read. A replacement mineral crystal is an inexpensive fix if needed. |
| Movement | Wind the watch and let it run for a few hours before trusting the timekeeping. Dried oil creates enough friction to stop a vintage automatic even when the watch winds and sets normally, so a brief test period tells you a lot. Ask about service history. |
| Case | Examine the gold electroplate on the lugs, case edges, and crown area. The hidden lug design can disguise wear until you look at the right angle in good light. Spotty or thin plating is common on 50-year-old electroplate and is worth factoring into your assessment. |
| Crown | Work the crown through all positions. It should wind smoothly and set the date and time without slipping or catching. A sticky or gritty crown often points to dried lubricants inside that need attention. |
The Movement
The Clermont was fitted with either the caliber 631 or the caliber 826, both Swiss-made automatics from Hamilton's mid-1970s production era. The 826 is a date-only movement with quick-change date functionality, while the 631 is a related caliber from the same generation. Both are self-winding with a bidirectional rotor, and both are serviceable movements when properly maintained. One thing worth knowing about the 826: it contains a small U-shaped spring that presses on the index lever, and it has a reputation for flinging off during servicing, so a watchmaker who knows the movement is worth seeking out.