Auto Date Franklin
1977 · Micron Plated/ssb or Stainless Steel · Automatic
About the Auto Date Franklin
Made only in 1977, the Auto Date Franklin is part of Hamilton's Auto Date family, a line of date-displaying automatics that carried the brand through the 1970s. The Franklin came in two case configurations: a micron plated version with a stainless steel back, and a full stainless steel version. The hooded lug design gives it a sporty, purposeful profile that reads as very much of its era.
Micron plating is the first thing to scrutinize on any plated Franklin. The plating on these cases is thin by design, and wear on the lugs and case edges is common after nearly five decades. The stainless steel version sidesteps that concern entirely, which is part of why collectors often prefer it. Applied indices on the dial mean any damage there is visible and affects both appearance and value, so a clean dial on either version is genuinely worth something.
From the Catalog
Hamilton offered the Franklin in 1977 at $155.00 for the micron plated version and $140.00 for the stainless steel, positioning the stainless as the slightly more accessible option despite being the more durable case choice by most collectors' standards today.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1977
1978
What to Look For
| Dial | The applied indices can lift, shift, or show corrosion if moisture ever got into the case. Look closely at each marker under good light before buying. Any index that sits unevenly or shows a dark ring around its base has been compromised. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or a hazy, crazing surface. Replacement crystals for this case profile exist, but fitting them correctly matters, so a damaged crystal is a known service cost to factor in. |
| Movement | Oil dries out in stored automatics, and dried oil creates enough friction to stop the movement entirely. A watch that won't run without vigorous shaking, or stops soon after, almost certainly needs a full service before it can be trusted. |
| Case | On the micron plated version, check the lug tops and case sides for worn-through plating that exposes the base metal. On the stainless version, look for dents or deep gouges around the hooded lugs, which are structurally fine but hard to restore cleanly. |
| Crown | Work the crown through all its positions. It should move smoothly into the setting positions and return to the winding position without resistance or wobble. A sticky or loose crown often points to a worn stem or compromised seal. |
The Movement
The Auto Date family of this period relied on Hamilton's Swiss-sourced automatic movements, though specific caliber data for the Franklin is not confirmed here. These movements are date-displaying automatics wound by a rotor, with no need to wind by hand under normal wear. If you're buying a Franklin for regular wear rather than display, knowing what's inside and confirming it's been recently serviced matters more than the movement designation alone.