Auto Date Hawk
1976โ1977 ยท 827 / 14k Gold Electroplate / Stainless Steel Back
About the Auto Date Hawk
Made from 1976 through 1977, the Hamilton Auto Date Hawk belongs to the Auto Date family and carries one of Hamilton's Swiss-era automatic movements, the caliber 826 or 827, depending on the variant. The case is rectangular, running 38mm wide by 40mm long with a substantial 12mm thickness, and it was offered in 14k Gold Electroplate with a stainless steel back. The Hawk was a mid-to-upper tier offering in the Auto Date lineup, finished in a brown and gilt dial with a mineral crystal and carrying water resistance.
Finding a Hawk in good shape means paying close attention to that Gold Electroplate finish, which shows wear on the lugs and case edges before anywhere else. The hooded lug design gives this case real presence on the wrist, but those same lugs can hide or concentrate wear in ways that are easy to miss in photos. The brown and gilt dial is worth inspecting under good light for fading or moisture damage around the edges, since these cases were sealed with a gasket system that does not always survive decades of opening and closing.
From the Catalog
Hamilton listed the gold electroplate version of the Hawk at $210.00 in the 1975 catalog, describing it with a brown and gilt dial and mineral crystal. The stainless steel variant with a blue and silver dial came in at $180.00, giving buyers a meaningful choice between the two finishes at different price points.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1975
1976
1977
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the brown and gilt dial for spotting, fading, or moisture damage near the edges. The applied indices catch light well on a healthy dial, but any cloudiness or separation from the surface is a sign that water or humidity has gotten inside at some point. |
| Crystal | The Hawk uses a mineral crystal, which resists scratches better than acrylic but will chip or crack if struck hard enough. Check the edges and surface under good light for chips, cracks, or deep scratches that compromise the seal. |
| Movement | The caliber 826 has a small U-shaped spring that presses on the index lever, and it has a reputation for flinging off during service or if the watch takes a hard knock. Ask whether the watch has been recently serviced and whether that spring is confirmed present and seated. |
| Case | The 14k gold electroplate finish wears through to the base metal at high-contact points, especially the lug edges and case sides. Inspect those areas carefully. The integrated lugs can obscure wear that only shows from certain angles. |
| Crown | Check that the crown screws down fully and engages each winding and setting position cleanly. A crown that slips, sticks, or feels loose may mean the stem or setting mechanism needs attention. |
The Movement
The caliber 826 and 827 are Swiss-made automatic movements Hamilton used during this period, both sharing a similar architecture with automatic winding and a date complication. The 826 runs at 18,000 beats per hour, while the 827 steps up to 21,600 bph for slightly smoother hand sweep and better positional accuracy. These are solid, serviceable movements, though they benefit greatly from fresh oil given their age.