Automatic K-415
1960 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Automatic
About the Automatic K-415
Made only in 1960, the Automatic K-415 is part of Hamilton's broad Automatic family of self-winding dress watches from that era. It runs on the caliber 667, a 17-jewel automatic movement, and comes in a 10K yellow Gold Filled round case with a white dial carrying embossed gold numerals and luminous markers on a pearled track. Hamilton rated it weatherproof at the time of sale, and it came on a strap at an original retail price of $95.00.
Surviving examples carry embossed gold numerals and markers, so check those closely for any signs of separation or damage since they sit proud of the dial surface and are more vulnerable than printed indexes. The pearled track detail is a nice touch that can get overlooked, but on a clean original dial it gives the watch a quiet refinement that holds up well. Finding one in honest, unpolished condition is increasingly the goal with single-year models like this.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the K-415 as having a 10K yellow gold-filled case with yellow embossed numerals, luminous markers, and a pearled track, and listed it as weatherproof. It retailed for $95.00 in 1960, positioning it as a mid-tier dress automatic in that year's lineup.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1960
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the embossed gold numerals and markers. Because they sit raised off the dial surface, they are prone to chipping, detachment, or coming loose over decades of handling. The pearled track should be crisp and even. Any fading, spotting, or moisture damage to the white dial will be visible fairly quickly, so take your time here. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or chips around the edge. A heavily scratched crystal is not a dealbreaker since replacements are available, but it can obscure dial condition until it is swapped out. |
| Movement | The caliber 667 is an automatic and should wind from normal wrist motion, but dried-out lubricants are a real concern on a movement this age. A watch running on original oil from 1960 is running on something closer to varnish, and that friction alone can stop it. Budget for a full service if the watch has not been recently cleaned. |
| Case | The 10K yellow gold-filled case should show a consistent warm tone across the surfaces. Look for wear-through at the lugs and case back edges where the gold fill tends to go first. The case back can be tricky to open without the right tools, so if it shows pry marks around the lip, ask about the service history. |
| Crown | On the caliber 667, hand-winding is awkward since only one side of the crown is easily accessible. Test that the crown winds and sets smoothly. Stiffness when winding often points back to dried lubricants inside. Also confirm the crown seals properly against the case, since the original weatherproof rating does not apply to a vintage watch today. |
The Movement
The caliber 667 is a 17-jewel automatic movement made by Hamilton in the United States. It winds from the motion of the wrist through a rotor, so it does not need daily manual winding under normal wear. Watchmakers who work on these note that reassembling the train bridge requires lining up three wheels simultaneously, which makes it a fussier movement to service than some of its contemporaries, but in good running order it is a solid and reliable caliber.