Automatic K-457
1956–1958 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled / Stainless Steel · Automatic
About the Automatic K-457
Made from 1956 through 1958, the Automatic K-457 runs on Hamilton's caliber 661 and comes in a 10K yellow Gold Filled case with a stainless steel back. It's part of Hamilton's broader Automatic family from the mid-1950s, a period when Hamilton was expanding its self-winding lineup with clean, legible dress watches at accessible price points. The dial is silver with textured gold markers and luminous fill, and the watch was listed as waterproof from the factory. Both bracelet and strap configurations were available at the time of original sale.
Surviving examples often show light wear to the Gold Filled case, particularly along the lugs and case sides where plating contacts skin and straps. The luminous markers are worth a close look, since old radium-era lume can discolor or flake, and the condition of those markers tells you a lot about how the watch was stored over the decades. The swept lugs give this model a quietly elegant profile that holds up well, and finding one with an honest, uncleaned dial is the real prize.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1956 catalog described the K-457 as a 10K yellow gold-filled case with a stainless steel back, yellow engraved luminous markers, and waterproof construction. It retailed for $89.50 on a strap or $95.00 on a bracelet.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1956
1957
1958
What to Look For
| Dial | Check the textured gold markers carefully. Lume can flake or powder on watches of this era, and any missing fill changes both the look and the collector value. Look for spotting or discoloration on the silver dial, and confirm the markers are intact and evenly seated. |
| Crystal | The K-457 uses a flat acrylic crystal. Check for crazing, deep scratches, or chips around the edge. A good crystal is an easy replacement, but a cracked or severely crazed one is worth factoring into your offer. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The caliber 661 is an automatic, and oil that has dried and thickened over years of sitting can create enough friction to stop the rotor or the winding train entirely. A watch that winds smoothly by hand and runs consistently is a good sign, but a recent service is the real indicator. |
| Case | Gold-filled cases wear through to the base metal at high-contact points over time, so inspect the lugs and case edges closely. Light wear is expected and honest on a watch this age, but check for any signs that the case back has been pried from the wrong side. This case opens through the crystal side, and attempted case back prying is a common source of damage on examples that have been handled by non-specialists. |
| Crown | Test the crown through all its positions. It should pull out cleanly into hand-setting position and push back down firmly. A loose or damaged crown compromises any waterproof rating, and no vintage watch should be trusted near water regardless of its original specification. |
The Movement
The caliber 661 is a 17-jewel automatic movement made by Hamilton in the United States. It winds through a bidirectional rotor, meaning it captures energy from wrist movement in both directions, and powers a smooth sweep seconds hand rather than the ticking seconds found on manual-wind watches. It's a reliable workhorse caliber from Hamilton's American production era, though like any movement approaching 70 years old, it benefits significantly from a proper service with fresh oil and a clean mainspring.