Boyd (1962)
1962–1964 · 10K yellow RGP/SS · Manual Wind
About the Boyd (1962)
Made from 1962 through 1964, the Boyd pairs Hamilton's manual-wind caliber 686 with a cushion-shaped case in 10K yellow gold-filled case with a stainless steel back steel. The dial is silver with applied gold numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12, textured gold markers filling the remaining positions, and a subseconds register at 6 o'clock. The Boyd ran for two catalog years, a short but not unusual window for Hamilton models of this period.
Applied gold numerals and textured markers give the Boyd a tactile quality that photographs rarely capture well, so finding one in person often feels more rewarding than the listing photos suggest. Dial condition is the first thing to check here, because the textured markers and silver dial surface are notoriously difficult to refinish correctly, and a poorly redone dial will be obvious. A clean, original example with honest wear is preferable to one that's been touched up.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Boyd with 18K gold numerals on a sterling silver dial, paired with a leather strap, and priced it at $60.50 in period dollars, positioning it as a mid-range dress option in the lineup.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1962
1963
1964
What to Look For
| Dial | This is the most important thing to evaluate on a Boyd. The silver dial with textured gold markers is extremely difficult to refinish correctly, so look closely for any signs of repainting, uneven texture, or loss of definition in the markers. Applied gold numerals should sit cleanly with no lifting at the edges. Fading or spotting on the silver surface is normal with age, but amateur refinishing is a red flag. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or crazing in the crystal. A worn crystal is straightforward to replace, but confirm the replacement fits the cushion case correctly before committing. |
| Movement | Ask whether the caliber 686 has been recently serviced. Dried oil creates enough friction to stop this movement entirely, so a watch that runs intermittently or not at all likely just needs a cleaning, but factor that into the purchase. A properly serviced 686 is a solid, dependable runner. |
| Case | The 10K yellow gold-filled over stainless case will show wear through to the base metal at high-contact points like lugs and case back edges. Examine the lug tops and corners carefully. Light wear-through is expected and acceptable; heavy wear-through significantly affects value. Case backs on models like this can be tight and are sometimes marred by improper opening attempts, so check the case back edge for tool damage. |
| Crown | Make sure the crown is original and not a generic replacement. An incorrect crown on a two-year production model like this is a small but meaningful detail, and replacements are not always obvious at a glance. |
The Movement
The caliber 686 is a 17-jewel manual-wind movement from Hamilton's American production era, compact and well-suited to the cushion case format. It winds and sets smoothly when in good condition, and responds well to a proper service. Not a complicated movement to work on in general terms, though watchmakers will tell you that aligning the train bridge during reassembly requires patience.