Cadet
1957–1958 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate · Manual Wind
About the Cadet
Made from 1957 through 1958, the Cadet is a clean, unpretentious dress watch built around Hamilton's caliber 673 manual wind movement in a round 10K yellow Rolled Gold Plate case. The dial is a white embossed design, with embossed gold numerals at 6 and 12 and embossed gold markers filling the remaining hour positions, giving it a subtle tactile quality that reads well on the wrist. A subseconds hand sits at 6 o'clock, which was standard for Hamilton's manual wind dress pieces of this period. The Cadet doesn't belong to a named family line, but it fits squarely among the affordable dress offerings Hamilton was producing in the late 1950s for buyers who wanted a clean, well-made American watch without a premium price tag.
Embossed dials from this era are particularly sensitive to mishandling, and refinishing one correctly is difficult enough that a damaged original is rarely improved by the attempt. Finding a Cadet with a crisp, undamaged embossed dial is the real challenge, and that condition detail separates a keeper from a project. The hidden lug design gives the case a smooth, integrated look, but it also means the bracelet or strap attachment points are worth a close inspection before purchase.
From the Catalog
Hamilton marketed the Cadet in 1957 simply as a 10K yellow rolled gold case with an embossed dial, offered on a bracelet for $62.50 or on a strap for $55.00. That pricing put it in reach of buyers who wanted a genuine Hamilton with a well-finished dial without stepping up to solid gold case territory.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1957
What to Look For
| Dial | The embossed dial is the heart of this watch and also its most fragile part. Look carefully for cracking, flaking, or any sign that the surface has been refinished. A refinished embossed dial rarely matches the crispness of the original, and a damaged one significantly affects value. Check that the embossed gold numerals and markers are fully intact with no chips or loss. |
| Crystal | These watches came with acrylic crystals that scratch easily over decades of use. Light surface scratches can be polished out, but deep gouges or crazing mean a replacement is needed. Make sure the crystal fits flush and shows no separation at the edge. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. In a caliber 673 that has been sitting unserviced, dried oil creates enough friction to stop the movement or cause irregular timekeeping. Also note that the set lever spring in movements of this era is prone to breaking, so confirm that hand-setting feels positive and smooth with no slipping or looseness. |
| Case | The case is 10K yellow rolled gold plate, not solid gold, so heavy wear can cut through the plating and expose the base metal underneath. Inspect the high points of the case and lugs for brass showing through. The case back can be tricky to open without the right tools, so if the seller can't confirm what's inside, factor that into your assessment. |
| Crown | Work the crown through both winding and hand-setting. Winding should feel smooth and consistent with no grinding. Setting should engage cleanly and release without sticking. A crown that slips, skips, or feels gritty is a service indicator. |
The Movement
The caliber 673 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton in the United States. It's a compact, reliable workhorse from this period, designed to fit the slimmer round dress cases Hamilton was producing through the 1950s. Shock resistance was built in, which was a meaningful practical feature for an everyday dress watch at this price point.