Casino
1956–1959 · 14k Solid White Gold / 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Casino
The Casino ran from 1956 through 1959, occupying an interesting position in Hamilton's dress watch lineup as a round, diamond-set model available in both 14K yellow and 14K white gold. Inside is Hamilton's caliber 730, a 17-jewel manual wind movement. The defining feature is the dial: five diamonds set at the even hour markers, skipping the six o'clock position, with applied gold markers filling the remaining hours and a subseconds register at six with concentric circles. The Lord Lancaster D shares the same basic architecture and is worth looking at side by side if you're researching this period.
Finding a clean Casino today means paying close attention to those diamonds, since stones can go missing over six decades and replacements are rarely well-matched. The silver dial finish is also vulnerable on this model, and any prior exposure to moisture or an overzealous cleaning attempt can cause the finish to peel or fade in ways that aren't always obvious in photographs.
From the Catalog
Hamilton offered the Casino in 1957 at $175 with a strap, or $375 with a 14K bracelet, describing it as a 17-jewel watch in 14K yellow or white gold with gold markers rhodium-plated for the white gold version and five diamonds.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1956
1957
1959
What to Look For
| Dial | Check each of the five diamond positions carefully. Missing or replaced stones are the most common issue on this model. Also look across the silver dial at an angle for any separation, bubbling, or fading in the finish, which is a sign of past moisture exposure or cleaning attempts. |
| Crystal | Look for crazing, deep scratches, or chips. An original crystal in poor shape is an easy fix, but a non-original replacement can sometimes sit slightly proud or recessed, which affects both the look and the seal. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. In a caliber 730 that has been sitting unserviced, dried oil creates enough friction to stop the watch or cause it to run erratically. A watch that runs fine at the seller's table may not keep running once you get it home. |
| Case | Confirm whether the case is 14K yellow or 14K white gold, since both versions were made and they carry different values. Look at the case back separately from the case itself. On this model, case backs are not always original to the case, and a mismatched back is worth knowing about before buying. |
| Crown | The crown should wind smoothly and set without slipping or grinding. A worn or replaced crown is a minor issue, but it's worth confirming the crown seals properly given that the original Casino was rated waterproof. That rating applies to a properly maintained, freshly serviced watch, not a sixty-year-old case with an unverified seal. |
The Movement
The caliber 730 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement, part of Hamilton's American-made line from this period. It winds smoothly when in good condition, but like any movement of this age, dried oil creates enough friction to stop it entirely, so service history matters here. It's a solid, straightforward caliber that responds well to a proper cleaning.