Cedric
1950–1952 · 14k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Cedric
Made from 1950 through 1952, the Cedric is a small rectangular manual wind from Hamilton's early postwar dress watch lineup. It runs the caliber 982, a 19-jewel movement that Hamilton used across a range of its better dress pieces in this period. The case is 14K yellow Gold Filled, measuring 24mm wide by 28mm long, with swept lugs that give the watch a soft, refined profile. The dial carries applied 18K gold numerals on a silver-finished white ground, with numerals at all positions except 6 o'clock, where a subseconds register takes their place.
The use of solid 18K gold numerals on a Gold Filled case was a genuine value proposition at the original $71.50 price point, and those numerals are worth examining closely on any example you encounter. They can shift or develop patina around their edges over seven decades, and a dial with tight, evenly settled numerals is meaningfully nicer than one with separating numerals or discoloration. The case, being Gold Filled rather than solid gold, holds up well if it hasn't been over-polished, but check the high contact points on the lugs and case back edges where the fill wears first.
From the Catalog
Hamilton listed the Cedric at $71.50 in 1950, describing it as a 19-jewel watch in a 14K natural gold-filled case with 18K gold numerals on a silver dial. The decision to spec solid 18K gold numerals against a gold-filled case put genuine precious metal directly on the dial face, which was a deliberate quality signal at that price point.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1950
1951
1952
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at each applied 18K gold numeral. Check for separation at the edges, any gaps between the numeral foot and the dial surface, or discoloration halos around the bases. A clean, flat dial with evenly settled numerals is the target. Also check the subseconds register at 6 o'clock for any fading or spotting on the white finish. |
| Crystal | The Cedric uses a flat or very lightly domed crystal over a small rectangular opening. Check for chips at the corners, which are more vulnerable than a round crystal, and for deep scratches across the center that catch light and obscure the dial. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The caliber 982 is a robust movement, but dried oil creates enough friction in an unserviced example to stop it entirely. The escape wheel jewel in movements of this era is also prone to loosening over time, which can cause erratic running or sudden stoppage. A recently serviced example is worth the premium. |
| Case | Check the lug tips and case back edge for wear through the gold fill to the base metal underneath. These are the first places to show honest wear on any gold-filled case. The case back on rectangular Hamiltons of this era can be stubborn to open without the right tools, so ask whether the back shows any evidence of prying attempts. |
| Crown | Verify the crown is original or at minimum a correct period replacement. An oversized or mismatched crown on a small dress watch like this is visually obvious and affects how the watch wears. Confirm it winds smoothly and sets the hands without slipping. |
The Movement
The caliber 982 is a 19-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton produced for its better domestic dress watches through the mid-century period. It beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour, which gives the seconds hand that characteristic smooth but slightly deliberate sweep familiar to vintage Hamilton collectors. At 19 jewels it is generously jeweled for a dress watch of this size, with extra jewels at the higher-wear points to reduce friction and improve long-term accuracy.