Clinton
1949–1952 · Stainless Steel Croydon
About the Clinton
Made from 1949 through 1952, the Clinton is a round stainless steel dress watch running on Hamilton's caliber 987, a 17-jewel manual-wind movement that Hamilton used across a wide range of its mid-century line. The case is described in Hamilton's own materials as a lapped stainless steel Croydon case, a finish detail that gave it a cleaner, more refined look than a simple brushed or polished surface. Hamilton offered the Clinton in a notable range of dial configurations from the start, including a luminous version, a black dial with white numerals, and silver butler-finish dials with either rhodium-plated gold numerals or solid gold applied numerals with black painting. The Raymon and Greely share close family ties with the Clinton, all sitting in the same dressed-down, accessible stainless steel category Hamilton was building out in the postwar years.
Dial condition is the first thing to scrutinize on a Clinton. The silver butler-finish dials can develop uneven oxidation or spotting, and any dial that has been refinished loses a meaningful chunk of its collector value. The applied numerals on the gold numeral variants are also worth a close look, since loose or missing markers are common on watches that have been opened and handled without care over the decades. Finding a clean luminous dial example with intact original lume is genuinely satisfying, since those dials often show more wear than the non-luminous versions.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1949 catalog positioned the Clinton as a steel watch suited for both dress and casual wear, offering it at $52.25 with rhodium-plated 18K gold numerals and dots on a silver dial, or $49.50 for the black numeral on silver or white numeral on black configurations. The luminous version carried the same $52.25 price as the gold numeral variant, reflecting the added cost of the lume treatment.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1949
1950
1951
1952
What to Look For
| Dial | Check carefully for spotting, refinishing, or discoloration on silver butler-finish examples. On dials with applied numerals, look for any that are detached, shifted, or missing. A refinished dial will often look too uniform and may show slightly incorrect fonts or marker placement. |
| Crystal | The Clinton uses an acrylic crystal. Scratches are expected on unworn examples and can usually be polished out, but deep gouges or crazing mean replacement. Make sure the crystal sits flush and is not separating at the edge. |
| Movement | The caliber 987 is sensitive to dried oil, which can create enough friction to stop the watch entirely even when the mainspring has plenty of tension. If the watch runs intermittently or stops and starts, assume it needs a full service before anything else. |
| Case | The lapped stainless Croydon case can show wear to the bezel near the crystal corners. Check that area closely, since it is one of the first places to show honest wear and can indicate how the watch was stored and handled. Case backs on this era of Hamilton can be tricky to open, so look for any tool marks around the case back edge that suggest prior service attempts. |
| Crown | Make sure the crown is original and not a mismatched replacement. It should pull out smoothly for hand-setting and wind without slipping. A crown that feels loose or wobbles may indicate a worn stem or stripped threads. |
The Movement
The caliber 987 is a 17-jewel manual-wind movement that Hamilton produced in quantity throughout the mid-century period. It winds from the crown, keeps reasonable time when properly serviced, and is straightforward to work on for an experienced watchmaker, though the balance is delicate and the hairspring and balance pivots are known to be vulnerable during adjustment. Like any watch of this age, regular servicing with fresh oil is what keeps it running reliably.