Clyde
1951 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Clyde
Made only in 1951, the Clyde is a cushion-cased dress watch running Hamilton's caliber 747 with manual wind and 17 jewels. The case is 10K yellow Gold Filled with swept lugs, and the silver dial carries applied gold numerals at 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12, with gold dot indices filling the remaining positions and a subseconds register at 6 o'clock. Hamilton positioned it as a refined everyday dress piece for men, and the cushion case shape gives it a quietly distinctive profile that sets it apart from the round and rectangular styles dominating that era.
Finding a clean example requires some patience, since the silver dial finish can begin peeling or develop spotting if the watch was ever exposed to moisture or cleaned carelessly. The catalog lists an 18K gold numeral and dot variant, and at least one white-finished silver dial version is also known, so the dial you encounter may vary from the standard configuration. With only a single year of production, examples don't surface constantly, and a dial in genuinely good condition is worth paying attention to.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Clyde as designed with rich simplicity, suited for the well-dressed man, and offered it in gold-filled and stainless steel configurations at prices including federal tax. The gold-filled version retailed for $71.50 in 1951.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1951
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the silver dial finish for peeling, cloudiness, or moisture damage around the edges and under the crystal. The applied gold numerals and dot indices can loosen over time, so check that all markers are seated flat and none are missing. Some examples have an 18K numeral and dot configuration or a white silver dial finish, so note which version you're looking at. |
| Crystal | The cushion shape means a correctly fitting replacement crystal is less generic than a round, so confirm the crystal fits the case properly without gaps or misalignment at the corners. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. In a caliber 747 that hasn't been serviced in years, dried oil creates enough friction on the train and keyless works to stop or significantly impair timekeeping. A watch that runs but runs poorly is almost always a service issue rather than a mechanical problem, but it still needs attention before daily use. |
| Case | The 10K yellow gold-filled case should show its original warm tone on the flat surfaces, with wear on the high contact points like lug edges and the caseback being normal for a watch of this age. Heavy polishing that rounds out the lug profiles or removes the original brushed or satin finish is harder to reverse, so look for a case that has aged honestly rather than one that's been aggressively refinished. |
| Crown | Check that the crown winds smoothly and sets cleanly without slipping. A worn or replaced crown on a gold-filled case may not match the original finish, which is a minor but noticeable detail on an otherwise complete example. |
The Movement
The caliber 747 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton used across a range of dress watches in the early 1950s. It's a reliable, well-regarded caliber, not overly complicated to service, but like any movement of this age it benefits from fresh oil and a thorough cleaning to run at its best. Wind it daily and it rewards you with consistent, dependable performance.