Colby 'B'
1956 · 10K yellow RGP/SS · Manual Wind
About the Colby 'B'
Made only in 1956, the Colby 'B' is a cushion-cased dress watch running Hamilton's caliber 673 manual wind movement. The case pairs a 10K yellow rolled gold plate bezel and sides with a stainless steel back, a combination Hamilton used across much of its mid-1950s lineup to balance cost with a quality appearance. The embossed gold numerals and markers on the silver dial give it a tactile quality that printed dials of the era simply don't have. The Colby 'B' shares its name and general character with the standard Colby, differing in case or dial configuration as Hamilton often varied within a name to offer options at the same price tier.
Cushion cases from this period can show wear along the lugs and at the case edges, so examining those areas closely tells a lot about how a given example was cared for. The embossed dial construction holds up better than printed dials over time, but the silver dial can still spot or discolor if moisture has gotten in, so check the dial under good light for any tarnishing or shadowing near the edges. Finding one with clean, unpolished lugs and an intact dial is genuinely satisfying given how few were made.
From the Catalog
Hamilton positioned the Colby 'B' as a refined dress option for the mid-1950s market, with the embossed gold dial detailing emphasizing its dressy character. Original retail pricing placed it accessibly within Hamilton's standard catalog range for the period.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1956
What to Look For
| Dial | Look carefully at the silver dial for spotting, tarnish, or any discoloration near the dial edges, which can indicate past moisture intrusion. The embossed gold numerals and markers should be crisp and even, not flattened or worn, as that detail is central to what makes this dial worth preserving. |
| Crystal | These left the factory with acrylic crystals. Check for deep scratches, chips, or a hazy appearance from old polish attempts. A correct replacement is inexpensive, but a badly scratched crystal can obscure dial condition underneath. |
| Movement | The set lever spring in the caliber 673 is known to be fragile, and a broken one means the watch won't set correctly or may slip out of beat. Confirm the crown functions properly in both wind and set positions before assuming the movement is otherwise healthy. |
| Case | Examine the lug tips and case edges for heavy wear through the rolled gold plate. Some wear is expected on a watch of this age, but worn-through spots that expose the base metal underneath affect both appearance and long-term preservation. The cushion shape also concentrates wear at the corners, so check those areas closely. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown is original or at minimum correctly sized. A mismatched crown is a minor cosmetic issue on a driver's watch but more noticeable on a clean dress piece like this one. Also check that it winds smoothly without gritty resistance, which can indicate debris in the stem or dried lubricant in the keyless works. |
The Movement
The caliber 673 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton produced domestically during the 1950s. It winds smoothly, keeps good time when properly serviced, and is well-regarded for its reliability. Like any movement that may have sat in a drawer for decades, dried lubricants can generate enough friction to stop it entirely, so a full service is the right starting point with any example that hasn't been recently maintained.