Cross Country II
1956–1957 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Cross Country II
Made from 1956 through 1957, the Cross Country II is part of Hamilton's Medalist family and carries one of the more distinctive dial concepts from that era: a world time display showing all five continental U.S. time zones, with 14K gold markers and colored indicators on a black background. It runs on the caliber 735, an 18-jewel manual wind movement, housed in a 10K yellow Gold Filled case with a stainless steel back. The sweep seconds hand and bold two-tone dial treatment give it a purposeful, legible look that reads more like an instrument than a dress watch.
The black dial with colored time zone indicators is the thing to evaluate carefully on any Cross Country II you encounter, because that specific combination of color and contrast is exactly what makes this model worth finding, and fading or damage there is hard to overlook. Original examples with clean, unfaded zone indicators and intact applied gold markers are not easy to come by. The related Cross Country, Transcontinental A, and Transcontinental B all share the world time concept, so if this one appeals, those are worth knowing about too.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1956 catalog listed the Cross Country II with an 18-jewel movement, 10K yellow gold-filled case, and stainless steel back, priced at $89.50 on bracelet or $85.00 on strap. The listing specifically called out the 14K gold markers and colored indicators showing all five U.S. time zones, with sweep seconds.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1956
1957
What to Look For
| Dial | The black background, colored time zone indicators, and applied gold markers are all load-bearing elements of this dial's appeal. Look closely at the colored indicators for fading or flaking, and check that the applied markers are fully seated with no separation at the edges. Any refinishing here would strip the time zone markings entirely, so originality matters more than usual. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or crazing. A replacement crystal is straightforward, but make sure any replacement is domed correctly to sit above the dial, since the original profile is part of what makes this case read right. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The caliber 735 is not a forgiving movement when oil has dried out. Dried lubricants create enough friction to stop the watch entirely, and the escape wheel pivot is easy to damage if any force is applied during reassembly. A watch that winds smoothly and runs consistently has likely been through a proper service. |
| Case | The 10K yellow gold-filled case shows wear at the lugs and high points first. Look at the lug edges and crown area for brass showing through. Some honest wear is expected and acceptable, but heavy exposure through to base metal affects both appearance and long-term durability. |
| Crown | Check that the crown is original to the watch and functions cleanly through winding. A replaced crown is a minor issue, but an ill-fitting one can cause problems with the stem over time. The case back can be tricky to open on these, so if a seller isn't sure of the service history, factor that into the conversation. |
The Movement
The caliber 735 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's a solid, mid-tier movement from Hamilton's American production era, with a good reputation for reliability when properly serviced. The sweep seconds complication runs off a center seconds configuration rather than a separate subseconds register, which suits the clean, instrument-style dial layout of the Cross Country II well.