Dateline A-593
1972–1974 · Stainless
About the Dateline A-593
Made from 1972 through 1974, the Dateline A-593 is a round, stainless steel automatic from Hamilton's Dateline family, which brought date complications to Hamilton's automatic lineup during this period. It runs on the caliber 694A, a movement with roots in the ETA 2783. The case comes in at 12mm thick, which is honest but not slim for the era, and the light gray dial gives it a clean, understated character that reads well on the wrist.
Finding one in good shape means paying close attention to the dial first. The light gray can show age in subtle ways, patina being one thing, but moisture damage or staining around the date window is the more common concern.
From the Catalog
Hamilton listed the A-593 in its catalog as a stainless steel quick-change date model with a light gray dial, priced at $100.00 in 1972. The quick-change date, noted as Q/C II in Hamilton's catalog shorthand, was a selling point for the Dateline line at the time.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1972
1973
1974
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the light gray dial under good light. Moisture damage often shows first around the date window as discoloration or peeling. The applied indices should be sitting flush and even. Any that are loose, tilted, or missing will affect both appearance and value. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or crazing in the crystal. Replacements exist, but fitting a new crystal to this case correctly takes care, and a poorly fitted one can let in moisture. |
| Movement | The date complication in the 694A relies on small spring-loaded parts that are easy to lose during a service. Ask whether it's been serviced recently and by whom. A movement this age with original lubricants will have oils that have dried and thickened, and that kind of friction is enough to stop it or cause erratic timekeeping. |
| Case | Look for cracks or thinning at the lug tips, which are stress points on hooded designs. Also check the case back for signs of forced opening, which can damage the threads or gasket seat. |
| Crown | Work the crown through all its positions. It should pull out to a clear first and second position for setting the date and time, and it should seat firmly when pushed back in. A worn or damaged crown on a watch this age is worth factoring into any offer. |
The Movement
The caliber 694A is a Swiss-made automatic with date complication, built on the ETA 2783 platform. It winds via a rotor that spins with wrist movement, so it doesn't need manual winding during normal wear. The date advances automatically at midnight through a quick-set mechanism, which lets you move the date independently without running the hands through a full 24-hour cycle.