Dateline A-675
1964–1965 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate · Automatic
About the Dateline A-675
Made from 1964 through 1965, the Dateline A-675 is part of Hamilton's Dateline family, a line of automatic calendar watches that added date functionality to the self-winding format. It runs on the caliber 694A, a 17-jewel automatic movement, housed in a round 10K yellow Gold Filled case. The clean silver dial relies entirely on applied gold markers with no numeral hour markers, letting the sweep seconds hand and date window do the visual work.
Surviving examples tend to show their age in the usual places: the Gold Filled case can wear through at the lugs and high points of the bezel, and the date window surround is worth a close look for chips or separation. The marker-only dial is straightforward to read but unforgiving of any corrosion or moisture intrusion, so condition there matters. Finding one with a clean, undamaged dial and honest case wear is a satisfying score.
From the Catalog
Hamilton marketed the Dateline automatics in 1964 as offering carefree convenience alongside the Thin-O-Matic line, with all self-winding models described as weatherproof. The A-675 carried a retail price of $79.50 at its 1964 introduction.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1964
1965
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the applied gold markers, particularly at their edges, for separation or corrosion. Any moisture intrusion will show up first around the date window. The silver dial surface should be even with no spotting or discoloration. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or crazing. Crystal replacement on these cases is straightforward in principle, but confirm the fit is correct, as an ill-fitting crystal can let in moisture that damages the dial. |
| Movement | The 694A is an automatic and should wind from wrist motion, but oil dries out over decades and the resulting friction can bring a movement to a stop even when it looks fine. A watch sitting still in a case is not the same as a watch running well. Budget for a full service. |
| Case | This is a 10K yellow gold-filled case, so inspect the lugs and bezel edges for wear-through to the base metal. Some honest wear is expected and acceptable, but deep exposure affects long-term durability. |
| Crown | The crown should move through its positions smoothly, with clean detents for winding, time-setting, and date-setting. A sticky or gritty crown often points to a dried gasket or debris in the stem, either of which needs attention before the watch goes back on the wrist. |
The Movement
The caliber 694A is a 17-jewel automatic that winds itself from the natural motion of the wrist. It also drives the date complication, which means the movement has additional spring-loaded parts managing the date jump mechanism. That date complication is reliable when serviced properly, but those small parts require careful handling during any service work.