Dateline A-688
1971 · Gold Electroplate
About the Dateline A-688
Made only in 1971, the Dateline A-688 is a Gold Electroplate rectangular automatic from Hamilton's Dateline family, which brought date complications to a range of dress-oriented case designs in the early 1970s. The A-688 runs on Hamilton's caliber 694A, a self-winding movement with a date function that sits behind a clean, applied-indices dial. The hidden lug design gives the case a seamless, integrated look that was very much in step with the refined aesthetic Hamilton was chasing at that point in the line.
Gold Electroplate cases from this era need a close look before buying. Decades of wear can cut through the plating at the lugs, caseback edges, and any high-contact surfaces, so condition varies quite a bit from example to example. Finding one with honest, even wear across the case rather than patches of raw brass showing through is worth the extra patience.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's catalog presented the A-688 as a dress automatic with a refined rectangular profile, positioned for buyers who wanted the practicality of a date function without sacrificing the cleaner look of a slim, formal case. Original retail pricing placed it firmly in Hamilton's mid-tier automatic range for the year.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1971
What to Look For
| Dial | Check the applied indices carefully. On watches this age, the small feet that hold applied markers to the dial can corrode or come loose, especially if moisture ever got inside the case. Look for any markers that appear slightly raised, tilted, or show a dark ring around their base. |
| Crystal | The rectangular case profile often pairs with a faceted crystal, which can be difficult to source and replace correctly. Inspect the crystal for chips along the edges and crazing across the surface, both of which are common on unworn or stored examples. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The 694A is an automatic with a date complication, and the spring-loaded components in the date mechanism are small enough to be lost during a careless service. A watchmaker who knows this caliber will account for them. If the watch hasn't been serviced recently, budget for one before expecting reliable daily use. |
| Case | Gold electroplate wears through over time, and the lugs and caseback edges are usually the first places to show brass beneath. Look at those areas in good light before purchasing. Some wear is expected and honest, but heavy loss of plating changes the character of the watch significantly. |
| Crown | Work the crown through both positions, winding and date-setting, and confirm it snaps back into the closed position cleanly. A crown that doesn't seat properly leaves the movement exposed, which is a concern on any vintage watch regardless of its original water resistance rating. |
The Movement
The caliber 694A is a Swiss-made automatic with a date complication. It winds through a bidirectional rotor, meaning the watch builds power reserve through normal wear, and the date advances automatically at midnight. Like most automatics from this period, it benefits from fresh lubrication, since the movement has been sitting for decades and dried oil creates enough drag to affect timekeeping or stop the watch entirely.