Dateline A-693
1972–1973 · 14k Gold Electroplate / Stainless Steel
About the Dateline A-693
Made from 1972 through 1973, the Dateline A-693 is part of Hamilton's Dateline family of automatic date watches, running on the caliber 694A with 17 jewels. The case is 14k Gold Electroplate with a stainless steel back, round in shape with hooded lugs that give it a quietly distinctive profile. Hamilton offered it in green dial configuration with either a strap or bracelet, priced at $100 and $115 respectively at original retail.
Green dials from this era can shift or fade with age, so condition varies more than it might on a plainer dial. Finding one with the original bracelet intact adds some appeal, since period-correct bracelets are frequently missing or swapped out.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1972 catalog listed the A-693 with a green dial and Quick-Change date function, available on strap for $100 or bracelet for $115, with the watch rated as water resistant.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1972
1973
What to Look For
| Dial | Look carefully at the green dial for fading, spotting, or moisture damage under the crystal. Green dials from this period are prone to color shift, and uneven tone across the surface usually means past moisture intrusion. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, deep scratches, or crazing. Replacement crystals for this case profile can be difficult to source, so a damaged one is worth factoring into the overall picture. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The 694A is an automatic with a date complication, and dried lubricants create enough friction to degrade timekeeping or stop the watch entirely. The small spring-loaded parts in the date mechanism are easy to lose during service, so knowing whether a competent watchmaker has been through it matters. |
| Case | The 14k gold electroplate will show wear through to the base metal at high-contact points, particularly on the lugs and caseback edge. Examine those areas closely and judge whether the plating wear is acceptable or if someone has attempted to replate it, which affects originality. |
| Crown | Make sure the crown screws or pushes in fully and that the watch sets and winds without slipping. A crown that feels loose or gritty can indicate a worn stem or, worse, a setting mechanism that needs attention. |
The Movement
The caliber 694A is a 17-jewel automatic with a date complication. It winds itself through a rotor as the watch moves on the wrist, and the date advances automatically at midnight. It's a dependable movement when properly serviced, but like all automatics from this era, it needs fresh lubricants to perform as intended.