Dateline S-576
1968–1969 · Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Dateline S-576
The Dateline S-576 appeared in the 1968 Hamilton catalog and made only in that multiple years, which makes finding one in good condition a bit of a hunt. It belongs to Hamilton's Dateline family, a line built around the practical addition of a date window, and this model pairs that function with a cushion-shaped stainless steel case and a sweep seconds hand. Power comes from the caliber 674, a 17-jewel manual wind movement. The dial is silver with embossed silver stick markers and numerals at 6, 9, and 12, with the date window sitting at 3 o'clock.
Dial condition is the first thing worth scrutinizing on any S-576, because the embossed silver-on-silver detail reads beautifully when clean but can look flat and worn if the dial has been polished or handled carelessly over the decades. A white dial variant with applied markers has also surfaced on these, so it is worth confirming you are looking at what the seller describes.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1968 catalog listed the S-576 plainly as a calendar watch in a stainless steel case at $69.50, with a note that the waterproof and dustproof rating applied only with seals intact, which was an unusually candid caveat for period marketing copy.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1968
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the embossed silver numerals and markers. They should have crisp definition and even texture. Flat or smeared detail usually means the dial has been refinished. Check the date window for a clean edge and confirm the date disc lettering is sharp and evenly printed. |
| Crystal | The S-576 takes a flat mineral crystal. Deep scratches or a hazy, yellowed crystal will distort how the dial reads, especially with the silver-on-silver palette. A replacement crystal is an easy fix, but confirm the diameter matches and the seal is intact. |
| Movement | The 674 is a manual wind, so wind it fully before evaluating. Dried lubricants in a movement this age can create enough friction to stop the watch entirely or cause erratic timekeeping, so a recent service is a meaningful plus. Listen for smooth, even ticking without hesitation. |
| Case | Check the lug edges for crispness. The case back can be tricky to open on these, so if a seller says it has been recently serviced, ask whether the movement was actually accessed and what work was done. |
| Crown | The original marketing noted weatherproof seals, but those seals are decades old on any surviving example. Confirm the crown screws down or seats firmly, and avoid water exposure regardless of any rating. A replaced or ill-fitting crown is a red flag for past moisture intrusion. |
The Movement
The caliber 674 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton. It is a straightforward, reliable hand-wound caliber that requires the wearer to wind it daily, and it rewards that routine with consistent timekeeping when the lubricants are fresh. Nothing exotic about it mechanically, which is part of why it has a good reputation among watchmakers for being serviceable and honest.