Dateline T-480
1965–1969 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Automatic
About the Dateline T-480
Made from 1965 through 1969, the Dateline T-480 is part of Hamilton's Dateline family, a line built around automatic movements with date complications in slim, dressy cases. This particular model runs on the caliber 624, a 17-jewel automatic with a sweep seconds hand, housed in a round 10K yellow Gold Filled case. The date window sits at 3 o'clock, and the two-toned dial pairs applied gold markers against a silver ground. Hamilton offered it both on a bracelet and on a strap, with the bracelet configuration listed at $125 in the 1965 catalog.
Surviving examples tend to show the most wear at the case edges and on the bracelet if the original is still present, since Gold Filled material will eventually wear through to base metal at high-contact points. The two-toned dial is the detail worth scrutinizing closely on any example: the golden-color date wheel should match the warm tones of the dial itself, and any mismatch usually signals a replacement wheel. Finding one with the original dial in clean condition, no spotting or separation at the applied markers, makes a real difference in how the watch reads on the wrist.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the T-480 simply as a calendar watch in a 10K yellow gold-filled case, available on either a bracelet at $125 or a strap at $110 in 1965. The bracelet configuration was the premium option, and the weatherproof rating was part of Hamilton's standard pitch for the line.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1965
1966
1968
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the two-toned finish for any spotting, fading, or discoloration, especially near the date window at 3 o'clock. Check that the applied gold markers sit flush and show no separation at their edges. The golden-color date wheel should match the dial's warm tones; a mismatched or plain white wheel is a sign of a replacement. |
| Crystal | The T-480 would have left the factory with a plastic crystal. Check for deep scratches or a hazy center that polishing won't fix. Minor surface scratches are expected on a watch this age, but significant crazing or cracking means replacement. |
| Movement | The caliber 624 is an automatic, so it should wind from wrist motion and keep running through normal wear. If the watch stops frequently or the sweep seconds hand moves in irregular jumps rather than a smooth arc, dried lubricants are the most likely cause. A full service will address that. Also worth knowing: the calendar mechanism contains small springs that are easy to lose during disassembly, so confirm the date advances cleanly at midnight before buying. |
| Case | This is a 10K yellow gold-filled case, which means a layer of gold bonded to a base metal core. Check the lugs and case back edge for wear-through to silver-toned metal underneath. Some wear is normal on a watch this age, but heavy wear-through on the lugs affects both appearance and long-term durability. The case back can be difficult to open, so if it shows tool marks around the edge, ask whether it was recently serviced. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown screws in and out smoothly and that the date advances correctly when the crown is pulled to the setting position. A crown that slips or feels loose may indicate a worn stem or a stripped setting. |
The Movement
The caliber 624 is a 17-jewel automatic movement, meaning it winds itself through the natural motion of the wearer's wrist via a rotor. The sweep seconds hand runs continuously rather than stepping, which gives a smooth look on the dial and is a reliable indicator that the movement is running. It's a solid, serviceable automatic from Hamilton's mid-1960s Swiss-influenced production.