Dateline T-482
1966–1967 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Automatic
About the Dateline T-482
Made from 1966 through 1967, the Dateline T-482 is a clean, date-forward automatic from Hamilton's Dateline family, which brought date complications to the Thinline-era lineup. It runs on the caliber 621, a 17-jewel automatic, housed in a 10K yellow Gold Filled round case with hidden lugs. The silver dial carries applied bar markers and a date window at 3 o'clock, with a sweep seconds hand completing the layout.
Applied bar markers are worth scrutinizing closely on any example you handle, since they can come loose or tilt over decades and are difficult to reattach invisibly. The hidden lug design keeps the profile tidy, but it also means case condition is harder to assess at a glance, so look at how the bracelet or strap attaches before assuming the case is clean underneath. The T-482 was offered both on a bracelet and on a strap, and bracelet examples that have survived with the original bracelet intact are harder to come by.
From the Catalog
Hamilton offered the T-482 in 1966 at $115 on a strap or $125 on a bracelet, describing it with a silver dial, applied bar markers, and a date window at 3 o'clock.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1966
What to Look For
| Dial | Check the applied bar markers carefully. Look for any that are separating at one edge, tilted, or showing corrosion underneath. Dial surface should be even and clean, with no moisture damage or spotting around the date window. |
| Crystal | Look for deep scratches or chips around the edges, especially near the date window where magnification or crystal damage tends to concentrate. A fogged or yellowed crystal can usually be replaced, but note it when evaluating. |
| Movement | The caliber 621 is an automatic, so it should wind from wrist motion, but dried lubricants are common on movements this age and can create enough friction to stop the rotor or the gear train entirely. The oscillating weight on the 621 is also known to develop play on its axle over time, and in some examples it can rub against the case back. If the watch is running, listen for any scraping sound when you move it, which would suggest rotor contact. |
| Case | The hidden lug design can trap wear and corrosion where the bracelet or strap attaches. Inspect those areas directly. Gold-filled cases can wear through to base metal at high-contact points, so check the lugs, case back edges, and crown area for any exposed metal showing through. |
| Crown | Pull the crown to the date-set and time-set positions and confirm both engage cleanly. A crown that slips or feels loose may indicate a worn stem or setting mechanism. Also note that the original weatherproof rating no longer applies on vintage seals, so treat this as a dry-conditions watch regardless of how the crown feels. |
The Movement
The caliber 621 is a 17-jewel automatic movement, winding from the motion of the wrist through a rotor system. It is a compact, reliable movement from Hamilton's Swiss-made era, well suited to the thinner case profiles of this period. Like any automatic movement of this age, it depends on clean lubrication to run consistently, and a movement that has never been serviced is likely running on oil that has long since dried out.