Day 'N Date ST-6500
1972–1973 · 14k Gold Electroplate / Stainless Steel
About the Day 'N Date ST-6500
Made from 1972 through 1973, the Day 'N Date ST-6500 is part of Hamilton's Day 'N Date family, which brought combined day and date displays to the American market in a range of case styles and price points. This model wears a yellow 14k Gold Electroplate case over a stainless steel back, powered by the caliber 800 automatic movement. Hamilton offered it in two configurations: strap or bracelet, with the bracelet version carrying a modest premium at $100.00 versus $89.95 for the strap model.
Finding one in honest condition means checking the electroplate carefully. Gold Electroplate from this era wears through at the lugs and case edges first, and the degree of wear tells you a lot about how the watch was used and stored. The gilt dial on these tends to hold up reasonably well when the watch has been kept dry, but any moisture intrusion can cause adhesion issues around the edges.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the ST-6500 in 1972 simply as a yellow 14k gold electroplate model with a gilt dial and quick-change day and date, available on strap or bracelet. At $89.95 on strap, it offered the day and date complication at a price that made it accessible without stepping into solid gold territory.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1972
1973
What to Look For
| Dial | Look at the gilt dial closely under good light. Check for separation or bubbling near the edges, which usually points to past moisture exposure. The surface should be even in tone, without dark spotting or patches where the gilt has degraded. |
| Crystal | These left the factory with a mineral crystal. Check for deep scratches or chips around the edge where the crystal meets the bezel. A heavily scratched crystal is replaceable, but it tells you the watch lived a rough life. |
| Movement | If the watch has been sitting unworn for years, dried oil in the caliber 800 can create enough friction to stop it cold. Confirm it winds, sets, and runs before assuming it just needs a shake to wake up. A service history is a meaningful plus here. |
| Case | Examine the lugs and case edges carefully. Gold electroplate wears through at high-contact points first, and significant wear through to the steel underneath is common on fifty-year-old examples. Decide what level of wear you are comfortable with before buying. |
| Crown | Work through all crown positions and confirm the day and date both change cleanly and fully. Partial advances or a day wheel that creeps rather than snaps over are signs the movement wants a service. |
The Movement
The caliber 800 is a Hamilton-branded Swiss automatic, a solid workhorse movement that handles the day and date complication through a quick-change mechanism. It carries enough heft as an automatic to keep good time when worn regularly, and its construction is straightforward enough that a competent watchmaker can service it without drama.