Foster (1953)
1953 and 1955 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual
About the Foster (1953)
The 1953 Foster arrived alongside Hamilton's transition from 14/0-size movements to the slightly wider 12/0-size calibers, and it was purpose-built for the new platform. The case is 10K yellow gold filled with hidden lugs — from the front, the strap attachment disappears into the bezel, giving the watch a clean, integrated look. Hamilton offered a matching bracelet that extended that seamless line all the way to the wrist. It's a distinctly 1950s design: restrained, well-proportioned, and less fussy than some of the era's more sculpted models.
The 1953 Foster is confirmed in the 1953 and 1955 Hamilton catalogs. It does not appear in the 1954 catalog. Whether that gap reflects a genuine production pause, a distribution decision, or simply an omission from the catalog printing isn't something catalog evidence alone can resolve — but the dates follow what the catalogs show. The 1955 version also carried a different dial: gold markers and squares on a sterling silver surface, replacing the earlier Arabic numeral layout. Both dial variants are legitimate to the model.
From the Catalog
The 1953 Foster appears in the Hamilton catalog that year paired with a matching bracelet option. The 1955 catalog shows a revised dial with gold markers on sterling silver. The model does not appear in the 1954 catalog — a gap preserved in the production dating rather than smoothed over.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1953
1955
What to Look For
| Dial | The 1953 and 1955 dials are different. The 1953 has Arabic numerals; the 1955 has gold markers and squares on sterling silver. Confirm the dial matches the year you're representing. Look for loose or lifted markers on the 1955 version — they were applied and can shift. |
| Lugs | The hidden lug design is the visual signature of this model. From the front, the strap attachment shouldn't be visible. Bent or reshaped lugs are common after decades of strap changes and will compromise the silhouette. |
| Case | 10K yellow gold filled. Inspect the lug tips and bezel edges for wear-through to the base metal. The gold layer on filled cases is thicker than gold plate but still finite — heavy polishing accelerates wear. |
| Movement | Should be a 752 in a 1953 example, a 770 in a 1955. The 770 is correct for 1955 production — it replaced the 752/753/754 series that year. A 770 in a 1953 case indicates a movement swap at some point. |
The Movement
The 1953 Foster used Hamilton's 17-jewel 752 movement, one of the new 12/0-size calibers introduced that year to replace the aging 14/0-size 980. The 752 shares its architecture with the 753 and 754, and all three were superseded by the 770 when it arrived in 1955. A 1955 Foster with a 770 movement is correct — HandyDan confirmed this directly in a reader exchange. If you find a 1953 example with a 770, that's a later service replacement.