Glendon
1961–1962 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Glendon
Made from 1961 through 1962, the Glendon pairs Hamilton's caliber 686 manual wind movement with a 10K yellow Rolled Gold Plate case and stainless steel back. The dial is silver with embossed gold numerals at all positions and a subseconds register, giving it a clean, structured presence despite its modest size. The Glendon is closely related to the Martin, which shares a similar design sensibility from the same period. Hamilton offered it with either a bracelet or a strap, with the bracelet configuration listed at $55.00 and the strap version at $45.00.
Two dial variants turn up on the Glendon: one with a straightforward all-numeral layout and another with a radial textured finish, and the textured version is noticeably harder to find in clean shape. The embossed numerals hold up well over time as long as the dial hasn't been refinished, but any refinishing work on a textured dial like this is genuinely difficult to execute correctly, so original condition matters more here than on a simpler dial. Finding one with an honest, unrestored dial and good case definition is the thing to hold out for.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1961 catalog described the Glendon simply as a 10K yellow rolled gold plate case with a stainless steel back and embossed dial, available on bracelet for $55.00 or strap for $45.00.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1961
1962
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the embossed gold numerals and the overall dial surface. Any refinishing on a textured dial like this is difficult to do well, and a poorly redone dial will look flat or show inconsistent texture. Original silver finish should have an even, aged quality rather than a bright, freshly painted appearance. |
| Crystal | The Glendon takes a flat acrylic crystal. Light scratching is normal and polishes out easily, but deep gouges or crazing are worth factoring into the price. |
| Movement | Wind it fully and give it some time to run. A caliber 686 that stops after an hour or runs very slowly almost always needs fresh lubrication rather than anything more serious. What you want to avoid is physical damage to the train or a broken mainspring, so listen for anything irregular and check that it winds smoothly with no grinding. |
| Case | The 10K rolled gold plate case will show wear through to the base metal on high-contact areas like the lugs and caseback edges over time. Some wear is expected on a watch this age, but check that the lugs aren't thinning to the point of compromising the bracelet or strap attachments. |
| Crown | The crown should wind smoothly and set the hands cleanly without slipping. A worn or replaced crown is a minor issue, but make sure it's the right diameter and profile for the case before you buy. |
The Movement
The caliber 686 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement built by Hamilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It winds via the crown and needs a full wind to run properly, which also makes it easy to evaluate before buying. Oil dries out in any movement over the decades, and the 686 is no exception, a watch that runs sluggishly or stops after a few hours almost certainly just needs a proper service rather than parts.