Golden Tempus
1957–1959 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Golden Tempus
Made from 1957 through 1959, the Golden Tempus is a solid gold dress watch built on Hamilton's caliber 735, an 18-jewel manual wind movement. The case is 14K yellow gold with a round profile and swept lugs, and the dial is a two-toned silver dial surface fitted with rhodium-plated 14K gold numerals and markers. Hamilton offered it in two dial configurations: a standard layout and a Time Zoned version, with a sweep seconds hand on both. At $175 in 1957, it was a serious purchase aimed at buyers who wanted something unmistakably fine without straying into complication territory.
The silver dial is the thing to examine closely on any Golden Tempus. Silver dials develop a patina over decades, and what you find can range from a clean, bright surface to one with warmth and age, to one that has gone spotty or corroded from moisture exposure. The rhodium plating on the gold numerals and markers gives them a slightly cooler, more formal look than bare yellow gold, and checking that the plating is intact and even is worth the time before buying.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Golden Tempus in 1957 as an 18-jewel watch in a 14K yellow gold case, with rhodium-plated 14K gold numerals and markers on either a standard or Time Zoned sterling silver dial, finished with sweep seconds. It retailed for $175 at introduction.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1957
1958
1959
What to Look For
| Dial | Silver dials are sensitive to moisture and age unevenly. Look for spots, separation, or corrosion around the edges and near the crown side. The rhodium-plated gold numerals and markers should sit cleanly with no tarnish or flaking. A uniform patina is fine; uneven blotchiness is a concern. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, crazing, and deep scratches. The original crystal on a watch this age is almost certainly not present, but whatever is there should sit flush and seal properly. A poorly fitted crystal on a solid gold case is worth flagging before purchase. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The caliber 735 will stop when its oil has dried out, and a watch that has sat unworn for years is a near-certain candidate for a full service. If it is running, check for consistent rate and listen for any roughness in the winding feel, which can indicate a worn or dry mainspring. |
| Case | The 14K yellow gold case is durable but not immune to wear. Check the lugs for thinning, especially on the underside where straps wear through the metal over decades. Polishing removes gold permanently, so a case with honest wear and original surfaces is preferable to one that has been aggressively buffed. |
| Crown | The crown should screw in or pull out smoothly with no wobble. A loose or damaged crown on a gold case can be expensive to address, and a mismatched replacement crown is a common find on watches this age. Check that it winds the movement positively and sets the hands without slipping. |
The Movement
The caliber 735 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton used through the late 1950s in its better dress watches. It is a reliable, well-finished movement with a sweep seconds configuration, meaning the seconds hand runs from the center of the dial rather than from a small subseconds register. The 735 is serviceable and parts are generally available, though it has some quirks during reassembly that require careful attention from a watchmaker familiar with the caliber.