Grant (1957)
1957–1958 · 10K yellow RGP/SS · Manual Wind
About the Grant (1957)
The Grant ran from 1957 through 1958, part of a long Hamilton lineage that stretched across many decades under the same name. This version is powered by the caliber 673, a 17-jewel manual wind movement, and housed in a 10K yellow RGP case with a stainless steel back. The dial is white with embossed gold numerals at 3, 9, and 12, gold dot indices filling the remaining positions, and a subseconds register at 6 o'clock. The tonneau shape gives it a softly curved, dressy character that suited the late-1950s taste for refined everyday watches.
Embossed numerals are a detail worth examining closely on any example you come across, since they sit proud of the dial surface and can show wear or damage at their edges that flat printing would not. The RGP case holds up reasonably well over time, but check the high-wear zones around the lugs and crown for brass showing through. Finding one with a clean, undamaged dial and original finish intact is genuinely satisfying given how much daily use watches like this absorbed over the decades.
From the Catalog
Hamilton offered the Grant with two dial options: the RGP dial version shown in catalog listings priced at $47.50, and a luminous dial variant available for $45.00, making the plainer-looking version the slightly more expensive choice by Hamilton's own pricing.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1957
1958
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the embossed gold numerals. Because they are raised from the dial surface, the edges can chip or show wear in ways that flat numerals do not. The white dial is also prone to aging unevenly, so check for discoloration, spotting, or previous attempts at cleaning that may have softened the numeral detail. |
| Crystal | Expect a replacement crystal on most examples at this age. That is fine as long as it fits the case correctly and sits flush. An ill-fitting crystal can allow moisture to enter, which puts the dial and movement at risk. |
| Movement | The caliber 673 is a capable manual wind movement, but dried lubricants are a real concern on any example that has not been serviced recently. Enough friction from degraded oil can stop the watch entirely. Ask about service history, and if it is unknown, budget for a full service before regular wear. |
| Case | The 10K RGP case will show wear at the lugs and along the case edges with long use. Check for brass showing through the gold fill, particularly near the crown and lug tips. Light surface wear is expected and honest on a watch this age, but deep loss of the gold layer is difficult to address without replating, which changes the character of the piece. |
| Crown | Work the crown through its positions before purchasing. It should wind smoothly and set the hands without slipping. A stiff or gritty feel points to dried oil in the stem and crown tube, which a service will address. If the crown feels loose or pulls out too easily, the set lever spring may need attention. |
The Movement
The caliber 673 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton used across a range of dress watches in this period. It winds from the crown, runs at a frequency suited to accurate timekeeping in daily wear, and requires winding roughly once a day. At this age the lubricants are almost certainly degraded, but the movement itself is straightforward for an experienced watchmaker to service and will run well once properly cleaned and oiled.