Grenadier I
1955–1957 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Grenadier I
Made from 1955 through 1957, the Grenadier I pairs Hamilton's caliber 748 or 735 with a 10K yellow Gold Filled case and stainless steel back, offering a clean, dressy round watch with a sweep seconds hand and a sterling silver dial carrying applied 18K gold markers, luminous dots, and a pearled minute track. The Silhouette hands are luminous on their underside, a period design detail that kept the dial face uncluttered while still providing low-light legibility. Hamilton offered this model in both right-hand and left-hand wind configurations, and it could be had on a strap or bracelet. The Grenadier I was part of Hamilton's broader Grenadier family, which ran through several variations during the 1950s.
The silver dial is worth close attention on any example you come across, as silver-finished is prone to fine surface oxidation that can creep in from the edges over decades. A dial that has been stored in variable humidity may show subtle discoloration near the perimeter, so look carefully in good light. The applied 18K gold markers have held up well on surviving examples, but verify they are all present and seated flat, since a missing or detached marker is not a quick fix.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1955 catalog described the Grenadier I as having 18K gold markers, luminous dots, and a pearled track on a sterling silver dial, with Silhouette hands and a waterproof case available in either right or left hand wind. Original retail pricing started at $79.50 on a strap, with the bracelet version listed at $85.00.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1955
1956
1957
What to Look For
| Dial | Inspect the silver dial for oxidation or discoloration, especially near the edges where moisture tends to get in first. Check that all applied 18K gold markers are present, seated flat, and free of separation or tipping. The pearled minute track and luminous dots should be intact with no chipping or dropout. |
| Crystal | Look for chips, deep scratches, or hazing that distort the view of the dial. A badly scratched crystal is replaceable, but verify the replacement fits the case correctly and does not sit too low or too high. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The caliber 748 is genuinely difficult to reassemble correctly, requiring four wheels to align simultaneously during closing, and the escape wheel pivot is easy to snap under any uneven pressure. A watch that has been poorly serviced or forced back together may run erratically or stop without obvious explanation. Smooth winding and consistent timekeeping are good signs, but they do not substitute for a clean, careful service. |
| Case | The gold-filled case can show wear through to the base metal at the lugs and case back edges with regular use. Check those areas in direct light for any brass-colored bleed-through. The hidden lugs give the case a distinctive profile, so also look for any dents or distortion along the lug area that would affect how a strap or bracelet attaches. |
| Crown | Because this model was available in both right-hand and left-hand wind configurations, confirm which version you have and that the crown is original and correct for that variant. The crown should seat cleanly and wind smoothly without slipping or grating. |
The Movement
The caliber 748 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement produced by Hamilton in the United States, and the caliber 735 is the same jewel count and type, offered across several dress models of the same period. Both movements drive a sweep seconds hand, which routes the seconds indication through a center seconds arrangement rather than a small subseconds dial. The 748 in particular has a reputation among watchmakers as one of the more demanding Hamilton calibers to service correctly, largely due to the precise alignment required during reassembly.