Lakeland
1959–1967 · Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Lakeland
The Lakeland ran from 1959 through 1967, giving it a solid eight-year production run in Hamilton's catalog. It's a clean, round stainless steel case on swept lugs, powered by the caliber 673, a 17-jewel manual wind movement. Hamilton offered it from the start with a choice of white or black dial, both carrying embossed silver numerals and luminous markers at the even-hour positions. The waterproof rating was a selling point in its day, though that claim carries the usual caveats for any vintage watch now.
Finding a Lakeland in honest, unpolished condition is the goal. The swept lugs on this case tend to lose their definition quickly when a watch gets buffed, and that matters more here than on a chunkier design. Both dial variants hold up reasonably well with age, but the embossed numerals and markers can show wear at their edges, and any attempt to refinish these dials is unlikely to replicate the original texture and character. The black and white versions attract slightly different buyers, but neither is dramatically harder to find than the other.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's original copy kept it simple: stainless steel case, embossed white numerals and luminous markers on a choice of white or black dial, waterproof. It retailed at $49.50 in 1959, which positioned it as an accessible everyday watch rather than a dressy piece.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1959
1960
1961
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the embossed numerals and markers. Wear at the raised edges is common and expected, but cracks, repaints, or refinishing attempts are dealbreakers. These dials are difficult to restore correctly, and a touched-up dial significantly affects value. |
| Crystal | Check for crazing, deep scratches, or a poor-fitting replacement. An ill-fitting crystal on a watch marketed as waterproof is a sign the case may have been opened carelessly or fitted with the wrong part. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. Dried oil in the caliber 673 creates enough friction to stop the movement entirely, and a watch that runs intermittently or not at all likely needs a full service before daily wear. |
| Case | Inspect the lugs carefully. The swept lug profile on the Lakeland loses its shape fast under a polishing wheel. Look for sharp transitions and original surface texture rather than a mirror finish all the way around. |
| Crown | Check that the crown threads in smoothly and that the stem engages the setting position cleanly. Also note that the original waterproof rating no longer applies to vintage watches regardless of condition, so this watch should be kept away from water. |
The Movement
The caliber 673 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement from Hamilton's American production era. It's a compact, reliable workhorse that winds and sets predictably, with a subseconds dial running off a dedicated gear train. At this age, a full service including mainspring replacement is the right call before putting one back into regular rotation.