Lamar
1954–1956 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Lamar
Made from 1954 through 1956, the Lamar is a cushion-cased manual wind dress watch powered by either the caliber 747 or 730, both 17-jewel movements. Hamilton offered it in a 10K yellow Gold Filled case with a stainless steel back, and the dial is a sterling silver base with applied gold numerals at all positions except 6, where a subseconds register takes its place. The Lamar falls into Hamilton's broader mid-1950s catalog of dress watches that paired honest American movement quality with understated, well-proportioned cases.
Silver dials from this era have a particular vulnerability: moisture and misguided cleaning attempts can cause the finish to peel or fade in ways that are hard to reverse and harder to restore without repainting. Finding a Lamar with a clean, unpolished case and an intact original dial is the real challenge, and when those two things come together, this is a genuinely handsome watch that wears well without announcing itself.
From the Catalog
Hamilton marketed the Lamar in 1955 at $69.50 on bracelet, describing it as a 10K yellow gold-filled case with a stainless steel back and 18K gold numerals on a sterling silver dial. A strap version was also available at $62.50.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1955
1956
What to Look For
| Dial | The silver dial is the most fragile part of this watch. Look closely for separation at the edges, fading across the surface, or water damage that has clouded the finish. The applied gold numerals should sit cleanly with no corrosion or gaps at their feet. Repainted dials are common and will look slightly too perfect, with a different texture under light. |
| Crystal | Check for chips at the edge and deep scratches across the center. A flat acrylic replacement is easy to source and fit, but whatever is on the watch affects how the dial reads, so clarity matters. |
| Movement | Ask about service history. The caliber 747 and 730 are solid manual wind movements, but lubricants of this age can thicken or dry out entirely, and a watch that runs today may stop without warning. A recent service with fresh oil makes a meaningful difference in long-term reliability. |
| Case | The gold-filled case shows wear at the lugs and high edges first. Check for brass showing through at the lug tips, which is normal on a 70-year-old GF case, but deep polishing that has rounded the lug profile is worth noting. The stainless steel caseback should be free of deep gouges from improper opening attempts. |
| Crown | Pull the crown through both positions and confirm it winds smoothly and sets the hands without slipping. A worn crown or damaged stem can make an otherwise good watch frustrating to use. |
The Movement
The Lamar was fitted with either the caliber 747 or 730, two closely related 17-jewel manual wind movements that Hamilton produced domestically and used across many of its dress watch lines through the 1950s. Both are reliable, straightforward movements without complications beyond the subseconds, and they respond well to a proper service. The 747 and 730 are not interchangeable between all cases, so the movement inside a given Lamar was matched to that specific case configuration at the factory.