Lee
1933–1934 · 14k White Gold Filled / 14k Yellow Gold Filled / 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Lee
The Lee was made from 1933 through 1934, a rectangular dress watch offered in 14K white Gold Filled, 14K yellow Gold Filled, and 10K yellow Gold Filled cases. Hamilton fitted it with either the 19-jewel caliber 979F or the 17-jewel caliber 987F, both manual wind movements well suited to the slim rectangular case profile. The Grant is the Lee's closest relative, and the two share enough design DNA that they're worth comparing side by side if you're researching either model.
Two dial variants were offered: a hammered silver finish dial with raised gold figures, and a two-tone luminous dial with painted lume numerals at all positions except 6 o'clock. The hammered silver version is the more visually distinctive of the two, and finding one with that texture intact and unpolished is the real challenge. Lume on the luminous variant has typically aged to cream or warm tan by now, which is expected and generally acceptable to collectors as long as it's even across all numerals.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1934 catalog listed the Lee in 10K filled natural yellow gold, with the hammered silver finish dial priced at $47.50 and the two-tone luminous dial at $45.00, making the plainer luminous version the slightly more accessible option at original retail.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1934
What to Look For
| Dial | On the hammered silver variant, look closely at the surface texture. Refinished dials lose that hammered character entirely and take on a flat, uniform appearance that's easy to spot. On the luminous dial, check that the painted lume numerals are present at all positions except 6 and that aging is consistent across all of them. Spot-replaced numerals often stand out under good light. |
| Crystal | Rectangular crystals for watches of this vintage can be difficult to source in exact sizes. Confirm the crystal fits properly with no gaps at the corners and sits flush with the bezel. An ill-fitting crystal usually means a replacement was forced into place. |
| Movement | Oil dries up completely on a caliber 979F or 987F of this age, and the resulting friction alone can stop the watch or cause erratic timekeeping. A watch that runs in one position but not another is a reliable sign of dried lubricants. Budget for a full service. Also note that the hairspring and balance pivots on both calibers are delicate, and any previous amateur adjustment can leave lasting damage that's not obvious until the movement is open. |
| Case | Check the case edges and lugs for wear-through on the gold fill, particularly at the high points of the lugs where metal-on-metal contact from bracelets and straps wears the fill down first. The lug style is straight, so wear tends to concentrate at the tips. Light wear is normal; bare brass showing through is more significant. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown is original and period-appropriate in size and profile. Replacement crowns are common on watches this age and are rarely an exact match. Also test that it winds smoothly and sets without slipping, as worn crown-and-stem connections are a frequent issue on watches that haven't been serviced in decades. |
The Movement
The 979F is a 19-jewel manual wind movement, and the 987F runs 17 jewels. Both are Hamilton-made calibers from this era, designed for reliability in dress watch applications. The higher jewel count on the 979F reflects additional friction-reducing jewels at key points in the gear train. Either caliber, at this age, will almost certainly need fresh lubrication before it runs reliably.