Lord Lancaster A
1963–1965 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Lord Lancaster A
Made from 1963 through 1965, the Lord Lancaster A is part of Hamilton's Lord Lancaster family, a line built around dressy cushion-case designs that leaned into the white metal aesthetic popular in that era. The caliber 686 powers this one, a 17-jewel manual wind movement, housed in a 10K white Rolled Gold Plate case with a stainless steel back. What sets the Lord Lancaster A apart visually is its sterling silver dial with diamond indices in place of conventional hour markers, giving it a quieter, more refined look than Hamilton's busier dress watches of the period.
Diamond-set dials age differently than printed or even applied ones, so the condition of the stones and their settings is the first thing worth checking on any example. The silver dial with its textured silver markers gives the watch a lot of its character, and a dial that's been refinished or tampered with loses that considerably. Finding one with an original, untouched dial is the real goal here.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Lord Lancaster A as having six diamonds on a sterling silver dial, paired with a 17-jewel conventional movement in a 10K white rolled gold plate case with stainless steel back, retailing for $79.50 on a black suede strap.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1963
1964
1965
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the silver dial for refinishing, which is very difficult to do correctly on a textured surface like this one. The diamond settings should all be intact with no missing or replaced stones. Any polishing or obvious rework on the texture is a red flag. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, deep scratches, or a replacement crystal that doesn't sit flush with the cushion case profile. A poorly fitted crystal changes the whole look of this case shape. |
| Movement | The caliber 686 is a manual wind, so wind it fully and let it run for a few hours before judging it. A movement running on dried lubricants may run fast, run slow, or stop entirely. A service is good insurance on any example of this age. |
| Case | The 10K white rolled gold plate case will show wear on high contact points over time, especially on the lugs and back edges. Deep wear that breaks through to the base metal is worth factoring in. The stainless steel back is more durable, but check for dings or evidence of clumsy case back openings. |
| Crown | Pull the crown gently through its positions and confirm it winds smoothly and sets the hands without slipping. A worn crown on a dress watch like this is an inexpensive fix, but it's worth knowing about upfront. |
The Movement
The caliber 686 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton used across a number of dress models in the early 1960s. It's a compact, straightforward manual wind with no frills, but it's a capable runner when properly serviced. At this age, dried oil is the most common issue, and a 686 running on old lubricants may feel sluggish or stop altogether after a short run.