Lord Lancaster EE
1968–1969 · 14k Solid White Gold · Manual Wind
About the Lord Lancaster EE
Made from 1968 through 1969, the Lord Lancaster EE is a cushion-cased dress watch from Hamilton's Lord Lancaster family, running on the manual wind caliber 680 with 17 jewels. The case is 14K white gold, and the silver dial uses raised gold markers in place of numeral hour markers, giving it a clean, formal look. The Lord Lancaster family sits within Hamilton's broader lineup of dress watches from this era, and the EE variant is one of the more refined configurations in that group.
Diamonds set into a vintage Hamilton dial are a condition vulnerability worth taking seriously. Check each stone carefully under good light for chips, cloudiness, or missing settings, because replacing period-correct diamonds is costly and finding a matching stone is rarely straightforward. The silver dial finish on these can develop a warm patina over decades, which many collectors prefer to a refinished replacement.
From the Catalog
Hamilton positioned the Lord Lancaster EE as a diamond-set dress watch, pairing the sterling silver dial with a black faille and brocade strap at an original retail price of $250.00.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1968
What to Look For
| Dial | Inspect the diamonds closely. Look for any that are loose, chipped, or sitting unevenly in their settings. The silver dial finish should be original if possible. Refinished dials lose collector value, and on a watch this dressy, the dial condition drives a lot of the appeal. |
| Crystal | The crystal on a watch this age is almost certainly a replacement or will need one. Check for deep scratches, crazing, or a poor-fitting aftermarket crystal that doesn't follow the cushion dial shape correctly. |
| Movement | The caliber 680 is a manual wind, and oil dries out in movements of this age. Wind it fully and let it run for several hours before drawing any conclusions about how it's running. Dried lubricants create enough friction to stop even a healthy movement. |
| Case | 14K white gold cases show wear differently than gold-filled or plated cases. Look at the lugs and case edges for honest wear, which is expected, versus deep gouges or polishing that has softened the original lines. Hidden lugs on a cushion case can trap debris, so check those areas for grime buildup or corrosion. |
| Crown | Check that the crown winds smoothly and sets the hands without slipping. On a watch this old, a worn or replaced crown is common. Make sure it's the correct size and profile for the case. |
The Movement
The caliber 680 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton. It winds from the crown and keeps time without any rotor or automatic mechanism, so it needs to be wound daily. It's a straightforward, reliable movement when serviced, and parts availability is generally reasonable for a vintage Hamilton of this era.