Lord Lancaster FF
1968–1969 · 14k Solid White Gold · Automatic
About the Lord Lancaster FF
Made from 1968 through 1969, the Lord Lancaster FF is part of Hamilton's Lord Lancaster family, a line of dress automatics that pushed toward slim, refined proportions in the late 1960s. It runs on the caliber 626, a 17-jewel automatic, and comes in a 14K white gold case with a silver dial set with 6 diamonds in place of traditional hour markers. The hidden lug construction gives the case a clean, uninterrupted profile that was very much in step with the design sensibility of the era.
Surviving examples are relatively uncommon given the single catalog year, and the diamond dial is the first thing to scrutinize. Check that all 6 stones are present and secure, and look closely at the silver dial surface for hairlines or discoloration, since refinished dials on watches like this tend to lose the crispness of the original finish. The Lord Lancaster G is a closely related reference point if you want to compare dial and case details side by side.
From the Catalog
Hamilton listed the Lord Lancaster FF at $95 in 1968, describing it as a stemwound 17-jewel automatic in a 10K white and yellow rolled gold plate configuration with a 6-diamond dial, which makes the 14K solid white gold version a step up from the base catalog offering.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1968
What to Look For
| Dial | Confirm all 6 diamonds are present and none are loose or replaced. The silver finish should be clean and even. Any signs of reluming, overpainting, or amateur restoration will affect value significantly. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or chips around the edge. Replacement crystals are available, but confirm the fit is correct and the crystal sits flush without pulling away at the edges. |
| Movement | The caliber 626 is an automatic, so give it some wrist time before judging timekeeping. Dried oil in movements of this age creates enough friction to cause erratic rate or stopping. If the hands feel loose or the watch gains or loses dramatically, the cannon pinion may have worked loose, which is a known issue in movements of this type and needs a watchmaker's attention. |
| Case | 14K white gold cases from this period can show wear at the lugs and case edges. The hidden lug design makes scratches harder to polish out without changing the lines, so inspect carefully. Confirm the case back closes properly and the case is not mismatched. |
| Crown | Test that the crown winds smoothly and that the hands set cleanly without slipping. A crown that spins freely at the winding position can indicate a worn or loose cannon pinion and should be addressed before daily wear. |
The Movement
The caliber 626 is a 17-jewel automatic made for Hamilton's slimmer dress watch lines of the late 1960s. It winds via a rotor and runs without any manual winding requirement, though it benefits from regular wrist time to stay wound. Like most automatics of this vintage, it rewards a fresh service to get the most reliable performance out of it.