Marine Date
1973–1974 · 14k Gold EP
About the Marine Date
The Marine Date was produced in 1973 and 1974, a round-cased dress sport watch built on Hamilton's caliber 806 and finished in 14k Gold Electroplate. The blue dial and date complication gave it a nautical character that the name made explicit. It was offered with either a strap or bracelet, with the bracelet configuration carrying a modest premium at original retail.
Blue dials from this era can show uneven fading or spotting if they've been exposed to moisture or UV over the decades, so condition here matters more than it might on a white or silver dial. The 14k Gold Electroplate case deserves a close look around the lugs and high-contact areas, where the plating tends to wear through to the base metal first. Finding one with the original bracelet intact and the blue dial still clean is a genuinely satisfying combination.
From the Catalog
Hamilton positioned the Marine Date as a 14k gold electroplate model with a blue dial, available with either a strap at $95 or a bracelet at $105. The Q/C II designation in the original listing referred to the quick-correct date mechanism, a feature Hamilton highlighted as a practical convenience.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1972
1973
What to Look For
| Dial | Inspect the blue dial carefully for spotting, fading, or moisture damage. Any cloudiness near the edges or discoloration around the date window is worth flagging. The applied indices should sit flat and flush with no separation from the dial surface. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or crazing. A replacement crystal is straightforward, but an original in good shape is always preferable. |
| Movement | Confirm the watch is running and that the date advances cleanly at midnight. If it has been sitting unworn for years, dried oil in the caliber 806 can create enough friction to stop it or cause erratic timekeeping. A service history is a good sign. |
| Case | Look at the lugs, crown-side, and case back edge for plating wear. Light wear on the high points is expected on a watch of this age, but significant wear through to the base metal affects both appearance and value. Also note that despite the Marine name, this watch is not suitable for water exposure. |
| Crown | The crown should screw or pull out smoothly and set the time and date without slipping. A sticky or loose crown may point to a worn stem or damaged threads. |
The Movement
The caliber 806 is an automatic movement with a date complication, typical of Hamilton's production in this period. It winds via a rotor as the watch is worn, so it keeps itself running with regular use. Jewel count data is not available for this caliber in current records, but the 806 is a competent everyday movement that responds well to a proper cleaning and fresh lubrication.