Myron
1941–1951 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled / 10k Coral Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Myron
The Myron ran from 1941 through 1951, giving it one of the longer production windows of any Hamilton dress watch from that era. It's a tonneau-shaped case in 10K yellow or coral Gold Filled, housing the caliber 980 manual wind movement with 17 jewels. The dial is the main event here: Hamilton spec'd 18K applied gold numerals, and the known variants include a sterling silver two-tone butler finish, a pink coral finish, and dials with solid 18K yellow gold or rhodium-plated solid gold numerals. The Myron sits within Hamilton's broader lineup of refined dress watches from the 1940s, sharing that era's emphasis on warm gold tones and clean, legible dials.
Finding a Myron in good condition usually means navigating the dial carefully first. The coral finish variant in particular can show fading or discoloration from age and humidity, and the two-tone butler finish dials will sometimes show oxidation along the border where the finishes meet. Applied gold numerals on a watch this age can pull away from the dial or lose their luster if the dial has been exposed to moisture, so close inspection of each numeral under good light is worth the extra minute.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Myron in 1940 as coming with an 18K applied gold numeral dial only, paired with a 10K natural gold-filled case housing the grade 980 with 17 jewels. The original retail price was $45 in 1940, rising to $55 by 1948, reflecting both the quality of the case materials and the dressed-up dial specification Hamilton considered non-negotiable for this model.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1941
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1951
What to Look For
| Dial | Inspect every applied gold numeral individually. Numerals that have come loose or are misaligned are a red flag, as reapplying them properly requires skill and the right materials. On coral-finish dials, look for uneven fading or spotting. On two-tone butler finish dials, check the boundary between finishes for oxidation or separation. The numeral at the 6 position is absent by design, replaced by the subseconds register. |
| Crystal | The original crystal is domed acrylic. Deep scratches can often be polished out, but a cracked or crazed crystal should be replaced. Make sure the crystal fits the case properly with no gaps around the bezel edge, which can let in moisture. |
| Movement | The caliber 980 has a known tendency for the escape wheel jewel to work loose over time. Ask whether the movement has been recently serviced, and if the watch is running, check for consistency across positions. A watch that runs fine crown-up but loses significantly dial-down may have a loose jewel or dried oil creating uneven friction. |
| Case | Check the case back and lugs for evidence of aggressive opening attempts. The case backs on these can be snug, and prying in the wrong spot leaves marks or distorts the edge. On yellow GF examples, look at the lugs for wear-through to the base metal, which is most common at the lug tips. Coral GF cases should be inspected the same way. |
| Crown | The crown should feel positive in both the winding and setting positions with no slipping or grinding. A mushy or slipping crown can mean a worn stem or a worn-out setting mechanism. Crowns on GF watches are sometimes replacements, so confirm the crown style is appropriate for the case. |
The Movement
The caliber 980 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement built on a 12/0-size platform, meaning it's a slim, well-proportioned movement suited to dress watch cases of this era. It winds smoothly when freshly serviced, but the mainspring on these movements often needs replacement after decades of use, and dried oil is enough to bring the watch to a stop entirely. A properly serviced 980 keeps solid time and is a straightforward movement for any watchmaker familiar with Hamilton.