Radburn
1959–1960 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Radburn
Made from 1959 through 1960, the Radburn is a 14K yellow gold square-cased dress watch powered by Hamilton's caliber 770, a 22-jewel manual wind movement. Hamilton marketed it under the Medallion line, positioning it as a higher-end offering built around what the company called its finest American-made movement. The dial is a silver dial face with applied 14K gold numerals at 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12, applied gold markers filling the remaining positions, and gold dot indices, giving it a clean but substantial look on the wrist.
Surviving examples tend to show their age most visibly on the dial, so look closely at the condition of the silver dial surface and the applied gold numerals before committing. A two-year production window means fewer of these came out of Lancaster, and finding one with an honest, unpolished case that still shows its original lines is a genuinely good result.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Radburn in 1959 as offering exceptional performance through the American-made Medallion movement, which it called the finest made anywhere in the world. The watch retailed for $115.00, with a 14K yellow gold case and 14K gold numerals and markers on a sterling silver dial.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1959
1960
What to Look For
| Dial | Silver dials can develop spotting or oxidation over the decades, especially near the edges. Confirm the applied gold numerals and markers are all present and sitting flush, with no separation or detachment from the dial surface. Any refinishing will have wiped the original surface character and reduced collector value. |
| Crystal | Check for chips or deep scratches. Replacements are available, but confirm the fit is correct for this square case profile. |
| Movement | Oil dries out in the caliber 770 over decades, and a movement running on dried lubricants is doing damage to itself with every tick. Ask whether it has been serviced recently, and by whom. |
| Case | This is a 14K gold case, so inspect the lugs and case edges carefully for over-polishing. Sharp, defined lines are a good sign. Soft, rounded edges suggest repeated polishing that has removed original metal and surface detail. |
| Crown | Test the crown for smooth winding and proper hand-setting. A worn or replaced crown on a gold case is worth noting, since matching the original correctly matters for both function and appearance. |
The Movement
The caliber 770 is a 22-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton in the United States, and it's one of the better executions of their later American production. It winds smoothly, keeps reliable time when properly serviced, and the jewel count reflects Hamilton's intent to build a genuinely high-performing movement rather than a cost-reduced one. It responds well to a thorough cleaning and oiling, and a properly serviced example will run for years without complaint.