Raymon
1949–1951 · Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Raymon
Produced from 1949 through 1951, the Raymon is a rectangular stainless steel dress watch powered by Hamilton's caliber 747, a 17-jewel manual-wind movement made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hamilton offered two dial options at launch: luminous painted numerals on a silver dial, and a rhodium-plated version with 18K gold numerals, both priced at $55. The Raymon is a close relative of the Lexington and Clinton, all sharing similar proportions and that clean rectangular case geometry that defined Hamilton's dress line of the period. What makes the Raymon particularly worth knowing is its stainless steel construction, which Hamilton had only begun using for wristwatches in earnest just a few years prior.
Finding a Raymon in good shape means paying close attention to the dial, since the silver finish and luminous numerals on these are vulnerable to moisture damage and age in ways that are difficult to reverse. The 18K gold numeral version can be a bit harder to locate and tends to present more cleanly when it does surface, since painted lume deteriorates in ways that plated numerals simply don't.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1949 catalog described the Raymon as accented by its bright stainless steel case, positioning it as a refined and accessible dress watch. Both dial variants, the luminous version and the gold numeral version, carried the same retail price of $55.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1949
1950
1951
What to Look For
| Dial | The silver dial is the first place to look. Check for separation, bubbling, or discoloration around the numeral positions, especially on the luminous dial variant where the painted lume can flake or darken with age. Any moisture intrusion leaves marks on these dials that cannot be undone without refinishing, which kills collector value. |
| Crystal | Look for chips or deep scratches on the acrylic crystal. A worn crystal is replaceable, but cracks near the edge can indicate the watch took a knock, so check the case corners too. |
| Movement | Ask whether the watch has been recently serviced. A caliber 747 that has sat unworn for years will have dried oil, and that friction is often enough to stop the movement entirely or cause erratic timekeeping. Watch it running for a few minutes and ask about rate results across positions if you can. |
| Case | The stainless steel case wears well, but check the lugs for thinning from polishing. Sharp lug edges are a good sign. Also inspect the case back for tool marks, which indicate previous openings and may suggest service history worth asking about. |
| Crown | Wind the crown gently and check for slippage or roughness. A crown that spins without resistance or feels gritty usually means worn cannon pinion or dried mainspring, both of which a service will address, but worth knowing before purchase. |
The Movement
The caliber 747 is a 17-jewel manual-wind movement built by Hamilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sized to fit the narrow rectangular cases Hamilton favored for its dress line. It winds and sets cleanly when properly serviced, with a subseconds dial at 6 o'clock. Like most movements of its era, it needs fresh oil every several years to run accurately, but when properly maintained it's a reliable and well-built caliber.