Romanesque R
1960 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Romanesque R
Made only in 1960, the Romanesque R belongs to Hamilton's Medallion family, a line of dress watches built around coordinated case and bracelet designs. It runs on the caliber 770, a 22-jewel manual wind movement, housed in a 10K yellow Gold Filled round case. What sets the Romanesque R apart from other Medallion pieces is the textured "Romanesque" finish applied to both the dial and the matching bracelet, giving the watch a cohesive, tactile quality that went beyond the typical polished dress watch of the era.
Finding one with the original bracelet intact is the real challenge here. The Romanesque finish on the bracelet was the defining detail of the whole design, and most examples that surface today have long since lost the original band to a generic replacement. The dial itself is silver with applied steel black numerals and markers, and the textured finish means light surface wear reads differently than it would on a plain silvered dial, so close inspection matters before drawing conclusions about condition.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1960 catalog described the Romanesque R as offering a 10K yellow gold-filled case with black numerals and markers on a sterling silver dial, with the Romanesque finish carried through on both the dial and bracelet. It retailed for $95.00, bracelet included.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1960
What to Look For
| Dial | The silver dial has a textured Romanesque finish, which can obscure minor wear but also shows age in its own way. Look for separation or oxidation around the applied steel black numerals and markers, and check that the finish is consistent across the dial surface with no polishing or touch-up attempts. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches, crazing, or chips. A replaced crystal is fine, but confirm it fits properly and sits flush with no gaps at the bezel edge. |
| Movement | Dried lubricants are the most common issue in any movement this old. On the caliber 770, hardened oil creates enough friction to stop the watch entirely or cause erratic timekeeping. A service history or a freshly serviced example is worth paying attention to when evaluating price. |
| Case | The 10K yellow gold-filled case should be inspected at the lugs and case back edges where gold fill wears through first. Swept lugs can thin noticeably with repeated polishing, so look for any softening of the lug profile. Also note that the case back on these can be stubborn to open, which sometimes means previous owners forced it and left marks. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown winds and sets smoothly without slipping or grinding. A damaged crown or worn stem can look fine at a glance but signals internal wear that affects daily usability. |
The Movement
The caliber 770 is a 22-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton in the USA. It is a robust, well-regarded movement from this period, with a higher jewel count than the standard grades, which reduces wear at the friction points and contributes to long-term accuracy. It winds from the crown, and like all movements of this age, it benefits significantly from a full service to replace hardened oils before being worn regularly.