Romanesque S
1960 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Romanesque S
Made only in 1960, the Romanesque S is part of Hamilton's Medallion family, a line defined by dressy rectangular cases and coordinated bracelets. It runs on the caliber 770, a 22-jewel manual wind movement, housed in a 10K yellow Gold Filled case with a stainless steel back. The dial is sterling silver with a Romanesque finish, fitted with applied steel black numerals and markers at 3, 9, and 12, giving it a strong graphic presence despite its small footprint. The hooded lugs are a defining visual detail that tie it closely to its siblings in the Romanesque series.
Finding a clean example means paying close attention to the bracelet, since the Romanesque finish on both the dial and bracelet was a selling point in period and a worn or replaced bracelet significantly changes the look of the watch. The dial's silver construction can show age in ways that gold dials don't, so surface oxidation or spotting around the markers is worth examining carefully before buying.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Romanesque S as featuring a sterling silver dial with the distinctive Romanesque finish carried across both the dial and bracelet, sold as a complete set at $89.50 in 1960.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1960
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the silver dial for oxidation, dark spots, or discoloration around the applied steel markers and numerals. The Romanesque finish can obscure early damage at a glance, so examine it under good light and at an angle. |
| Crystal | These take a flat acrylic crystal. Check for deep scratches, crazing, or chips at the edges where the crystal meets the case bezel. |
| Movement | The caliber 770 is a manual wind, and dried oil in a movement this old builds enough friction to cause it to stop or run erratically. If the seller says it runs, verify it actually winds smoothly and keeps time before trusting that assessment. |
| Case | Check the gold-filled surfaces for wear-through, particularly on the lug tops and any high-contact areas. Case backs on these can be tight and are sometimes damaged by improper opening attempts, so inspect the back edge for tool marks. |
| Crown | Confirm the crown is original and threads or seats correctly. A replaced crown that doesn't match the case finish will be immediately obvious on a watch like this. |
The Movement
The caliber 770 is a 22-jewel manual wind movement that Hamilton used across a range of its dress watches from this era. It is a well-regarded workhorse, thin enough for slim rectangular cases and accurate when properly serviced. At this age, lubricants dry and harden over decades, and that friction buildup can create enough resistance to stop the movement entirely, so a full service is usually the right starting point with any 770 that hasn't been touched in years.