Romanesque T
1960 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Romanesque T
Made only in 1960, the Romanesque T is a rectangular manual wind model built around Hamilton's caliber 673. The 10K yellow Gold Filled case with stainless steel back is paired with an embossed dial featuring what Hamilton called a 'Romanesque Finish,' a textured surface treatment that extended to the bracelet as well. Arabic numerals appear at the 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 positions, with a subseconds register at 6 o'clock. The Romanesque T is closely related to the Dexter, which shares similar design DNA from the same era.
The embossed, parchment-like dial texture is the defining feature of this model, and it's also what makes condition so important. Two distinct dial variants have surfaced: a golden textured dial with gilt markers and hands, and a parchment-like textured version. Finding one with the original texture intact and the gilt markers unpolished is the real challenge. The bracelet was also finished in the Romanesque pattern, but integrated bracelet examples rarely survive in honest shape, so most originals are found on replacement straps.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1960 catalog described the Romanesque T as offering a 10K Yellow Rolled Gold Plate case with stainless steel back, an embossed dial with Romanesque Finish carried through to the bracelet, and a weatherproof designation. It retailed for $59.95 with bracelet included.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1960
What to Look For
| Dial | The embossed Romanesque texture is fragile and nearly impossible to refinish to original quality. Look closely for polishing marks, fading, or any sign the dial has been touched up. The gilt markers and hands should have a warm, consistent tone. Significant variation in color between the markers and the dial surface is often a sign of a replacement or refinished dial. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, deep scratches, or a crystal that sits unevenly in the bezel. A correct-fitting crystal matters more on a textured dress dial like this because a poor fit draws the eye immediately. |
| Movement | Ask whether the caliber 673 has been recently serviced. The set lever spring on this movement is prone to breaking during disassembly, so a competent service history matters. A watch that winds smoothly but runs erratically is a common sign of dried lubricants. |
| Case | The gold-filled surface on the case and lugs wears through over time, especially on the high points. Check the lug tops and case edges for brass showing through. The case back can be tricky to open without the right tools, so prying marks on the edge are a red flag for rough handling. |
| Crown | The crown should pull out smoothly to the setting position without slipping. A worn or replaced crown on a watch this age is common, but make sure it still seals reasonably well. Hamilton's original weatherproof rating no longer applies to any watch of this age, so don't expose it to water regardless of what the catalog once claimed. |
The Movement
The caliber 673 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement produced by Hamilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's a solid, dependable caliber in the smaller dress watch tradition, wound and set through the crown, with no rotor or winding mechanism to complicate the works. Like any movement of this age, dried lubricants are the most common enemy. On the caliber 673, hardened oil creates enough friction to stop the watch or cause it to run erratically, and the set lever spring is known to be vulnerable to breakage during servicing.