Sea Cliff III

1970–1973 · 14k Gold electroplate or Stainless Steel · Stemwound

About the Sea Cliff III

The Sea Cliff III appeared in Hamilton's 1972 catalog as part of the Sea Cliff family, a line of water-resistant sport watches that carried Hamilton into the early 1970s market for rugged, dressy-casual cases. The catalog confirms a single year of availability, 1972, in yellow 14K gold electroplate with a brown dial. The hooded lug design gives it a distinctly period look, that slightly architectural, forward-swept profile that shows up across several Hamilton sport models of the era.

Brown dials from this period can fade unevenly or develop a patchy texture if moisture found its way past the crystal, so a clean, even dial surface is worth looking for. The hooded lugs are also a point to inspect carefully, as plating on the lug overhangs tends to wear first and is difficult to touch up without looking obvious.

From the Catalog

Hamilton listed the Sea Cliff III in its 1972 catalog in yellow 14K gold electroplate, priced at $82.50 on a strap and $95.00 on a bracelet. The listing emphasized the water-resistant case, positioning it as a watch that could handle an active lifestyle without sacrificing a finished, polished look.

Hamilton Catalog Images

1970

1972

1973

What to Look For

Dial	The brown dial should be even in color with no blotching, bubbling, or flaking. Any moisture intrusion over the decades tends to show up here first, so uneven fading or texture changes near the edges are a sign the case seal failed at some point.
Crystal	Check for deep scratches or crazing. A heavily scratched crystal can be replaced, but a crazed one suggests age stress in the material and is worth factoring into the overall condition picture.
Movement	The movement should be running and keeping reasonable time. On a watch this age, oil dries out and friction builds up gradually, sometimes enough to cause the movement to stop or run erratically. A watch that winds up and runs is a good sign, but a proper service is still the right call.
Case	The 14K gold electroplate wears through over time, especially on the hooded lugs where contact with the wrist is constant. Look at the lug overhangs and case edges under good light. Some wear is expected and honest, but deep wear through to base metal affects both appearance and value.
Crown	Pull the crown gently through its positions and make sure it seats firmly when pushed back in. A crown that feels loose or doesn't click into place may not be sealing correctly, and this watch was originally rated water resistant, so the crown and gasket condition matters if that's important to you. Keep in mind that vintage watches, regardless of original water resistance ratings, are not suitable for water exposure today.

The Movement

The caliber 688 is a manual wind movement related to the 686 family, which itself traces back to an ETA base similar to early 1960s ETA designs. It winds entirely by hand at the crown, with no automatic rotor involved, making it a straightforward movement to service and a slim one by nature. The jewel count for this caliber is not confirmed in available records, but the 686 family and its relatives were typically fitted with a modest jewel complement appropriate to their grade and price tier. The 688 is a reliable workhorse in the tradition of the ETA-derived calibers Hamilton used during this period, and a watchmaker familiar with that lineage will find it approachable. Like any manual wind movement of its age, it benefits from a proper cleaning and fresh lubrication if it has been sitting unused, since dried oil creates friction the gear train was not designed to work against.