Sea Haven II
1968–1969 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate · Manual Wind
About the Sea Haven II
Made only in 1968, the Sea Haven II is a compact manual wind dress watch from Hamilton's late-1960s lineup, running on the Swiss-made caliber 688 with 17 jewels. The 10K yellow RGP case is circular and relatively slender at 9mm thick, giving it a clean, unassuming profile that works well on a strap or bracelet. The white dial carries applied gold numerals and applied gold markers, with numerals at 6 and 12 and a sweep seconds hand. The Sea Haven II shares close DNA with the Sea Ruler, another waterproof-rated dress model from the same era.
Applied gold numerals and markers can come loose or shift over decades, so a close look at dial condition is worth the time. The white dial on surviving examples varies from crisp to lightly aged, and the original retail pricing suggests this was a modestly positioned watch, which means it was bought and worn rather than saved, so finding one in excellent shape takes a bit of luck.
From the Catalog
Hamilton offered the Sea Haven II with a strap for $49.95 or on a bracelet for $55.00 in its original 1968 catalog, positioning it as an accessible everyday dress watch with a weatherproof rating.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1968
What to Look For
| Dial | Look carefully at the applied gold numerals and markers. Any that have separated, shifted, or gone missing will affect both value and appearance, and replacement applied pieces are difficult to source for this model. |
| Crystal | Check the crystal for deep scratches or chips. A cloudier crystal can often be polished or replaced, but inspect it under good light so you know what you're working with. |
| Movement | Wind the watch manually and confirm it's running. If the watch has been sitting unworn, dried oil in the caliber 688 can create enough friction to stop or significantly slow the movement, and that means a service is due before the watch can be trusted. |
| Case | The 10K yellow RGP case can show wear through to the base metal at high-contact points like lugs and case edges. Check those spots carefully, since heavy wear on a plated case is permanent. Also note that this watch was rated weatherproof when new, but no vintage watch with a weatherproof rating should be treated as water-resistant today. |
| Crown | Test the crown carefully. On manual wind movements from this period, the crown can detach from the stem if pulled with too much force, so handle it deliberately when winding or confirming function. |
The Movement
The caliber 688 is a Swiss-made manual wind movement Hamilton used across several of its dress models in the late 1960s. At 17 jewels, it's a well-supported movement with jeweled bearings at the key friction points, built for reliable daily wear. It's a straightforward hand-wound caliber without complications, which also makes it relatively serviceable when properly maintained.