Seaman II
1966–1967 · Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Seaman II
Made from 1966 through 1967, the Seaman II was Hamilton's follow-up to the original Seaman, sharing the same waterproof-dustproof sport brief but dressed in a cleaner, more legible dial layout. It runs on the caliber 688, a 17-jewel manual wind movement, housed in a stainless steel round case 9mm thick. The dial is silver-white with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, stick markers elsewhere, and a subseconds dial at 6 o'clock. The Seaman family was Hamilton's answer to the growing demand for rugged, water-capable watches in the mid-1960s, and the Seaman II represents a refined pass at that formula.
Finding a clean example means checking the dial closely, the silver-white finish can show aging around the subseconds register and near the minute track, and the embossed silver numerals hold up well but can lose their crispness if a dial has been exposed to moisture. The known variants include a hash-mark minute track and a textured dial surface, so it's worth confirming which version you're looking at before assuming condition issues are damage. Given the multiple years production run, examples don't surface constantly, but they're not impossible to find in decent shape.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1966 catalog pitched the Seaman II as shock-resistant, anti-magnetic, and equipped with an unbreakable mainspring, with waterproof and dustproof protection as the headline feature, provided the seals remained intact. It retailed for $49.95.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1966
What to Look For
| Dial | Look carefully at the silver-white surface under good light. Moisture intrusion can cause fading or spotting around the subseconds register at 6 o'clock. The embossed silver numerals should be sharp and even, if they look soft or worn, that's worth factoring in. Note whether the dial has a textured finish or a hash-mark minute track, as both are documented variants. |
| Crystal | Check for chips at the edges and deep scratches across the face. A heavily scratched crystal can usually be replaced, but confirm the profile fits the bezel correctly, ill-fitting replacements are common on watches that have been through amateur servicing. |
| Movement | Ask when the caliber 688 was last serviced. In a movement this old, dried oil generates enough friction to gradually slow or stop the watch even when it appears to be running. A watch that keeps time today may not be keeping good time tomorrow. |
| Case | The stainless steel case is generally durable, but check the case back seating carefully. These backs can be tricky to open and are sometimes damaged by improper tools, which compromises the seal. Also inspect the lugs for thinning, swept lugs on sport cases from this era can wear unevenly. |
| Crown | The crown on the 688 can detach from the stem if pulled too hard. Test it gently and make sure it seats properly at rest. A replacement crown that doesn't match the original finish or size is a small detail that affects both function and originality. |
The Movement
The caliber 688 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement made in Hamilton's Swiss production. It's a straightforward, honest workhorse of a caliber, hand-wound daily, no automatic rotor to worry about. The 688 is generally reliable when properly serviced, though its age means dried lubricants and worn pivots are real concerns on any example that hasn't been through a watchmaker recently.