Secometer C
1948–1951 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Secometer C
The Secometer C was produced from 1948 through 1951, making it part of a small family of Hamilton sweep-seconds dress watches that also includes the Secometer and Secometer B. At its core is the caliber 748, an 18-jewel manual wind movement, housed in a 14K yellow gold case with a round profile and swept lugs. The sweep seconds hand was the defining feature of the Secometer line, giving these watches a cleaner, more modern look than the subdial seconds configurations common at the time.
Dial variants are the first thing worth sorting out when hunting for a Secometer C. The watch was offered with either applied gold numerals or a black figure dial, and examples turn up with gold dot indices as well. The luminous painted numeral version adds another wrinkle, so the dial you find on any given example may look noticeably different from another. Condition on these is highly variable after 70-plus years, so a close look at the dial surface and case edges before buying will tell you a lot.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Secometer C in 1948 as featuring the grade 748 with either an applied gold numeral or black figure dial, offered in 14K yellow gold-filled at $132.00, which placed it firmly in Hamilton's dress watch tier for the period.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1948
1949
1950
1951
What to Look For
| Dial | Confirm which variant you have: the applied gold numeral dial, the black figure dial, or the luminous painted numeral version with gold dot indices. Each is correct, but condition varies significantly by variant. Look for hairlines, fading, or flaking on any painted elements, and check that the gold dots are present and undamaged if you have that configuration. |
| Crystal | Round crystals for this case are generally available, but verify the fit is correct and there are no gaps at the edge. An ill-fitting crystal on a watch this age usually means someone used an approximate substitute rather than a proper replacement. |
| Movement | The caliber 748 is a genuinely demanding movement to service correctly. Reassembly requires four wheels to align precisely, and a broken escape wheel pivot is a real risk if any force is applied during the process. Ask about recent service, and if the watch has been sitting unworn for years, dried oil is a likely culprit for any inconsistent running. |
| Case | This is a 14K yellow gold case, so check the edges and lugs for wear that cuts through to base metal. That would indicate gold-filled rather than solid gold, which would be inconsistent with the specification. Look for dings or dents on the case back, and note that the back can be tricky to open without the right tools. |
| Crown | Check that the crown screws in and out smoothly and that the stem sets the hands without slipping or resistance. A worn or replaced crown that does not match the case finish is worth factoring into your assessment. |
The Movement
The caliber 748 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement built around the sweep seconds configuration that defines the Secometer line. It runs a central seconds hand rather than routing the seconds to a subseconds dial, which requires a slightly more complex gear train and makes the movement more demanding to service than a standard layout. It is a capable movement when properly maintained, but one that rewards careful, experienced hands.