Sherwood N
1961–1962 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Automatic
About the Sherwood N
Made from 1961 through 1962, the Sherwood N is one of the more visually distinctive automatics Hamilton produced during the early 1960s. It runs on the caliber 667, a 17-jewel automatic movement, housed in a 14K yellow gold round case. The dial is the real story here: a Mexican Mahogany wood surface with applied 14K gold numerals, markers, and dot indices at the 2, 4, 8, and 10 positions, finished with a sweep seconds hand. The Sherwood N is related to the Automatic K-203, which shares a similar dial concept in a different case configuration.
Wood dials from this era are fragile, and condition varies significantly. Moisture, improper storage, and past service attempts can all leave marks, warping, or separation at the edges, so the dial deserves close attention before anything else. Finding a Sherwood N with a clean, intact mahogany surface and all its applied gold indices still properly seated is not something to take lightly.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Sherwood N in 1961 as a 14K yellow gold case watch with 14K gold numerals, markers, and dots on a Mexican Mahogany wood dial, sold on a strap at $150.00.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1961
1962
What to Look For
| Dial | Wood dials are the most vulnerable part of this watch. Look carefully for warping, cracking, moisture damage, or any separation at the edges of the wood surface. Check that all applied gold numerals, markers, and dot indices are present and sitting flat. Any missing or tilted indices are a meaningful deduction in value and can be difficult to source correctly. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or chips. A heavily scratched crystal can diffuse light in ways that make dial condition harder to assess, so ask for it to be cleaned or replaced before you make a final judgment on the dial beneath. |
| Movement | Ask when the caliber 667 was last serviced. Oil in a movement of this age thickens over time, and enough friction from dried lubricants can bring the watch to a stop or cause wear on the train wheels. A movement that runs today is not a guarantee of a recently serviced movement. |
| Case | This is a 14K yellow gold case, so check for any sharp reduction in case thickness around the lugs, which would indicate heavy polishing over the years. Swept lugs like these can lose their definition quickly under a polishing wheel. The case back can be tricky to open, so make sure it shows no signs of damage from improper tools. |
| Crown | On the caliber 667, hand-winding access is limited to one side of the crown, which makes it easy to over-force. Check that the crown winds and sets smoothly with no grinding or slippage. |
The Movement
The caliber 667 is a 17-jewel automatic movement produced by Hamilton during the early 1960s. It winds via a rotor, so it keeps itself wound through normal wrist movement, though hand-winding is possible if needed. Reassembly of the train bridge requires three wheels to line up simultaneously, which makes this a more demanding caliber to service correctly, so it matters that whoever opens it up knows what they are doing.