Sherwood T
1962 · 10k Yellow Gold Filled · Manual Wind
About the Sherwood T
Made only in 1962, the Sherwood T carries one of the more unusual dials in Hamilton's entire catalog: a genuine Mexican mahogany wood surface, paired with applied gold numerals and a 10K yellow Gold Filled case. Hamilton's caliber 735, an 18-jewel manual wind movement, runs underneath. The watch was sold with either a matching strap or a bracelet featuring mahogany wood inserts, with the bracelet configuration carrying a $10 premium over the strap version.
The wood dial is the thing to focus on when evaluating one of these. Genuine wood surfaces are vulnerable to humidity, handling, and poor storage over sixty-plus years, so expect to find examples ranging from pristine to cracked, warped, or faded. Finding one with a dial that still shows clean grain and intact applied gold numerals, alongside original gold hands, puts it in genuinely good shape.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Sherwood T simply and specifically in 1962: an 18-jewel movement, 10K yellow gold-filled case, and Mexican mahogany wood dial with matching bracelet inserts. The strap version retailed for $75, with the bracelet configuration priced at $85.
Hamilton Catalog Images
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What to Look For
| Dial | Examine the wood surface carefully under good light. Look for cracks, warping, swelling, or any separation along the grain. Check that the applied gold numerals are all present and sitting flat, and that the gold hands are original and unbroken. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, deep scratches, or crazing on the crystal. A replacement is acceptable but note whether it follows the original profile. |
| Movement | Ask when the caliber 735 was last serviced. Oil in movements of this age thickens and loses effectiveness, and enough friction from dried lubricants can stop the watch even if everything looks fine. A freshly serviced example is worth more than one of unknown service history. |
| Case | On a 10K gold-filled case, check the high-contact areas around the lugs and caseback edge for wear-through to the base metal. Some wear is expected on a watch this age, but heavy wear-through affects both appearance and value. |
| Crown | Test the crown for smooth winding and clean engagement at the setting position. A crown that slips, feels gritty, or won't pull to the correct position may indicate wear in the stem or setting lever. |
The Movement
The caliber 735 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement from Hamilton's American production era. It winds and sets cleanly when properly serviced, and the 18-jewel count reflects solid construction for a dress watch of this period. Like any movement of this age, dried lubricants are the most common enemy, and a movement that hasn't been serviced recently may run poorly or stop entirely despite appearing intact.