Stormking II
1955–1957 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Stormking II
Made from 1955 through 1957, the Stormking II is part of Hamilton's Masterpiece family, a line that brought serious horological craft to dress watches of the period. The case is 14K yellow gold with a round profile, and the dial is a genuine silver dial surface dressed with applied 18K gold numerals, markers, luminous dots, and a pearled track running the circumference. A sweep seconds hand completes the layout, and the watch was rated waterproof from the factory. Depending on the example, it ran either the caliber 748 or the caliber 735, both 18-jewel manual wind movements.
One detail that surfaces occasionally on the Stormking II is a corporate award dial, specifically examples produced for United Gas as 25-year service awards, with the company logo worked into the dial. Finding one of those is a specific kind of lucky. On standard examples, the silver dial is worth careful attention, since silver dials can develop an appealing natural patina over decades or can spotting or discoloration unevenly depending on storage conditions. The applied 18K gold details tend to hold up well, but check that all the numerals and markers are fully seated and secure.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1955 catalog described the Stormking II as having a 14K yellow gold case with sweep seconds, 18K gold numerals, markers, luminous dots, and a pearled track on a sterling silver dial, with waterproof rating. It retailed for $150 at introduction, which placed it firmly in Hamilton's premium offering for the mid-1950s.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1955
1957
What to Look For
| Dial | Silver dials develop character over time, but uneven or heavy spotting or discoloration can signal moisture exposure. Confirm all applied gold numerals and markers are flush and secure. Any that have separated, shifted, or come loose from the dial affect both aesthetics and value, and replacement period-correct parts are not easy to come by. |
| Crystal | Look for chips or deep scratches in the crystal. A flat replacement is a straightforward fix, but make sure whatever is on the watch suits the case proportions correctly. |
| Movement | The caliber 748 is a challenging movement to service correctly. It requires four wheels to align precisely during reassembly, and the escape wheel pivot breaks easily under any undue force. Ask specifically about service history and who performed the work. A watch this age running on original lubricants is building wear with every tick. |
| Case | 14K yellow gold cases hold up well over time but can show polishing abuse. Heavy buffing rounds off the lugs and erases the crispness of the original lines. Look at the lug edges and case flanks for any signs of over-polishing. |
| Crown | The crown is the first defense against moisture. Check that it threads or seats correctly and that the stem engages cleanly through all hand-setting positions without slop or resistance. |
The Movement
The caliber 748 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement built to Hamilton's higher specifications for the Masterpiece tier. It features a sweep seconds configuration, which routes the seconds through the center of the dial rather than a subseconds register at six o'clock. The caliber 735 is also an 18-jewel manual wind movement and appears in some Stormking II examples, sharing the same functional layout with slightly different construction internally.