Stormking III
1955–1958 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Stormking III
Made from 1955 through 1958, the Stormking III pairs a 14K solid yellow gold case with a stainless steel back and one of Hamilton's more distinctive dial treatments of the era: a two-tone silver dial with applied 18K gold numerals, applied gold markers, luminous dots, and a pearled track. It runs on either the caliber 748 or caliber 735, both 18-jewel manual wind movements, and features a sweep seconds hand rather than a subseconds dial. The Stormking III is part of the broader Stormking family, a line of dress watches Hamilton produced across several numbered variants through the 1950s and into the 1960s.
The silver dial is the thing to focus on when evaluating one of these. Silver dials oxidize and discolor over time, so finding a clean, even example takes patience. The applied 18K gold numerals and markers hold up well on their own, but a patchy or spotted dial underneath undermines the whole presentation. When the dial and case are both solid, the Stormking III has a richness that photographs don't fully capture.
From the Catalog
Hamilton's 1955 catalog described the Stormking III with an emphasis on its material quality, specifically calling out the 18K gold numerals and markers on a sterling silver dial, along with luminous dots and a pearled track. It carried a retail price of $115.00 and was listed as waterproof, a meaningful selling point for an everyday dress watch at that price point.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1955
1957
1958
What to Look For
| Dial | The silver dial is the heart of this watch and the first thing to scrutinize. Look for even tone across the surface, free of dark spots, pitting, or oxidation patches. Check that all applied gold numerals and markers are present and sitting flat, with no separation at the edges. The pearled track and luminous dots should be intact and consistent. |
| Crystal | Check for deep scratches or crazing in the crystal. A fogged or heavily scratched crystal can obscure the dial's detail and is worth factoring into the price, since proper crystal fitting on a domed profile requires care to get right. |
| Movement | The caliber 748 is a challenging movement to service correctly. It requires precise alignment of four wheels during reassembly, and the escape wheel pivot is easy to break if any force is applied. Ask specifically about service history and who did the work. A watch running on decades-old lubricants is wearing itself down with every tick. |
| Case | The 14K yellow gold-filled case will show wear at high-contact points like the lugs and caseback edge. Light surface wear is expected; heavy wear that cuts through to the base metal is harder to reverse. Check the caseback for deep engraving that may have thinned the metal, and confirm the stainless steel back seats cleanly without gaps. |
| Crown | The crown should pull out smoothly through both positions and wind with consistent resistance. A loose or wobbly crown may indicate a worn stem or compromised setting mechanism. Hamilton marketed this watch as waterproof, so the crown's seal condition matters if that protection is expected to hold. |
The Movement
The caliber 748 is an 18-jewel manual wind movement produced by Hamilton in the United States. It drives a sweep seconds hand from the center of the dial rather than from a subseconds register, which gave the Stormking line a cleaner, more modern face. The caliber 735, also used in some examples, shares the same 18-jewel specification and general character. Both are robust American movements, though the 748 in particular has a reputation among watchmakers for being demanding to reassemble correctly.