Thin-o-matic T-500
1959–1961 · Stainless · Automatic
About the Thin-o-matic T-500
The Thin-o-matic T-500 was produced from 1959 through 1961, placing it among the earlier entries in Hamilton's Thin-o-matic family of automatic dress watches. It runs on the caliber 666, a 17-jewel automatic movement, housed in a round stainless steel case. The dial is two-toned with a textured finish, silver-colored chapter ring, and white incised markers with luminous dots at the hour positions. Like its Thin-o-matic siblings, the T-500 was designed to wear slim and understated, aimed at the dressy end of Hamilton's American market.
Finding a clean example means paying close attention to the chapter ring, since the contrast between the textured center and the silver ring is a big part of the dial's character and any discoloration or separation is immediately visible. The luminous material on the dots and hands has usually aged to cream or tan by now, which is normal and expected. Stainless steel cases from this era tend to hold up well, but the case back deserves a close look for evidence of prying or damage from improper opening attempts.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the T-500 in 1959 as a 17-jewel stainless steel watch with white incised markers, luminous dots, and waterproof construction, priced at $79.50 retail.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1959
1960
1961
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the chapter ring and the boundary where it meets the textured center. Any separation, discoloration, or moisture staining there affects both the look and the value. The white incised markers should be crisp, not filled or worn flat. |
| Crystal | The original crystal would have been acrylic. Check for deep scratches or crazing that a simple polish can't address, and make sure the crystal is seated properly without gaps around the edge. |
| Movement | The caliber 666 uses long wheel arbors that need precise alignment when the bridges are reinstalled. A watch that's been serviced carelessly may run rough or not run at all. Dried lubricants in a movement this old create enough friction to stop it, so ask about service history and verify the watch actually runs and keeps time. |
| Case | Stainless steel cases from this period hold up well overall, but check the lugs for thinning from over-polishing and the case back for dings or pry marks. Swept lugs like these are easy to scratch badly with improper tools. |
| Crown | Check that the crown threads in smoothly and seats fully against the case. A sticky or cross-threaded crown is a common sign of deferred maintenance. Also note that even though Hamilton originally marketed this as waterproof, no vintage watch should be trusted near water today. |
The Movement
The caliber 666 is a 17-jewel automatic movement from Hamilton's domestic production era. It winds via a traditional rotor and uses a sweep seconds hand, with no date complication to worry about. The movement's wheel arbors run long and require careful handling during service, so the quality of any prior work matters more than usual with this caliber.