Thinline 2002
1962 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold · Manual Wind
About the Thinline 2002
Made only in 1962, the Thinline 2002 belongs to Hamilton's Thinline family, a line built around the idea that a dress watch should disappear under a shirt cuff as easily as it catches light at dinner. The case is 14K yellow gold, round, and paired with caliber 687, a 17-jewel manual wind movement that kept the profile genuinely slim. Hamilton marketed these alongside bracelet options, with the base strap configuration retailing at $115 and a two-tone bracelet version pushing the price to $315.
Applied gold numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12, plus applied gold markers filling the remaining positions, give the dial a crisp, layered quality that holds up well when the gold hasn't oxidized unevenly. The catalog noted choices of white or black luminous dials as well, so it's worth verifying what you're looking at against the specific variant. A gold dial in honest, unworn condition on one of these is a genuinely satisfying find.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Thinline family as achieving a modern, slim look through ultra-thin design and compact engineering, and priced the 2002 at $115 on strap in 1962, with a two-tone bracelet configuration available at $315. The watch was listed as shock-resistant, anti-magnetic, and weatherproof, with a lifetime mainspring included as a selling point.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1962
What to Look For
| Dial | Look carefully at the applied gold numerals and markers for separation at the edges or adhesion loss, which shows up as a slight tilt or gap between the marker foot and the dial surface. Also check for even aging across the dial, since spotty discoloration can indicate moisture intrusion at some point in the watch's history. |
| Crystal | These originally used acrylic crystals. Deep scratches can be polished out, but cracks or a poorly fitted replacement crystal are worth flagging since an improper fit affects the weatherproofing the case was designed around. |
| Movement | Ask when the caliber 687 was last serviced. Oil in a movement this age dries out and creates enough friction to affect timekeeping or stop the watch entirely. A recently serviced example will run noticeably more smoothly than one that hasn't been touched in decades. |
| Case | The 14K yellow gold case should show a warm, consistent color. Inspect the lugs for thinning from polishing, particularly at the lug tips, where over-polishing on soft gold cases removes metal quickly and changes the profile. The case back on these can be stubborn to open, so any evidence of prying marks or damage around the back edge is worth noting. |
| Crown | Check that the crown seats fully and winds with resistance that feels smooth and even. A loose or wobbly crown can indicate a worn stem or a crown that has been replaced with an incorrect size. |
The Movement
The caliber 687 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement Hamilton used in several of its dress models during this period. It winds from the crown, has no automatic rotor, and keeps the overall height of the watch low, which is exactly what the Thinline design called for. Seventeen jewels at the pivot points reduce friction and wear in the right places, and when properly serviced, these movements run reliably for years.