Thinline 2045B
1971 · 14k Solid Yellow Gold
About the Thinline 2045B
Made only in 1971, the Thinline 2045B is a 14k solid yellow gold round-cased dress watch powered by Hamilton's caliber 680. It belongs to the Thinline family, which Hamilton developed as a line of slim, refined watches suited to the dress wear of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The hidden lug design keeps the profile clean and uninterrupted, which was very much the aesthetic Hamilton was chasing in this period.
A single production year means examples are genuinely uncommon, and finding one in honest, unworn condition is a small event. The 14k solid gold case holds up well to age if it hasn't been polished aggressively, so look for a case that still shows its original surfaces rather than one that has been buffed into vagueness. The hidden lug construction is elegant but also means any case damage can be harder to assess without handling the watch directly.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1971
What to Look For
| Dial | Look carefully at the overall condition. Check for spotting, flaking, fading, or any sign of moisture damage. The dial is the hardest thing to restore well, so take your time with it. |
| Crystal | Confirm the crystal is intact and sitting flush. Scratches are expected on a watch of this age, but cracks or a poorly fitted replacement are worth flagging. |
| Movement | Wind the watch fully and confirm the caliber 680 is running. In a watch that has been sitting, oil dries out over time and the resulting friction can be enough to stop the movement entirely. A service is a reasonable expectation on any vintage Hamilton at this point. |
| Case | This is a 14k solid yellow gold case, so check carefully for deep dents, dings, or evidence of heavy polishing. A case that has been buffed repeatedly loses its original lines and sharpness. The hidden lugs make it worth looking at the case from multiple angles. |
| Crown | Test the crown in both the winding and setting positions. It should engage cleanly and turn smoothly. A worn or replaced crown on a gold case is worth noting, both for function and originality. |
The Movement
The caliber 680 is a manual wind movement that Hamilton used across a range of dress models in this era. It is a straightforward, reliable design that responds well to a proper service. At this age, dried oil is the most common issue rather than any fundamental problem with the movement itself.