A great, vintage gold is equal parts handsome and versatile.

Versatility, however, often plays second fiddle to looks. Sure, a dressy piece looks the business at the end of a well tailored suit cuff, but looks even better when paired with a great t-shirt and jeans!

Hamilton is perhaps best known to modern collectors for their historically significant tool watches. But during the golden age of American watchmaking, the brand was master of myriad watch forms, from railroad timers to dress watches fit for kings. Their catalogs from the 1950s and 1960s were filled with elegant, timeless, and innovative watches whose names have all but faded to obscurity.

The Hamilton Thin-o-Matic, crafted for those who appreciate sophistication and style,  is one such model. Introduced in 1959 and in perpetual high demand, the Thin-o-Matic was released in over 70 different iterations to meet all tastes and preferences.

This particular Thin-o-matic dates back to the early 1960s and features a tidy, 34mm 14k yellow gold case, a domed acrylic crystal, a signed crown, and a signed, brown crocodile strap with a matching, gold-plated buckle. It lives up to its name with a case measuring just a shade above 8mm thick — in short, it’ll melt right into the wrist.

The dial, a sunburst silver affair, features applied indices and a matching ‘dauphine’ handset. Beating away at its core is a Hamilton Calibre 628 automatic-winding movement with micro-rotor that has been fully serviced and is up snuff for your everyday wearing needs.

A gold dress watch like this Hamilton Thin-o-Matic, worn at the office, the cocktail bar, or while cutting the grass on the weekend,  was a common sight in the 1960s. Versatile and fashionable, it deserves a second lease on life!