Hamilton Chronograph (Ref. 7723) Black "Reverse Panda" Dial, 1960s — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Craft & Tailored · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Craft & Tailored · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Hamilton Chronograph (Ref. 7723) Black "Reverse Panda" Dial, 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Hamilton (maker)
Date: 1960s
Historical period: Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dealer: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Stock no.: HAMCHRO7723
Credit line: Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (HAMCHRO7723)
Catalogue title (original): 1960s Hamilton Chronograph (Ref. 7723) Black "Reverse Panda" Dial (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number HAMCHRO7723), this is a wristwatch by Hamilton, made in Switzerland, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1882 and initially specialized in producing pocket watches. The brand boasts a long and impressive history of breakthroughs in design and technology, and while probably best known for their military associations and fantastic field watches, they've put out some really remarkable outliers as well, like this gorgeous ref. 7723. SPECS Stock # HAMCHRO7723 Brand Hamilton Style Chronograph Model 7723 Serial 13XXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Black W/ White Sub-Dials Millimeters 37 Strap 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The wonderful stainless steel case appears to remain potentially unpolished as it retains excellent case dimensions with honest signs of use. The case retains its original pump pushers and Hamilton-signed crown. The screw-down case back remains in great overall condition. The watch comes supplied on a two-piece handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The "reverse panda" matte black dial with white sub-dials is in fantastic condition, with no notable elements of age or wear. The tritium lume plots have taken on a lovely golden-yellow coloration, under UV light inspection the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock plots exhibit degradation while the remaining plots are fully intact. The original tritium hands have aged have aged to match the dial perfectly, and show no lume loss or degradation under UV light inspection. ACCESSORIES

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

Explore further

Sources & image rights

Record source: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Craft & Tailored — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Hamilton Chronograph (Ref. 7723) Black "Reverse Panda" Dial, 1960s." Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles, HAMCHRO7723. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/hamilton-chronograph-ref-7723-black-reverse-panda-dial-1960s-df5045.