Founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hamilton produced watches in the United States for over seven decades. The company was named after James Hamilton, the son of a Scottish lawyer and the founder of Lancaster County, where the watch factory was later established. The brand quickly made a name for itself by producing high-precision pocket watches for railroad companies. By the turn of the century, Hamilton dominated over half of the US watch market. The company’s first mass-produced pocket watch was the Broadway Limited, which was celebrated as “the watch of railroad accuracy.” Only in 1917 did the Pennsylvanian brand release its first wristwatch.
In 1928, Hamilton acquired the Illinois Watch Company. This allowed the manufacturer to further strengthen its domestic production and sell high-quality, functional movements in gold cases with opulent gold decoration. Two exemplary models from this period are the Hamilton Piping Rock and the Hamilton Spur, which drew heavily on the ultra-modern Art Deco style of the 1920s and 30s. With the looming threat of World War II, Hamilton ceased production for private customers and focused exclusively on marine chronometers for the US Navy and watches for the US Armed Forces. More than a million of these models were also sold overseas.
What does Hamilton represent?
Hamilton continued to develop the design of their watches during the post-war period of the 1950s, creating the Ventura and Pacer models with the help of designer Richard Arbib. The irregular case shapes and electric movements of these watches reflect the neo-futurism of the era that inspired their conception. Along with the models Altair and Gemini, these timepieces mark Hamilton’s final American decade.
Hamilton: The Indiana Jones Watch
Hamilton has been outfitting Hollywood movie stars with their timepieces for over 90 years. One of the most famous film characters to have sported a Hamilton is the American archaeologist, explorer, and daredevil Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford. Since the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Hamilton have been the official outfitter of the film franchise, promoting their timepieces in key film scenes.
On June 30th, the next and presumably last installment in the series will be released under the title Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In this film, Indy wears a gold Hamilton from the Boulton collection. The company first released the model as a mechanical watch in the 1940s. Today, the reissued series with its Art Deco look is part of Hamilton’s American Classic Collection.
Unlike the original, the Boulton reference H13431553 worn by Jones is powered by a precise quartz movement. The rectangular watch measures 31.6×27 mm; its stainless-steel case has a gold PVD coating.
Indy’s companion Renaldo, played by Antonio Banderas, also wears a Hamilton, specifically the Khaki Field Scuba ref. H82335331. Beating at the heart of this 40-mm diving watch is the automatic caliber H-10, which is based on the ETA 2824-2. The timepiece boasts a power reserve of 80 hours.
Is Hamilton still an American watch company?
Following the onset of the quartz crisis, Hamilton continued to produce electric watches, including the Pulsar with its distinctive digital display. Yet the American brand had strayed far from its roots and eventually had to split into several smaller divisions to remain competitive. While the electrical division was sold to Seiko, the production of the remaining models relocated from the US to Switzerland in 1969. Hamilton attempted to regain the brand’s former fame and in 1974 became part of the SSIH, now the Swatch Group.
Is Hamilton considered a good watch brand?
Today, Hamilton offer a range of entry-level watches like the Khaki Field, the Intra-Matic, and the Pan Europ Auto. Their catalog includes a variety of styles and mechanical movements, some of which are available for as little as a few hundred dollars. With their collection of high-quality timepieces at accessible prices, Hamilton are widely considered a good starting point for watch collecting. Since the brand’s reissue of designs from its past, the collector community has shown renewed interest in vintage Hamiltons. These watches, featuring plenty of gold and beautiful numerals, offer an affordable option for people who want to own a timepiece with history without breaking the bank.
