In the mid-range price segment, Hamilton is a company that has been doing some of the most interesting designs, harking back to its history of innovation when the brand was based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.
One of Hamilton’s most interesting introductions this year is the Pulsomatic, to honour the 40th anniversary of Hamilton’s launch of the first digital watch, the Pulsar. The case of the Pulsomatic, though redesigned and bigger, is reminiscent of the Pulsar. With the help of ETA, Hamilton developed a new movement (Calibre H1970) that combines automatic and quartz technology for a power reserve of 82 days (using an accumulator). The Pulsomatic watch is a pure timepiece, as was the original, displaying only time and date. The new Pulsomatic retails for 995 Euros.
TIME PLAYER
PULSOMATIC
Hamilton is also introducing the Hamilton Lab, a special project that is aimed squarely at the watch collector. The Hamilton Lab allows Hamilton to develop really cutting edge watches that are not meant for industrialized production, or even retail sale for that matter. Certain high concept watches will be introduced and debut in the Hamilton Lab, where customers can purchase them directly. These watches will not be in Hamilton’s regular collection and will only be made if there is enough interest shown.
This spring, Hamilton will be introducing three special Lab watches - the Time Player, the ODC X002 and the Ventura XXL in white. Limited to 999 pieces, these products can only be purchased through the Lab’s website. Hamilton thinks that retailers will be reluctant to carry Lab pieces, but when a watch is booked through the Lab, it will delivered to the customer via Hamilton’s closest retailer. This way, as Hamilton says, they are using the web but still supporting the retailer.
In addition, Hamilton will introduce the RailRoad Auto Chrono, based on the vintage Hamilton railroad watch – famously known as the ‘watch of railroad accuracy’. Hamilton worked with ETA to develop a movement that is only being used by Hamilton, taking some elements from the pocket watch and reproducing them in a Valgrange movement. Written on the small second ring on the dial of this watch is the legend ‘The Watch of Railroad Accuracy, Lancaster 1892’. Hamilton’s Chief Designer, Hakim El Kadiri, started this project with the goal to morph the vintage railroad pocket watch into a modern watch. There are three watches in this collection: a Valgrange Small Second, a Valgrange Chrono and a 38mm with automatic movement.
KHAKI KING PILOT
Hamilton is again working with Harrison Ford and his charity Conservation International in 2010 and the watch that benefits the charity this year is the Khaki Pioneer. Ford is an acc-omplished pilot, so he chose to redesign an old Hamilton pilot’s watch, with a pocket watch type crown and a new anti-magnetic cage system.
For the ladies, Hamilton is introducing a beautiful women’s watch from the 1930s, faithfully recreated exactly as it was back then. And to celebrate the current trend, Hamilton is introducing new automatics in their ladies collection – the brand saw a niche that was not being developed at this price range and the result is a great looking collection of automatic timepieces.
Hamilton is introducing a lot of exciting watches again this year, reinforcing its reputation as an innovator and a trendsetter in the affordable watch category.
RAILROAD AUTO CHRONO
KHAKI X-LANDING
Source: Europa Star April - May 2010 Magazine Issue
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