The Intra-Matic Watches of the Hamilton x Janie Bryant Capsule Collection

The name behind the costume designs of hits like Mad Men, Deadwood, Why Women Kill and Pennywise’s clown costume in the 2017 version of It is Janie Bryant, the award-winning costume designer based in Los Angeles. Costume design is crucial in bringing a character to life and setting the mood of a film, whether it’s sci-fi, historical or contemporary. Hamilton’s longstanding affair with the silver screen, which started in 1932, brought the costume designer Janie Bryant and the watch brand together for this Watch Capsule collection that re-imagines three timepieces from the American Classic women’s collection. Bypassing the two quartz watches, Hamilton’s 1960s-inspired Intra-Matic Auto Chrono gets the Hollywood star treatment in the hands of Janie Bryant.

Screen credits

Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1892, Hamilton was a formidable American watchmaker and a key player in the production of railroad pocket and wristwatches. During WWII, Hamilton became a major supplier to the US military and its allies with field watches and marine chronometers. Although US operations came to a halt in 1969 and the company moved production to Switzerland, the rebirth of Hamilton as a Swiss brand and subsidiary of the Swatch Group managed to retain its American roots. And what could be more American than Hollywood films?

Since their debut in 1932 in Shanghai Express, Hamilton watches have played an enviable role on the big screen, appearing in more than 500 films. From futuristic timepieces commissioned by Stanley Kubrick for his epic 2001: A Space Odyssey to the iconic Ventura worn by Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii, or the Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO for Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller Tenet, Hamilton watches and movies go hand in hand. More recently, Hamilton has branched out to smaller screens – and an ever wider audience – with its Khaki Field watch worn on the wrist of a character in the Far Cry6 Ubisoft shooter game.

Intra-Matic Auto Chrono

In 2017, Hamilton revisited a golden oldie known as the 1968 Hamilton Chronograph B with a two-register reverse panda dial. Historically accurate but with a contemporary automatic H-31 movement (ETA/Valjoux 7753) with date and a larger 42mm case size, the vintage-inspired Intra-Matic 68 Chronograph sold out. Two years later, in 2019, Hamilton followed up with another Intra-Matic Automatic Chronograph with a smaller 40mm case size and a convincing 1960s retro vibe.

Decked out for Hollywood

Although the specifications and bi-compax layout of the two collaboration chronographs are identical to the 2019 model, the look and feel of the American Classic Intra-Matic watches designed by Janie Bryant is big-time Hollywood.

Janie Bryant’s costume for the first model is a celebration of femininity. Its 40mm stainless steel case has a gleaming beige gold PVD coating, including the piston chronograph pushers and crown. The sunbrushed centre of the dial is a soft beige gold colour with an off-white tachymetre scale with black markings on the perimeter. Arranged horizontally, the two sub-dials have snailed interiors and black numerals. The applied indices pick up the beige gold colour of the case, and their tips are filled with luminescent material. The framed date window at 6 o’clock is highlighted with a second black frame and has a white background with black numerals. However, in a departure from the men’s version, the hour, minute and seconds hands are not treated with lume and have a much sharper profile. The hour hand, for example, has a Breguet-style ‘moon’ tip and the minutes and seconds hands curve slightly at their ends to follow the contours of the dial. A powdery rose-coloured leather strap with a pin buckle adds another feminine touch to the chronograph.

Bold Gold

Janie Bryant’s second wardrobe design for the chronograph, which will appeal to both men and women, has Hollywood star power. Presented in a stainless steel case with yellow gold PVD-coating, the sub-dials, the tachymetre scale, the hands and the applied indices emit a dazzling yellow-gold glow in contrast to the black dial. The inscriptions on the dial, including the brand logo and the minutes scale, are gilded to match the case. Like the powder pink model, the hands have no lume, but the date aperture has a more discreet black background that blends well into the dial. Matching the opulent golden Midas vibe, the leather strap is also gold coloured.

Automatic Calibre H-31

The caseback is sealed to ensure the 100m water-resistance and is decorated with a pattern of H’s that radiate from the centre. Powered by calibre H-31 based on the Valjoux 7753, this automatic chronograph movement with date at 6 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock and 30-minutes counter at 3 o’clock is used across the board by Hamilton. Thanks to its improved mainspring, the power reserve is of 60 hours.

The price of the pink and bold gold references of the American Class Intra-Matic Auto Chronograph is CHF 2,295 (incl. tax). For more information, please visit Hamilton Watch.