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{{Short description|Swiss watch manufacturer}}
[[Image:Hamilton pocketwatch.jpg|thumb|90px|Hamilton pocketwatch, ca. 1904]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
[[Image:Microrotor_(Small).jpg|thumb|225px|The Rare Swiss Hamilton/Buren 666 Caliber Microrotor Movement]]
{{Infobox company
| name = Hamilton Watch Company
| logo = Hamilton Watch Company Logo.svg
| caption =
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| founded = 1892, [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| founder =
| defunct =
| location_city = [[Biel/Bienne|Bienne]]
| location_country = Switzerland
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = [[Watchmaker|Watchmaking]]
| num_locations = ~3000
| parent = [[The Swatch Group]]
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = [http://www.hamiltonwatch.com hamiltonwatch.com]
| footnotes =
}}


The '''Hamilton Watch Company''' is a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] manufacturer of wristwatches based in [[Biel/Bienne|Bienne]], Switzerland. Founded in 1892 as an American firm, the Hamilton Watch Company ended American manufacture in 1969, shifting manufacturing operations to the Buren factory in Switzerland. Through a series of [[mergers and acquisitions]], the Hamilton Watch Company eventually became integrated into the [[Swatch Group]], the world's largest watch manufacturing and marketing conglomerate.
The '''Hamilton Watch Company''' was an American manufacturer of [[Pocket watch|pocket]][[watches]] and [[wristwatches]]. The Hamilton brand still exists in name as a Swiss assembler of low to mid-level quartz and automatic wristwatches.


== History of Hamilton America ==
== Early history ==
[[File:Hamilton pocketwatch.jpg|thumb|Hamilton pocket watch, ca. 1904]]
[[File:Hamilton 990.png|thumb|Hamilton 990 movement, ca. 1910]]


Hamilton succeeded three watch firms manufacturing timepieces in the same facilities in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], US, including the Adams & Perry Watch Manufacturing Company, Lancaster Watch Company Ltd., Lancaster Watch Company and the Keystone Watch Company. The precursor to the Hamilton Watch Co., the [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], based '''Keystone Standard Watch Co.''', was started by [[Abram Bitner]] in 1886 with the purchase of [[Lancaster Watch Company]]'s factory. Lancaster, then Keystone manufactured watches featuring a patented "Dust Proof" design that used a small mica window to cover the only opening in the plate of the movement.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} Keystone existed until 1891 when the company was sold to Hamilton Watch Company.{{citation needed|date = July 2024}}
Hamilton was founded in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]] in 1892 by the merger of the [[Keystone Standard Watch Co]] (formerly the [[Lancaster Watch Company]])and [[Aurora Watch Company]] of Aurora, IL.


The Hamilton Watch Company was established in 1892 after Keystone Standard Watch Company was purchased from bankruptcy. Aurora Watch Company of [[Illinois]] also merged into Keystone during the same year. The name of the new company was originally to be "Columbian," but when it was discovered the Waterbury Watch Company had trademarked that name, a meeting of stockholders was called in November 1892 and a new name selected.<ref>Time for America, Don Sauers</ref> The company was named after [[Andrew Hamilton (lawyer)|Andrew Hamilton]], a Scottish-born attorney who laid out and founded [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]], and was the original owner of the Lancaster site on which the factory was situated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/hamilton.html |title=Brief History: Hamilton Watch Company |publisher=Renaissance Watch Repair |access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>
Its first series of pocket watches, the Broadway Limited, was known as the "Watch of Railroad Accuracy," and Hamilton became popular by making accurate [[Railroad chronometers|railroad watches]]. Hamilton introduced its first wristwatch in 1917. This watch was designed to appeal to men entering World War I and contained the 0-sized 17-jewel 983 movement originally designed for women's pendent watches. The introduction of the 0-sized wristwatch was the start of a line of wristwatches that included some of the finest American wristwatches made. In 1928 Hamilton purchased the [[Illinois Watch Company]]. Some of the most collectible early Hamilton wristwatches include: The Oval, The Tonneau, The Rectangular, The Square Enamel, The Coronado, The Piping Rock, The Spur, The Glendale, The Pinehurst, The Langley, The Byrd, The Cambridge, and The Flintridge. Many models came in solid gold and gold filled cases.


During the expansion of the railroads in the U.S., Hamilton maintained over 56% of the market. Railroads purchased all of Hamilton's production. The company manufactured wristwatches as the market switched from pocket watches to wristwatches after [[World War I]]. During [[World War II]], Hamilton retooled its business model to serve the military, dropping its consumer products.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
During [[World War II]], consumer production of watches was stopped, with all watches manufactured being shipped to troops, and more than one-million watches were sent overseas. The company however was extremely successful in producing marine chronometers and deck watches in huge numbers to fill the needs of the US Navy. This achievement was a milestone in industrial history, and represents the only time a true precision timekeeper was produced on an industrial mass production scale.


The Hamilton Watch Company was housed on a {{convert|13|acre|m2|adj=on}} [[Hamilton Watch Complex|complex]] in Lancaster. Hamilton took possession of Aurora Watch Company's machinery shortly after incorporation.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
In 1951, Hamilton rebuffed a hostile takeover bid by the [[Benrus]] watch company. The fallout from the failed takeover action culminated in Hamilton Watch Co. v. Benrus Watch Co (206 F.2d 738, 740 (2d Cir. 1953), a Federal proceeding that is considered to be landmark in the realm of Federal [[anti-trust]] case law. [http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/foia/divisionmanual/ch4.htm]


The first watch made under the Hamilton name was an 18-size 17-jewel pocket watch in 1893. During Hamilton's first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced&nbsp;– the 18-size and the smaller 16-size.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chronos |date=2010-08-28 |title=WATCH Me.: A Little Hamilton History: |url=http://watchmejordan.blogspot.com/2010/08/little-hamilton-history.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=WATCH Me.}}</ref>
In 1957, Hamilton introduced the world's first battery-powered watch. [http://furora.co.uk/shop2/index.php?main_page=page&id=7&chapter=0]


The company's first series of pocket watches, the Broadway Limited, was marketed as the "Watch of Railroad Accuracy," and Hamilton became popular by making accurate [[Railroad chronometer|railroad watches]]. Hamilton introduced its first wristwatch in 1917, designed to appeal to men entering World War I and containing the 0-sized 17-jewel 983 movement initially designed for women's pendent watches. In 1928, Hamilton purchased the [[Illinois Watch Company]] for over $5 million from the heirs of [[John Whitfield Bunn and Jacob Bunn]]. Some of the most collectible early Hamilton wristwatches include The Oval, The Tonneau, The Rectangular, The Square Enamel, The Coronado, The Piping Rock, The Spur, The Glendale, The Pinehurst, The Langley, The Byrd, The Cambridge, the Barrel "B", and The Flintridge. Many models came in both solid [[gold]] and gold-filled cases, and, though rare, some wristwatches such as the Grant were made of [[silver]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
In 1962, Hamilton entered into a joint venture (60% owned by Hamilton) with the Japanese watchmaking firm [[Ricoh]] to produce electric watches meant primarily for the Japanese market. The electronic components were produced at Hamiltons [[Lancaster, PA]] factory while production of the mechanical works and final assembly was undertaken in Japan.
Although production levels of Hamilton-Ricoh watches was high (over 1000 per month), demand was low and consequently, the Hamilton-Ricoh partnership was unable to compete with the substantial market presence of [[Seiko]]. The partnership was dissolved in 1965, with the remaining Hamilton-Ricoh electronic movements (marked "Ricoh 555E") re-cased as "Vantage" and sold in the US. [http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/make/hamilton/ricoh/ricoh.php]


==Marine chronometers==
In 1969, the Hamilton Watch Company ceased it's American manufacturing operations with the closure of its factory in [[Lancaster, PA]], shifting the balance of its manufacturing operations to the Hamilton owned Buren Watch Company in Switzerland. From 1969 to 1972, Hamilton watches were produced by the Buren Watch Company, which had been an independent subsidiary Hamilton since 1966. In 1972, the Buren-Hamilton factory was liquidated, due to decreased interest and sales of the new Hamilton-Buren product. [http://www.ozdoba.net/swisswatch/bueren_hist.html]
[[File:Hamilton Marine Chronometer Model 21.jpg|thumb|left|Inner working of the Hamilton Model 21 marine chronometer]]
[[File:Model 22 Chronometer.jpg|thumb|left|Hamilton Model 22 Chronometer, mass-produced during World War II]]


During [[World War II]], production of consumer watches was stopped, with all watches manufactured being shipped to troops. More than one million watches were sent overseas.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
== Hamilton Modern Day ==
[[Image:Nicolas Ivanoff.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Ivanoff's Hamilton-designed plane racing in Berlin]]
The Hamilton name brand is currently owned by [[The Swatch Group Ltd.]]. Swatch Group Hamilton brand watches have grown increasingly popular, with several of its watches being [[Product placement|product-placed]] in movies like ''[[Blue Hawaii]]'' (Ventura model), ''[[Men in Black]]'', ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'', ''[[Into the Blue]]'', ''[[Fantastic Four (film)|Fantasic Four]]'', ''[[The Pink Panther (2006 film)|The Pink Panther]]'', ''[[The Producers (2005 film)|The Producers]]''.
Modern Hamilton watches no longer use proprietary "in house" movements, instead using subcontracted movements made by other well known movement manufacturers, namely [[ETA SA|ETA]].


Up to then, the production of [[marine chronometer]] timepieces used by mariners for determining [[Celestial navigation#Use of time|longitude]] and fix their position by [[celestial navigation]] at sea, was a highly skilled mainly craft-based and hence expensive horology niche, and marine chronometers used by United States ships were imported or used foreign key components. The [[U.S. Naval Observatory]] had asked American watch manufacturers in 1939 to participate in domestically mass-producing chronometers. Hamilton was provided with two Swiss [[Ulysse Nardin]] marine chronometers to examine. Hamilton successfully perfected the mass production process and parts interchangeability maintenance method for these specialized timekeepers. The [[US Navy]] accepted its product in 1942. The industrial production methods enabled the company to produce marine chronometers and deck watches in large numbers to fill the [[navigation]]al needs of the US Navy, [[merchant marine]], and other Allied navies as well. The Model 21 Hamilton Marine Chronometer for large vessels was built first and had a [[Fusee (horology)|chain-drive fusee]], the second hand advanced in {{1/2}}-second increments over a 60-second-marked sub-dial, and was kept in a traditional [[gimbal]]ed double box for the express purpose of keeping the clock in a "dial up" position to minimize ship-movement-induced timing errors. In most respects, the Model 21 marine chronometer technically resembled the Ulysse Nardin design, except for a new [[Balance wheel#Better materials|balance]] design and the use of a pre-formed [[Elinvar]] alloy balance spring, to obviate the cumbersome spring adjustments previously necessary. Hamilton produced 8,900 Model 21 marine chronometers for the US Navy, 1,500 for merchant shipping, and 500 for the [[US Army]] during the war.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hamilton No. 1 Box Chronometer |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_855355 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=americanhistory.si.edu |language=en}}</ref> The Model 22 Chronometer Watch followed it for smaller vessels. The Model 22 looked like a large pocket watch and had a traditional mainspring, available in a traditional [[gimbal]]ed double box and also in a deck watch for larger ships for transferring time from the box marine chronometer(s) for position fixes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=HandyDan |title=1941 Model 22 Marine Chronometer - Overhaul |url=http://www.hamiltonchronicles.com/2014/05/1941-model-22-marine-chronometer.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |language=en}}</ref> The Models 21 and 22 had a two-day power reserve and the movements of both were marked "U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships". The Model 22 was also used by the U.S. Army, and on the back of some, it is marked "U.S. Army", but all the Model 22 movements are marked "U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships". The Model 23 was a 16-size chronograph pocket watch. The Model 4992b was in a 16-size case with a black dial. It was used as the pocket watch for the U.S. military, featuring a less accurate 21-jewel [[Railroad chronometer|railroad grade]] movement.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
Hamilton currently sponsors [[Red Bull Air Race World Series]] pilot [[Nicolas Ivanoff]]. His [[Extra 300S]] is painted with a distinctive orange background.

By 1970, 13,086 Hamilton Model 21 Marine Chronometers had been produced. In 1985, the [[British Ministry of Defence]] invited bids by tender to dispose of their mechanical Hamilton Model 21 Marine Chronometers. The U.S. Navy kept their Hamilton Model 21 Marine Chronometers in service as backups to the [[Loran-C]] [[Hyperbolic navigation|hyperbolic radio navigation]] system until 1988 when the [[GPS]] global navigation satellite system was approved as reliable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Read |first=David |date=September 2015 |title=The marine chronometer in the age of electricity |url=https://clockdoc.org/gs/handler/getmedia.ashx?moid=57430&dt=3&g=1}}</ref>

=={{anchor|500}}1950s: last decade as a watch manufacturing powerhouse in America==
[[File:Hamilton Ventura.jpg|thumb|upright|Hamilton Ventura, 1957]]

In 1951, Hamilton rebuffed a [[hostile takeover]] bid by the [[Benrus]] watch company. The fallout from the failed takeover action culminated in Hamilton Watch Co. vs Benrus Watch Co. (206 F.2d 738, 740 (2d Cir. 1953)), a Federal proceeding that is considered to be [[landmark case]] in the realm of Federal [[anti-trust]] case law.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/file/761146/download|title=Division Manual|last=Antitrust Division|publisher=United States Department of Justice|publication-date=April 2015|page=IV-15|chapter=Chapter IV – Litigation (Part B.2.a)|format=PDF|access-date=2016-12-24}}</ref>

In 1955, Hamilton provided a "celestial time zone clock, permitting flight-type navigation" for the [[Astra-Gnome]] concept of what an automobile would look like in the year 2000.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=makfAQAAIAAJ&q=Hamilton+Watch+Company+provided+a+celestial+time+zone+clock,+permitting+flight-type+navigation |page=31 |last=Sharf |first=Frederic A. |title=Richard H. Arbib: 1917–1995 Visionary American Designer |publisher=Newburyport Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-882266-16-6 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8SkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA112&dq=Arbib+Astra-Gnome+celestial+clock |title=Astra-Gnome: $? |journal=Popular Science |date=July 1956 |page=112 |volume=169 |issue=1 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Hamilton Electric 500.jpg|right|thumb|The Hamilton Electric 500]]
In 1957, Hamilton introduced the world's first [[electric watch]], the Hamilton Electric 500.<ref>{{cite web|last=Long |first=Tony |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0103 |title=Jan. 3, 1957: Debut of the Electric Watch, a Space Age Marvel |publisher=Wired.com |date=3 January 2008 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> It was available in a variety of non-traditional asymmetrical case styles<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hamiltonwristwatch.com/history.html |first=René |last=Rondeau |title=History Of The Hamilton Electric |publisher=Hamiltonwristwatch.com |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> including the Ventura that was designed by [[Richard Arbib]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/obituaries/richard-h-arbib-77-designer-of-array-of-consumer-products.html |title=Richard H. Arbib, 77, Designer Of Array of Consumer Products |first=Michael |last=Elliot |date=3 March 1995 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> The watch was worn by [[Elvis Presley]], who also featured it in the movie ''[[Blue Hawaii]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TY1dL__XQlEC&pg=PA156&dq=Hamilton+Watch+Elvis |page=156 |title=Warman's watches field guide |first=Reyne |last=Haines |publisher=Krause Publications |year=2010 |isbn=9781440218866 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1962, Hamilton entered into a [[joint venture]] (60% owned by Hamilton) with the Japanese watchmaking firm [[Ricoh]] to produce electric watches meant primarily for the Japanese market. The electronic components were produced at Hamilton's Lancaster factory. At the same time, Ricoh undertook mechanical works production and final assembly in Japan. Although production levels of Hamilton-Ricoh watches were high (over 1000 per month), demand was low. Consequently, the Hamilton-Ricoh partnership could not compete with the substantial market presence of [[Seiko]]. The partnership was dissolved in 1965, with the remaining Hamilton-Ricoh electronic movements (marked "Ricoh 555E") re-cased as "Vantage" and sold in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/make/hamilton/ricoh/ricoh.php |title=Hamilton Ricoh Watch Company |publisher=Electric-watches.co.uk |date=6 February 2011 |access-date=14 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116091102/http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/make/hamilton/ricoh/ricoh.php |archive-date=January 16, 2014 }}</ref>

== Swiss/U.S. operations: 1969–1974 ==
[[File:Microrotor (Small).jpg|thumb|Swiss Hamilton/Buren Micro-rotor movement]]
In 1966, Hamilton acquired the Buren Watch Company of [[Büren an der Aare]], Switzerland, including all factories and technologies Buren had developed up to that point. From 1966 to 1969, Hamilton Lancaster and Buren Switzerland were operated as a joint concern, with Hamilton using several Swiss [[watch movement|movements]] for their "American" watches and Buren utilizing several components manufactured by Hamilton Lancaster. It was during this time that Hamilton started to selectively incorporate the highly innovative Buren Micro-rotor (a.k.a. Micro Rotor/Micro-rotor) movement into small numbers of certain upper tier watches, in addition to their ordinary [[mechanical watch|hand-wound]] and traditional [[automatic watch]]es.

The Buren (now Hamilton/Buren) Micro-rotor was the first patented automatic wristwatch movement to eliminate the sizable external oscillating weight inherent to most automatic winding watches. Instead, it utilized a much smaller weight that was entirely integrated into the chassis of the movement. This design allowed for a substantially slimmer automatic watch that still retained a center sweep second hand. The Micro-rotor concept was also conceived by [[Universal Genève]] for use in their Polerouter series of timepieces during this same time. The official title of "first Micro-rotor movement" is still in dispute among some horology aficionados, even though Buren patented their design in 1954,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finertimes.com/asp/watches/manufacturer.asp?code=19 |title=Buren Watch |publisher=Finertimes.com |year=2011 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> and Universal Geneve applied for their patent in May 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polerouter.de/frameset-movements.htm |title=Polerouter – movements |publisher=Polerouter.de |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1969, the Hamilton Watch Company completely ended American manufacturing operations with the closure of its factory in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania]], shifting manufacturing operations to the Buren factory in Switzerland.

From 1969 to 1972, all new Hamilton watches were produced in Switzerland by Hamilton's Buren subsidiary. In 1971, the Buren brand was returned to Swiss ownership. By 1972, the Buren-Hamilton partnership was dissolved, and the factory liquidated, due to decreased interest and sales of the Hamilton-Buren product.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-10 |title=Homepage |url=https://www.timezone.com/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=TimeZone |language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 16, 1974, the Hamilton brand was sold to SSIH (subsequently [[The Swatch Group]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/spirit-history/timeline|title=Hamilton Company History|publisher=Hamilton International|access-date=June 24, 2016}}</ref>

== Transitional watches: 1970s–present ==
[[File:HamiltonKhakiFieldOfficer-004.jpg|thumb|right|Hamilton Khaki Field Officer H70615133]]
In 1971, the [[Omega SA|Omega]] & [[Tissot]] Holding Company [[Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère|SSIH]] purchased the Hamilton brand. It utilized the Hamilton name for several branding efforts, including numerous [[quartz watch]]es in the 1980s.

The Hamilton Watch Division became a subsidiary of HMW. The Hamilton Watch Company changed its name to HMW when it sold its Watch division to SSIH.

A team led by John Bergey of Hamilton Watch developed the [[Pulsar (watch)|Pulsar]], the world's first electronic [[digital watch]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamilton History Timeline|url= http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/spirit-history/history-timeline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Smithsonian Inventors Bergey |url=http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/quartz/inventors/bergey.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212181423/http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/Quartz/inventors/bergey.html |archive-date=February 12, 2014 }}</ref>

Through the merger of SSIH and ASUAG Groups in 1984, Hamilton became a subsidiary of [[The Swatch Group]].

In 2020, Hamilton released a limited edition of 888 pieces of the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO inspired by the prop Hamilton watches made for [[Christopher Nolan]]'s film [[Tenet (film)|TENET]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto - Limited Edition {{!}} H78505331 |url=https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h78505331-khaki-navy-belowzero-auto-limited-edition.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=www.hamiltonwatch.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-03 |title=How the Special 'Tenet' Watch Was Built In Total Secrecy |url=https://www.gq.com/story/hamilton-tenet-watch |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref> In the film, [[John David Washington]] also wears a steel Hamilton Jazzmaster Seaview Chronograph.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO - John David Washington and Robert Pattinson - Tenet {{!}} Watch ID |url=https://www.watch-id.com/sightings/hamilton-khaki-navy-belowzero-john-david-washington-and-robert-pattinson-tenet |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=www.watch-id.com}}</ref>

== Popular Culture ==
Hamilton watches and clocks have appeared in the films [[Shanghai Express (film)|''Shanghai Express'']] (1932) starring [[Marlene Dietrich]], ''[[The Frogmen]]'' (1951) and ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behind the camera awards {{!}} Hamilton Watch |url=https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/behind-the-camera-awards.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714070159/https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/behind-the-camera-awards.html |archive-date=2024-07-14 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=www.hamiltonwatch.com}}</ref> ''[[The Talented Mr. Ripley]]'', ''[[King of the Hill (1993 film)]]'', ''[[Ocean's 8|Ocean’s 8]]'', ''[[The Martian (film)|The Martian]]'', [[Independence Day (1996 film)|''Independence Day'']], ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]'' and ''[[A Good Day to Die Hard]]'', as well as TV shows ''[[Mad Men]] and [[Jack Ryan (TV series)|Jack Ryan]].''<ref name=":0" />

=== Behind the Camera Awards ===
In 2006, the Hamilton Behind the Camera awards began presenting technical achievement awards to [[Set designer|set designers]], [[Screenwriter|screenwriters]], [[Prop master|prop masters]], [[Visual effects specialist|visual effects specialists]] and [[Costume designer|costume designers]] in Hollywood movies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nastro d'Argento 2024 {{!}} Hamilton {{!}} Hamilton Watch |url=https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/btca-nastri-argento-2024 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=www.hamiltonwatch.com}}</ref> Notable presenters and winners have included [[Sean Baker (filmmaker)|Sean Baker]], [[Amy Poehler]], [[Hans Zimmer]], [[Pamela Anderson]], [[Elle Fanning]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2024-11-14 |title=Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards Presented by Variety Will Honor the Creatives Fueling 2024’s Biggest Films |url=https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/hamilton-behind-the-camera-awards-dune-2-deadpool-wolverine-emilia-perez-1236210117/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Viola Davis]], [[Rian Johnson]], [[Jordan Peele]], [[Frankie Faison]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2022-10-24 |title=Viola Davis and Rian Johnson to Receive Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards |url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/awards/viola-davi-rian-johnson-hamilton-behind-the-camera-awards-1235412465/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Ryan Gosling]], [[Rosamund Pike]], [[Jake Gyllenhaal]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Liu |first=MIng |date=2020-02-19 |title=A Starring Role on the Wrist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/fashion/watches-hamilton-swatch-group-switzerland.html |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]] |pages=S1}}</ref> [[Maggie Gyllenhaal]], [[Kristen Stewart]], [[Regina King]], [[Mahershala Ali]], [[Jamie Dornan]], [[Peter Sarsgaard]], [[Awkwafina]], [[Kelly Marie Tran]], [[Javier Bardem]], [[Denis Villeneuve]], [[Simon Rex]], [[Kirsten Dunst]], [[Ann Dowd]], [[Martha Plimpton]], [[Reed Birney]], [[Jason Isaacs]] and [[Marlee Matlin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pener |first=Degen |date=2021-11-14 |title=Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards Honor ‘Spencer,’ ‘The Harder They Fall’ and ‘The Lost Daughter’ |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hamilton-awards-honors-spencer-harder-they-fall-crews-1235047655/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Benrus]]
*[[Elgin Watch Company]]
*[[Gruen Watch Co.]]
*[[Illinois Watch Company]]
*[[Waltham Watch Company]]
*[[Wittnauer]]
*[[List of watch manufacturers]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*''Hamilton Watch Co. - America's Finest Watch'' by Will Roseman - [http://www.hamiltonwatch.info/ Comprehensive Early Hamilton Reference Guide]
*''American Pocket Watches Identification and Price Guide Beginning to End ... 1830 - 1999'' by Roy Ehrhardt and William "Bill" Meggers
*''The Watch of the Future'' by René Rondeau
*''Hamilton Wristwatches, a Collector's Guide'' by René Rondeau


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/ Official site]
*[http://www.hamiltonwatch.info/ Mechanical Wristwatch Information covering 1917 -1936 website]
*{{Official website|http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/}}
*[http://www.hamiltonwristwatch.com/history.html Electric Wristwatch Information website]
*[http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/hamilton.html History, Serial Numbers and Production Dates for Hamilton Watches]
*[http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/HistoryCultureCollections/SIL-029-015/pdf/SIL-029-015.pdf Electronic version (pdf) of ''Watch Factories of America Past and Present: A complete history of watchmaking in America, from 1809 to 1888''. By [[Henry G. Abbott]] Illustrated with 50 engravings. Chicago: Geo. K. Hazlitt & Co., Publishers 1888.]
*[http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/HistoryCultureCollections/SIL-029-015/pdf/SIL-029-015.pdf ''Watch Factories of America Past and Present: A complete history of watchmaking in America, from 1809 to 1888''] Henry G. Abbott, Geo. K. Hazlitt & Co., 1888.

[[Category:Watchmakers]]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Swatch Group]]
[[Category:1892 establishments]]


[[Category:The Swatch Group]]
[[ja:ハミルトン (時計)]]
[[Category:Watch manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[zh:漢彌爾頓鐘錶公司]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1892]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1892]]
[[Category:Swiss watch brands]]

Latest revision as of 23:05, 2 December 2024

Hamilton Watch Company
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryWatchmaking
Founded1892, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Headquarters
Bienne
,
Switzerland
Number of locations
~3000
Area served
Worldwide
ParentThe Swatch Group
Websitehamiltonwatch.com

The Hamilton Watch Company is a Swiss manufacturer of wristwatches based in Bienne, Switzerland. Founded in 1892 as an American firm, the Hamilton Watch Company ended American manufacture in 1969, shifting manufacturing operations to the Buren factory in Switzerland. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the Hamilton Watch Company eventually became integrated into the Swatch Group, the world's largest watch manufacturing and marketing conglomerate.

Early history

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Hamilton pocket watch, ca. 1904
Hamilton 990 movement, ca. 1910

Hamilton succeeded three watch firms manufacturing timepieces in the same facilities in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US, including the Adams & Perry Watch Manufacturing Company, Lancaster Watch Company Ltd., Lancaster Watch Company and the Keystone Watch Company. The precursor to the Hamilton Watch Co., the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, based Keystone Standard Watch Co., was started by Abram Bitner in 1886 with the purchase of Lancaster Watch Company's factory. Lancaster, then Keystone manufactured watches featuring a patented "Dust Proof" design that used a small mica window to cover the only opening in the plate of the movement.[citation needed] Keystone existed until 1891 when the company was sold to Hamilton Watch Company.[citation needed]

The Hamilton Watch Company was established in 1892 after Keystone Standard Watch Company was purchased from bankruptcy. Aurora Watch Company of Illinois also merged into Keystone during the same year. The name of the new company was originally to be "Columbian," but when it was discovered the Waterbury Watch Company had trademarked that name, a meeting of stockholders was called in November 1892 and a new name selected.[1] The company was named after Andrew Hamilton, a Scottish-born attorney who laid out and founded Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was the original owner of the Lancaster site on which the factory was situated.[2]

During the expansion of the railroads in the U.S., Hamilton maintained over 56% of the market. Railroads purchased all of Hamilton's production. The company manufactured wristwatches as the market switched from pocket watches to wristwatches after World War I. During World War II, Hamilton retooled its business model to serve the military, dropping its consumer products.[citation needed]

The Hamilton Watch Company was housed on a 13-acre (53,000 m2) complex in Lancaster. Hamilton took possession of Aurora Watch Company's machinery shortly after incorporation.[citation needed]

The first watch made under the Hamilton name was an 18-size 17-jewel pocket watch in 1893. During Hamilton's first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced – the 18-size and the smaller 16-size.[3]

The company's first series of pocket watches, the Broadway Limited, was marketed as the "Watch of Railroad Accuracy," and Hamilton became popular by making accurate railroad watches. Hamilton introduced its first wristwatch in 1917, designed to appeal to men entering World War I and containing the 0-sized 17-jewel 983 movement initially designed for women's pendent watches. In 1928, Hamilton purchased the Illinois Watch Company for over $5 million from the heirs of John Whitfield Bunn and Jacob Bunn. Some of the most collectible early Hamilton wristwatches include The Oval, The Tonneau, The Rectangular, The Square Enamel, The Coronado, The Piping Rock, The Spur, The Glendale, The Pinehurst, The Langley, The Byrd, The Cambridge, the Barrel "B", and The Flintridge. Many models came in both solid gold and gold-filled cases, and, though rare, some wristwatches such as the Grant were made of silver.[citation needed]

Marine chronometers

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Inner working of the Hamilton Model 21 marine chronometer
Hamilton Model 22 Chronometer, mass-produced during World War II

During World War II, production of consumer watches was stopped, with all watches manufactured being shipped to troops. More than one million watches were sent overseas.[citation needed]

Up to then, the production of marine chronometer timepieces used by mariners for determining longitude and fix their position by celestial navigation at sea, was a highly skilled mainly craft-based and hence expensive horology niche, and marine chronometers used by United States ships were imported or used foreign key components. The U.S. Naval Observatory had asked American watch manufacturers in 1939 to participate in domestically mass-producing chronometers. Hamilton was provided with two Swiss Ulysse Nardin marine chronometers to examine. Hamilton successfully perfected the mass production process and parts interchangeability maintenance method for these specialized timekeepers. The US Navy accepted its product in 1942. The industrial production methods enabled the company to produce marine chronometers and deck watches in large numbers to fill the navigational needs of the US Navy, merchant marine, and other Allied navies as well. The Model 21 Hamilton Marine Chronometer for large vessels was built first and had a chain-drive fusee, the second hand advanced in 1⁄2-second increments over a 60-second-marked sub-dial, and was kept in a traditional gimbaled double box for the express purpose of keeping the clock in a "dial up" position to minimize ship-movement-induced timing errors. In most respects, the Model 21 marine chronometer technically resembled the Ulysse Nardin design, except for a new balance design and the use of a pre-formed Elinvar alloy balance spring, to obviate the cumbersome spring adjustments previously necessary. Hamilton produced 8,900 Model 21 marine chronometers for the US Navy, 1,500 for merchant shipping, and 500 for the US Army during the war.[4] The Model 22 Chronometer Watch followed it for smaller vessels. The Model 22 looked like a large pocket watch and had a traditional mainspring, available in a traditional gimbaled double box and also in a deck watch for larger ships for transferring time from the box marine chronometer(s) for position fixes.[5] The Models 21 and 22 had a two-day power reserve and the movements of both were marked "U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships". The Model 22 was also used by the U.S. Army, and on the back of some, it is marked "U.S. Army", but all the Model 22 movements are marked "U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships". The Model 23 was a 16-size chronograph pocket watch. The Model 4992b was in a 16-size case with a black dial. It was used as the pocket watch for the U.S. military, featuring a less accurate 21-jewel railroad grade movement.[citation needed]

By 1970, 13,086 Hamilton Model 21 Marine Chronometers had been produced. In 1985, the British Ministry of Defence invited bids by tender to dispose of their mechanical Hamilton Model 21 Marine Chronometers. The U.S. Navy kept their Hamilton Model 21 Marine Chronometers in service as backups to the Loran-C hyperbolic radio navigation system until 1988 when the GPS global navigation satellite system was approved as reliable.[6]

1950s: last decade as a watch manufacturing powerhouse in America

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Hamilton Ventura, 1957

In 1951, Hamilton rebuffed a hostile takeover bid by the Benrus watch company. The fallout from the failed takeover action culminated in Hamilton Watch Co. vs Benrus Watch Co. (206 F.2d 738, 740 (2d Cir. 1953)), a Federal proceeding that is considered to be landmark case in the realm of Federal anti-trust case law.[7]

In 1955, Hamilton provided a "celestial time zone clock, permitting flight-type navigation" for the Astra-Gnome concept of what an automobile would look like in the year 2000.[8][9]

The Hamilton Electric 500

In 1957, Hamilton introduced the world's first electric watch, the Hamilton Electric 500.[10] It was available in a variety of non-traditional asymmetrical case styles[11] including the Ventura that was designed by Richard Arbib.[12] The watch was worn by Elvis Presley, who also featured it in the movie Blue Hawaii.[13]

In 1962, Hamilton entered into a joint venture (60% owned by Hamilton) with the Japanese watchmaking firm Ricoh to produce electric watches meant primarily for the Japanese market. The electronic components were produced at Hamilton's Lancaster factory. At the same time, Ricoh undertook mechanical works production and final assembly in Japan. Although production levels of Hamilton-Ricoh watches were high (over 1000 per month), demand was low. Consequently, the Hamilton-Ricoh partnership could not compete with the substantial market presence of Seiko. The partnership was dissolved in 1965, with the remaining Hamilton-Ricoh electronic movements (marked "Ricoh 555E") re-cased as "Vantage" and sold in the U.S.[14]

Swiss/U.S. operations: 1969–1974

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Swiss Hamilton/Buren Micro-rotor movement

In 1966, Hamilton acquired the Buren Watch Company of Büren an der Aare, Switzerland, including all factories and technologies Buren had developed up to that point. From 1966 to 1969, Hamilton Lancaster and Buren Switzerland were operated as a joint concern, with Hamilton using several Swiss movements for their "American" watches and Buren utilizing several components manufactured by Hamilton Lancaster. It was during this time that Hamilton started to selectively incorporate the highly innovative Buren Micro-rotor (a.k.a. Micro Rotor/Micro-rotor) movement into small numbers of certain upper tier watches, in addition to their ordinary hand-wound and traditional automatic watches.

The Buren (now Hamilton/Buren) Micro-rotor was the first patented automatic wristwatch movement to eliminate the sizable external oscillating weight inherent to most automatic winding watches. Instead, it utilized a much smaller weight that was entirely integrated into the chassis of the movement. This design allowed for a substantially slimmer automatic watch that still retained a center sweep second hand. The Micro-rotor concept was also conceived by Universal Genève for use in their Polerouter series of timepieces during this same time. The official title of "first Micro-rotor movement" is still in dispute among some horology aficionados, even though Buren patented their design in 1954,[15] and Universal Geneve applied for their patent in May 1955.[16]

In 1969, the Hamilton Watch Company completely ended American manufacturing operations with the closure of its factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, shifting manufacturing operations to the Buren factory in Switzerland.

From 1969 to 1972, all new Hamilton watches were produced in Switzerland by Hamilton's Buren subsidiary. In 1971, the Buren brand was returned to Swiss ownership. By 1972, the Buren-Hamilton partnership was dissolved, and the factory liquidated, due to decreased interest and sales of the Hamilton-Buren product.[17]

On May 16, 1974, the Hamilton brand was sold to SSIH (subsequently The Swatch Group).[18]

Transitional watches: 1970s–present

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Hamilton Khaki Field Officer H70615133

In 1971, the Omega & Tissot Holding Company SSIH purchased the Hamilton brand. It utilized the Hamilton name for several branding efforts, including numerous quartz watches in the 1980s.

The Hamilton Watch Division became a subsidiary of HMW. The Hamilton Watch Company changed its name to HMW when it sold its Watch division to SSIH.

A team led by John Bergey of Hamilton Watch developed the Pulsar, the world's first electronic digital watch.[19][20]

Through the merger of SSIH and ASUAG Groups in 1984, Hamilton became a subsidiary of The Swatch Group.

In 2020, Hamilton released a limited edition of 888 pieces of the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO inspired by the prop Hamilton watches made for Christopher Nolan's film TENET.[21][22] In the film, John David Washington also wears a steel Hamilton Jazzmaster Seaview Chronograph.[23]

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Hamilton watches and clocks have appeared in the films Shanghai Express (1932) starring Marlene Dietrich, The Frogmen (1951) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968),[24] The Talented Mr. Ripley, King of the Hill (1993 film), Ocean’s 8, The Martian, Independence Day, Pearl Harbor and A Good Day to Die Hard, as well as TV shows Mad Men and Jack Ryan.[25]

Behind the Camera Awards

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In 2006, the Hamilton Behind the Camera awards began presenting technical achievement awards to set designers, screenwriters, prop masters, visual effects specialists and costume designers in Hollywood movies.[26] Notable presenters and winners have included Sean Baker, Amy Poehler, Hans Zimmer, Pamela Anderson, Elle Fanning,[27] Viola Davis, Rian Johnson, Jordan Peele, Frankie Faison,[28] Ryan Gosling, Rosamund Pike, Jake Gyllenhaal,[25] Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kristen Stewart, Regina King, Mahershala Ali, Jamie Dornan, Peter Sarsgaard, Awkwafina, Kelly Marie Tran, Javier Bardem, Denis Villeneuve, Simon Rex, Kirsten Dunst, Ann Dowd, Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney, Jason Isaacs and Marlee Matlin.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Time for America, Don Sauers
  2. ^ "Brief History: Hamilton Watch Company". Renaissance Watch Repair. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  3. ^ Chronos (August 28, 2010). "WATCH Me.: A Little Hamilton History:". WATCH Me. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hamilton No. 1 Box Chronometer". americanhistory.si.edu. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  5. ^ HandyDan. "1941 Model 22 Marine Chronometer - Overhaul". Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Read, David (September 2015). "The marine chronometer in the age of electricity".
  7. ^ Antitrust Division (April 2015). "Chapter IV – Litigation (Part B.2.a)". Division Manual (PDF). United States Department of Justice. p. IV-15. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  8. ^ Sharf, Frederic A. (2006). Richard H. Arbib: 1917–1995 Visionary American Designer. Newburyport Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-882266-16-6. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "Astra-Gnome: $?". Popular Science. 169 (1): 112. July 1956. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  10. ^ Long, Tony (January 3, 2008). "Jan. 3, 1957: Debut of the Electric Watch, a Space Age Marvel". Wired.com. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  11. ^ Rondeau, René. "History Of The Hamilton Electric". Hamiltonwristwatch.com. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  12. ^ Elliot, Michael (March 3, 1995). "Richard H. Arbib, 77, Designer Of Array of Consumer Products". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  13. ^ Haines, Reyne (2010). Warman's watches field guide. Krause Publications. p. 156. ISBN 9781440218866. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "Hamilton Ricoh Watch Company". Electric-watches.co.uk. February 6, 2011. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  15. ^ "Buren Watch". Finertimes.com. 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  16. ^ "Polerouter – movements". Polerouter.de. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  17. ^ "Homepage". TimeZone. February 10, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "Hamilton Company History". Hamilton International. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  19. ^ "Hamilton History Timeline".
  20. ^ "Smithsonian Inventors Bergey". Archived from the original on February 12, 2014.
  21. ^ "Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto - Limited Edition | H78505331". www.hamiltonwatch.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  22. ^ "How the Special 'Tenet' Watch Was Built In Total Secrecy". GQ. September 3, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO - John David Washington and Robert Pattinson - Tenet | Watch ID". www.watch-id.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Behind the camera awards | Hamilton Watch". www.hamiltonwatch.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Liu, MIng (February 19, 2020). "A Starring Role on the Wrist". The New York Times. pp. S1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "Nastro d'Argento 2024 | Hamilton | Hamilton Watch". www.hamiltonwatch.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  27. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (November 14, 2024). "Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards Presented by Variety Will Honor the Creatives Fueling 2024's Biggest Films". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  28. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (October 24, 2022). "Viola Davis and Rian Johnson to Receive Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Pener, Degen (November 14, 2021). "Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards Honor 'Spencer,' 'The Harder They Fall' and 'The Lost Daughter'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
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