It’s fair to say that Hamilton is a brand that’s a Worn & Wound staple. We cover them frequently and are genuinely big fans of their catalog, from retro military inspired pieces, to sporty chronographs, and their many watches with connections to film. But there are still a lot of watches under the Hamilton banner that we haven’t had a chance to talk about on the site for one reason or another – it speaks to the scope and breadth of the brand itself. Today, we’re looking at two new releases from Hamilton in categories that perhaps don’t get the attention that some of their other lines see, but we think are still worth talking about.
First up is the latest watch in the Jazzmaster series, with a skeleton dial in multiple colorways. The Jazzmaster line features watches in a variety of styles with a contemporary sensibility that play off of updated mid-century design cues. They often have a classic starting point, and are then tweaked slightly to achieve a more modern style. The new Jazzmaster Skeleton is a great example. Here we have a case with vintage inspired lines (notice the gently curved lugs) measuring 40mm in diameter, with a dramatic skeletonized dial that incorporates Hamilton’s “spiky H” design. It’s a fun way to connect Hamilton’s past with a look that’s decidedly of the moment.
The Jazzmaster Skeleton is available with a black or white dial, with nickeled hour and minute hands accompanying the former, and a blue handset paired with the latter. There’s also a rose gold PVD version of the watch, with matching applied hour markers and hands. The Jazzmaster is available on a five link stainless steel bracelet or leather strap.
Powering the Jazzmaster Skeleton (and visible from the front and back of the watch) is the H-10-S automatic caliber, with 80 hours of power reserve. Over three days of power is a great feature in any mechanical watch – something that you don’t appreciate until you pick it up after a long weekend to find that it’s still running and keeping time.
Next up, the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Quartz. Here we have a diver with, 100 meters of water resistance, a rotating dive bezel, and a quartz movement keeping worry free time. While this watch might not be an enthusiast favorite, it’s worth pointing out, I think, as a well made and nicely designed watch for someone who, quite simply, just wants a watch. The Khaki Navy Scuba Quartz will go anywhere and do anything (as long as it’s not more than 100 meters under the surface of the ocean) and has design cues borrowed from some of the most loved watches of the past. Dials are either black or gray, and have a subtle sunburst pattern radiating from the watch’s center. The gray version stands out to me, with a “ghosted” look on both the dial and bezel.
My favorite feature of this one is the size, with a diameter of 37mm. Hamilton markets the watch as unisex, and I can see it meeting the needs of just about anyone who is after an attractive and easy to wear sports watch this summer (and beyond) that won’t break the bank.