Preview BASELWORLD 2013Riding the tide of time: The Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Auto Chrono
Fathoming the depth of the inspiration behind the ultra-modern Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Auto Chrono means turning back the pages of the brand’s rich history to the year 1928. The ultra-modern maritime masterpiece takes its shape from the iconic Hamilton Piping Rock piece from that year, even chosen by the New York Yankees baseball team as their official timekeeper.
It visibly rides the tide of time using today’s technology and materials to pay tribute to a watch that has fascinated wearers in evolving executions for over six decades and is still a collectors’ favorite. With its round dial held in place by a tonneau case, comprising intriguing open corners to show tiny glimpses of the wrist, this eye-catching watch knows exactly how to maintain its established talking point status.
Action above and below sea level
Hamilton has a proven affinity to water, perfectly reflected by its long list of appearances in movies with aquatic themes. The Hamilton Khaki Sub Auto Chrono is a true celebration of this proven capacity for products that make waves, which has ranged from acting as vital equipment for heroic military divers in The Frogmen (1951), to a lesson in shark-avoidance in the underwater action film, Into the Blue (2005). The spirit of the sea penetrates all aspects of the watch’s design. Complementing water resistance to 30 bar (300m) are features ranging from the embossed illustration of a manta ray on the case back, to a super-sporty bezel. The latter offers excellent grip and presents rubber emerging from the stainless steel to create an intriguing 3D effect. The dynamic chronograph’s easy-to-grip, screw-down crown and pushers are reminiscent of diving bottle valves, reinforcing the statement of reliability and robustness. A combination of polished and sandblasted surfaces introduces currents of sophistication, confirming the timepiece’s uniquely amphibious appeal, taking on board upstream and downtown styling preferences.
Undiluted detail
Hamilton displays its dedication to performance, even at life’s deep-end, through uncompromising attention to detail facilitated by the most modern materials and watchmaking techniques. Rooted in a heritage of supplying timepieces to some of the world’s most prestigious navies, this expertise finds expression inside and outside the watch. Its automatic movement is the propriety H-31, offering excellent accuracy and stability, as well as a 60-hour power reserve. An eye for detail is in the piece’s DNA, exemplified by a distinctive H-pattern on the dial, a large zero in anticipation of serious underwater activity and a sporty pin buckle also shaped like an ‘H’. Crowning the declaration of innovation are styling choices embracing black and gunmetal gray dial color options and a black or orange rubber strap.