Hamilton Watch:
American Heritage & Swiss Precision
Early 2023 brought Reis-Nichols its newest watch brand—Hamilton Watch. Known for their unique combination of Swiss precision and American spirit, this prestigious watch brand has a long and rich history that would surprise most!
An American-Born Brand
Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1892 and started off producing pocket watches. Since the beginning, Hamilton has been diligent about quality and accuracy, with these principles making them the internationally renowned watch brand it is today.
Hamilton pocket watches were first used to time trains in the railroad industry, which helped prevent accidents and made for a more streamlined experience in the early days of locomotive travel. Back then, the brand's timepieces were given the title "The Watch of Railroad Accuracy."
A Rich US Military Heritage
Hamilton's quality and accuracy gained the attention of the American military back in 1914, right before the start of World War I. The brand was the US Armed Force's official watch supplier during the war and equipped soldiers with a reliable timepiece during battle and beyond.
At the onset of WWII for the United States, Hamilton stopped producing consumer-bought watches to focus on supplying the American military with much-needed timing technologies in all aspects of the war. During this time, Hamilton manufactured over one million timepieces for the US armed forces and earned the Army-Navy E award for excellence in manufacturing.
Supplying the Skies
In 1918, Hamilton's aeronautical watch accompanied the first US Airmail service that flew between Washington DC and NYC—beginning the brand's long history of creating timepieces for the flying community. In the 1930s, Hamilton was the official watch of the four major American commercial airlines and became internationally known for its accuracy in flight.
Engineering the First Electric Watch
In 1957, Hamilton tasked renowned American industrial designer Richard Arbib to design whatever he wanted without regard to practicality. The first sketch became a 20th-century icon that changed the world of watchmaking forever.
Arbib's design led to the world's first electric watch—the Ventura. Powered by an electromagnetic coil, the timepiece bridged the gap between older-world mechanical watchmaking and the quartz movement that would emerge in the 1960s.
The Movie Brand
Hamilton has been known as the Movie Brand in the watch industry for almost 90 years, as it has been featured in more than 500 movies and TV shows.
First appearing on the silver screen in 1932, it wasn't until 1951 that Hamilton's watches took a leading role. Ten years later, megastar Elvis Presley sported the triangular Ventura in his 1961 musical comedy Blue Hawaii.
Since then, Hamilton watches have captured the attention of the world's leading prop masters and costume designers, with the brand designing and producing unique prop watches as well as providing historically accurate timepieces to fit specific film storylines. Hamilton watches have been used in blockbusters such as Interstellar (2014), the Men in Black franchise, and most recently, Christopher Nolan's 2023 smash hit, Oppenheimer.
Hamilton's Watch Collections
Hamilton Jazzmaster
Hamilton's Jazzmaster collection draws on the watchmaker's long history and tradition of producing quality timepieces that offer a refined look for any occasion. The collection includes simple time watches, chronographs, sport watches, skeleton watches, and more.
Hamilton Khaki Watches
Khaki Field Collection
The Khaki Field collection features classic army-style timepieces that are ready for the outdoors and are built for life's adventures.
Khaki Navy Collection
The Khaki Navy collection features the brand's dive watches and is inspired by marine pioneers, designed with ocean explorers in mind.
Khaki Aviation Collection
The Khaki Navy collection features the brand's dive watches and is inspired by marine pioneers, designed with ocean explorers in mind.
Hamilton Ventura
The world's first electric watch has grown into an iconic collection that has gradually expanded over time. The vintage style remains steadfast while looking just as good today as it did in 1957.
Hamilton American Classic
Hamilton's American Classic watch collection includes chronographs and automatic watches and is a versatile addition to any collector's repertoire. Best representing the brand's American heritage, these pieces are perfect as a wear-anywhere watch.
