Hamilton is to this day one of the most reputable watch-making brands within the aviation industry, being a favourite among pilots since 1912. But the brand’s success extends even beyond the sky heights. Hamilton’s cornerstone of progress lies within the railroad community, as its first series of watches were made specifically to reduce the number of railroad accidents.
As time ticked by, Hamilton’s status grew, and the watches started appearing in famous films and on wrists of famous celebrities. Today, even though the company is Swiss-owned, it still fosters the original American spirit and has plenty to offer. Before us, we have The Viewmatic Silver Dial from the Jazzmaster collection. This model retails within the lower price range of the collection but doesn’t fail to deliver the quality you would expect from a high-quality watch. Let’s take a closer look.
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The Design
This Jazzmaster’s simple yet sleek look is a perfect companion of your business attire but doesn’t look pretentious when styled with a more casual look, either.
When taking a close look at the case design you will quickly understand why this watch is so revered for its elegance. It is in no way flashy and provides just the right amount of detail and styling to make it look stunning on one’s hand. It is a truly multi-purpose piece that can be worn for any occasion.
The watch has a very refined look to it, with the brown leather strap matching the white and silver tones of the chapter ring and dials brilliantly. The alligator pattern on the strap adds up to the overall finesse of this piece but is not genuine.
The clasp is fairly standard but is foldable which means less wear around the holes as the time goes by.
The lack of numbers on the front adds to the overall minimalistic aura this watch radiates with and puts the bold silver dials in the spotlight. These look great in the daylight but due to the almost non-existent luminosity they don’t shine in their full gory once you’re in the dark. The date complication features date displayed in a square frame as with many Hamilton watches and is positioned in place of your three o’clock.
The Classic Swiss Movement
The view of the ETA movement is clear, and the back of the watch generally looks crisp with the Hamilton emblem engraved onto the ring alongside some other inscriptions regarding the movement of the watch and its sapphire crystal glass. There is very little standing in your way of seeing the actual moving parts at work, such as the balance wheel rotating back and forth and the Hamilton-engraved rotor.
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The 2824-2 acts as a reliable movement and gives this elegant watch a small but consistent heart. Like other movements from the 28XX family, the mechanism serves as a lovely example of remarkable watchmaking. Its durability and sturdiness combined with consistency allow you to wear your watch anywhere and enjoy doing just about anything without worrying about your Hamilton stopping.
The H32715551 Power Reserve
The 40-hour power reserve isn’t the greatest among the self-winding movements and the calibre isn’t the most beautiful example among its peers, but with adequate care, this mechanism can last you a very long time, as it’s reliable and solid as a rock.
Time-keeping is in line with the Hamilton’s original mission of improving railroad safety by equipping workers with the most accurate watches. You can without doubt (and with no pun intended) say that the company stayed on track when it comes to accuracy, even after the Swiss acquisition of the company.
The Crown
To set the time you will have to pull the crown twice and set the dials to the right position. The crown itself features an embossed H and blends in well with the rest of the design despite its rather bulky design. Moving dials around comes with a substantial delay but this lag is compensated for by the sturdiness of the dials – they won’t jump a millimetre once you push the crown back in.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, The Hamilton Viewmatic Jazzmaster won’t set you back for a massive amount of money but will still provide the elegance and accuracy the brand has built its reputation on. The practical and elegant look does require some attention in terms of regular self-winding and the strap might not be the most comfortable until you get used to it. Still, the watch is a great daily wearer and you might just find it being a vital part of your style – with the emblem reminding you of it once being a vital piece of equipment for pilots, train operators and military personnel.
The timeless elegance will continue to impress regardless of new trends taking over, and the Swiss-made classic movement will continue to tick flawlessly as time passes by.
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It looks like the movement in there is the H10 and not the ETA 2824-2 (they’re related but have a different beat rate and regulation mechanism). I prefer the H10 for its accuracy and power reserve, but some don’t like the 21,600 bph beat rate.
The movement is the Hamilton H10 based on the ETA 2824-2 taken down to 3 hertz (from 4) so as to improve the power reserve to 80 hours. To do this you give up some bph. However, on the case back it is the ETA 2824-2 that is identified. I have owned this watch for about six years, have never had a problem, and it is sufficiently accurate. I like the clean, uncluttered elegance.