Today we’re reviewing the Hamilton H38455731 Intra-Matic. Hamilton is owned by the Swiss watchmakers SSIH, but it was originally an American brand and this Hamilton is part of their “American Classic” series. It is a modern redesign of the classic Intra-Matic that was popular around the mid-1960s, giving the modern H38455731 a sophisticated, vintage feel. With a classic American aesthetic produced with Swiss technology, it’s a timepiece definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for something dressy.
Design/Style
The Hamilton Intra-Matic has a simplistic, yet eye-catching vintage design. Most notably, the black dial with sparse details makes the silver tone of the bezel, hands, and indices really pop. The clean look of the stick indices complement the stick hour and minute hands to create a look that could be mistaken for a vintage 1960s watch if it weren’t for the 38mm case giving it a modern update. Modern watches tend to run larger and it can be difficult for people with smaller wrists to find a modern style that suits them. The vintage Intra-Matic was 34mm in diameter, which is small by today’s standards. The 38mm stainless steel round case is on the smaller end of the modern size spectrum and is a nice compromise between vintage and modern fashions, making this piece ideal for any size wrist.
Even though the case is only 38mm, the dial actually looks slightly larger due to the relative thinness of the bezel. Another vintage touch on the H38455731 is the domed dial and slightly curved hands. The sapphire crystal also has a slight dome, but at only 10mm thick, you won’t have to worry about this watch fitting underneath the sleeve a dress shirt.
The retro design makes it especially suited for a dress watch. It’s a statement piece without being too busy. The only details visible on the dial are the date display at six o’clock and some sparse text. However, some might feel that this Hamilton is too sparse and could do with a second hand either in addition to or in place of the date display. If you don’t intend to make this your everyday watch, then the lack of a second hand might not be a deal breaker.
H38455731 Features
Aside from the stunning Mad Men era design, the H38455731 is at its heart a Swiss made timepiece with all of the impressive features that make it worth the relatively higher price tag. Most notably, the movement is an ETA 2892-2. While some watch connoisseurs may thumb their noses at a stock movement, the fact is that ETA has proven to be extremely reliable and accurate, making up for any perceived lack of originality. Adding to its trustworthiness, the ETA 2892-2 features a 21 jewel movement, which is quality that can’t be argued with. Like it’s vintage counterpart, which featured a Büren micro-rotor movement, the ETA 2892-2 is slim enough to keep this watch at only 10mm high even with a domed crystal.
In addition to the movement, it has some other nice features that put the finishing touches on what is already a quality timepiece. If you’re interested in watching the impressive ETA movement in action, this Hamilton has an exhibition case back. Being able to see all the moving parts of this watch adds more detail to be appreciated and complements the understated dial.
The finishing touches on the H38455731 are the strap and the crown. The lugs for the strap have a width of 20mm, which fits well with the diameter of the case and makes for a comfortable fit. The strap itself is sleek black genuine leather with an Ardillon buckle that adds to the retro feel of the watch. Capping off the luxurious retro look is the crown, which is proportionately sized at 5 x 2.5 mm. The crown is embossed with the Hamilton “H” logo, a detail so minor that it could almost be overlooked but also completely ties the look of the entire watch together.
Conclusion
The Hamilton H38455731 Intra-Matic comes with a price tag that might sting a bit, but collectors of high-end timepieces will recognize this watch for the great deal that it is. The Swiss technology that keeps it ticking is worth more than the sticker price alone, and combined with the striking design the Intra-Matic is almost a steal. And if you’re only in the market for a dress watch with a vintage vibe, you’re in luck because this Hamilton’s design is straight out of the 1960’s with the added bonus of modern technology powering it. It would be hard to go wrong with purchasing such a reputable and classic watch.
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