Category: Hamilton

Do Hamilton Watches Hold Their Value? (READ Before Buying)

Posted on April 4, 2023July 7, 2023 by Huzeifa Jafferjee

During the last decade, the watch market has seen a meteoric rise. The sudden increase in value, demand, and hype comes as a result of watch lovers’ and speculators’ better awareness about the rarity, heritage, design, quality, and enjoyment of vintage, unique, low production, and haute horlogerie watches (that were once undervalued) now have to offer the world.

All this is thanks to the greater access to watch media (social media) – an industry still in its infancy. How would this impact Hamilton watches? When an industry is flourishing, as it has recently been in the case of the watch industry, it enables many more potential customers to find the confidence to invest in a watch, with an expectation of retaining or growing their investment over time.

As an entry-level mechanical tool watch brand, a Hamilton watch is an option that has crossed many enthusiasts’ minds due to its competitive price point ($500-$3,000), timeless designs, reliable movements, and meaningful history dating back to the era of American industrialization.

About Hamilton Watches

Hamilton, originally an American brand established in 1892, spent its first 111 years as an American timekeeping instrument manufacturer taking on the Swiss. As the local Railroad industry was booming in the late 19th century, accurate timekeeping devices were needed to synchronize timing on the rails and therefore help prevent accidents.

Hamilton was fit to supply pocket watches that were up to the task and built a reputation for their successful involvement. Hamilton was dedicated to bringing accurate and reliable timekeeping devices to the developing aviation industry. In 1918, Hamilton became a supplier to the U.S. Airmail Service. They still have a strong and dedicated collection for the needs of Aviation.

Hamilton was the sanctioned pocket watch supplier to the U.S. Military during World War I. Decades later, they halted production of their commercial collection to once again support the high supply needs of the U.S. Military during World War II.

Their involvement during the early era of mechanical tool watchmaking for military purposes has made them famous for their field watches even today. In 1957, Hamilton proved it could do a daring design with modern-day innovation and functionality with the Ventura, the world’s first electrical watch.

Another icon would follow in 1970 with the Pulsar, the world’s first LED digital watch. Since 1974 Hamilton has been part of the Swatch Group and, in 2003, moved its HQ to Biel, Switzerland. To many customers, the Swiss-Made label does make a difference to the value offered, as Switzerland is the heart of fine watchmaking.

Swatch Group, the watchmaking powerhouse, has enabled Hamilton to access its back catalog of proven and robust movement technology in the form of ETA-Calibres. Hamilton has successfully conveyed the storytelling of their watches on the silver screen for nearly 90 years.

Featuring in Shanghai Express 1932, Frogmen 1951, and Blue Hawaii 1961 – an Elvis Presley musical comedy featuring the then revolutionary Ventura on his wrist, making it an American watch icon. Hamilton has starred in over 500 major feature films to date. Its recent features in notable box office hits were Interstellar and the Martian.

Noteworthy Movie Watches From Hamilton

Khaki Navy: The Frogmen 1951
Ventura: Blue Hawaii 1961, Men in Black 1997
Pulsar: Live and Let Die 1973 (James Bond)
Khaki Field Mechanical: Pearl Harbor 2001
Khaki Field Murph Auto & Khaki Pilot Day Date: Interstellar 2014
Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO: The Martian 2015

What Makes a Watch Hold Its Value

For a product to hold its value immediately after being purchased or over time is generally a rare anomaly that collectors have become used to due to the recent watch market boom. Watchmaking today can be defined as the fine art of workmanship, innovation, and centuries-old storytelling in the pursuit of precision and accuracy.

The growth of watch media has been a massive platform for recognizing the value of vintage and modern watches. With this information available to us in abundance, a few crucial characteristics define a watch’s resale value over time.

1. Brand Recognition

Through its lifetime spanning centuries, the watchmaking industry has seen some of the most recognizable and powerful industries come to fruition. Today a favored brand would possess a strong collection, a storied heritage, and a reputation for delivering excellence in the form of robust durability or high watchmaking.

Recognition can also be achieved in a short period, even with a limited heritage. This happens when a watchmaker is able to deliver a revolutionary concept or offer high-pedigree watchmaking. Independent brands such as MB&F, F.P. Journe, and Richard Mille are great examples of young watch brands with high watchmaking skills that have built a very strong reputation within the watch market.

2. Product Placement

Product placement plays a huge role in developing an image of a brand or a product. We are familiar with brands exercising this practice through advertising, partnerships/collaborations, and movie features. These are great tools for a brand to attract the right target audience, control its storytelling language, and create exclusivity.

Think Richard Mille, strapping their watches on the wrists of the highest profile athletes, James Bond fashionably sporting an Omega Seamaster on his wrist, or even Patek Philippe telling you that their timepieces are meant to be passed down generations.

Hamiltons’ 90-year-long partnership with the movie industry has seen a convergence of passion, action, culture, futurism, and storytelling injected into their lineup. Because of its American and military roots, it has successfully paired its brand image with the broad spectrum of characters that feature them. Thereby creating a cult following and a larger degree of relatability for the brand in the past and in the future.

3. Supply Characteristics

There are many facets to the subject of supply in the watch market. We have large or independent manufacturers with entry-level to super-high-end watch offerings and supply numbers based on a particular brand’s vision, objectives, or capabilities.

A watch can be high production, low production, or even a limited edition. Brands like Rolex and Patek Phillippe in recent years have been unable to keep up their production output to meet market demand, thereby allowing demand to trickle down to other brands or the secondary market.

What if every millionaire desired to purchase a Rolex in 2023? A quick search will reveal that there are an estimated 56 million people whose assets exceed one million dollars; it is also a known fact that Rolex produces approximately 1 million watches a year.

This would leave a watch allocation only for 1 of 56 millionaires if Rolex were to dedicate its entire year’s production allocation to them. Allocation ratios are worse in the real world, and chances of getting a hyped watch at retail have become extremely limited, allowing for immediate value retention and gains.

4. Trends

Ten years ago, from personal experience, I can vouch that far fewer people ever cared to know what a sports model Rolex was “besides wanting a flashy combi-Datejust” that Rolex was famous for. Go back another 10 years, and integrated-bracelet luxury sports watches from AP and Patek Philippe were considered overpriced at retail.

The consensus is the opposite today, as these have been the most significant trends of the modern watch era. We have even seen trends shape prices in the affordable price segments, like the Moonswatch that became the biggest hype watch release of 2022, being listed online for multiples over its list price due to the worldwide recognition and demand that followed its release.

A trend can effectively impact a brand’s value retention, even one such as Hamilton. Keep an eye out in the future for budget-mechanical-versatile field watches becoming the new norm.

Do Hamilton Watches Hold Their Value?

Hamilton is not geared to cater to hype or exclusivity; instead, it is an everyday affordable tool-watch brand. When considering its supply targets, it is priced to cater to a mass audience; therefore, mass production will be the brand’s priority.

The development of Hamilton’s identity through its military background and movie presence over its lifetime has proven it is a brand for the ordinary enthusiast to enjoy and collect. In today’s watch landscape, Hamilton stands as a brand with low barriers to entry.

Due to their broad availability, Hamilton watches generally don’t offer an immediate resale value of 100% of the amount spent on them. However, due to its brand recognition, storied heritage, great value-for-money offerings, and robust, reliable watchmaking, they will return decent resale value, especially if purchased pre-owned or on a minor sales discount.

It is also important to consider inflation over a long time that will affect watch pricing. Due to this, some models might fetch 100 percent of the value paid for them.

Do Hamilton Watches Appreciate In Value?

There have certainly been Hamilton watches that have appreciated in value, like the Count-Down Chrono-Matic GMT Caliber 14, with a claimed original retail price of $250 back in 1971. If you were to put these figures into an inflation calculator, $250 in 1971 would be $1,596 today. Its current price online of $7,400 has beaten 52 years of inflation by a large margin.

If you were, or are, considering placing Hamilton into an asset class, undervalued vintage pieces possess the right potential for growth in value as more people discover and learn about the brand over time. This also depends on the model, history, age, and condition.

As for the current collection, Hamilton’s language of marketing, branding, and distribution has nothing to do with limiting supply or hyping a watch to the point that it would fetch a premium. However, its close association with blockbuster movie scripts will, in time, see a cult-like following grow for some of its featured (special) models and will have future potential to turn a profit if they end up being limited or discontinued from production.

Conclusion

Over the last decade, we have all become aware that watches from some brands have outperformed the stock market. This unusual occurrence has clearly brought with it a change in mindset over the primary use of watches. In some cases, it has developed mixed opinions of whether they should be worn or treated as an asset class.

What should be considered when analyzing the watch market is that these watches that have been driven to exponential values were once severely undervalued. They were undervalued because decades to centuries of watchmaking excellence needed a worthy medium of converging with the larger audience of potential buyers and collectors.

This medium now exists in watch media, largely responsible for the watch industry’s hype and growth over the last decade. As a result, the next decade might not yield the same profitable results as the last. Today, not many people will buy a Hamilton watch for its investment potential. It will instead be bought as a value brand meant to be loved, worn, and collected for its unique ethos within the watch world.

12 BEST Hamilton Watches for 2023 (Divers, Chronographs, Etc.)

Posted on March 10, 2023October 5, 2023 by Alan Dang

Watch lovers are constantly on the lookout for the next piece to add to their collection. A budding watch collector may start off with a few less expensive timepieces, like an affordable Seiko diver, but they will always feel that inevitable itch of wanting to get something nicer.

For many people in this situation, their eyes may be drawn to the Swiss brand Hamilton. /Something about Hamilton really appeals to the budget-conscious enthusiast. Indeed, Hamilton punches way above its weight in design, heritage, and price. Hamilton has pieces available in several price points, although they dominate in the $500 to $2000 range.

Hamilton Watch History

Every watch brand begins with a story. For Hamilton, this story starts in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hamilton was founded in 1892 and focused primarily on pocket watches. These pocket watches were practical tools that maintained strict accuracy, distinguishing them from contemporary rivals.

In the early days, there was no set standard for timing in the locomotive industry. Scheduling was chaotic, and accidents were commonplace. Hamilton provided some of the first accurate pocket watches that improved the safety and efficiency of railroads across the country, earning it the nickname: The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.

Since its beginning in America’s railroads, Hamilton has appeared in numerous periods of American history. Hamilton was strapped to the wrists of soldiers fighting in the trenches of WWI. The aviation industry took Hamilton to the skies.

Specially engraved Hamilton watches were created to celebrate the World Series win of the 1928 New York Yankees, which included legendary Hall of Famers like Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. The King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley, had a particular fondness for Hamilton. In modern times, Hamilton is a force in cinema, with over 400 film credits in films like Men in Black, The Martian, and more.

Are Hamilton Watches Expensive?

Many of Hamilton’s watches are priced at an extremely attractive price point. With many timepieces falling between the competitive $500 to $2000 price range, Hamilton is competing with other titans like Seiko and Tissot.

This price range is competitive because this is where many people will draw the line between finding a good quality watch and saving money. For years now, Hamilton has been one of the many Swiss brands that make up the influential Swatch Group.

Manufacturing currently takes place in Switzerland, but customers are getting truly All-American designs combined with the precision of the Swiss watchmaking industry. Hamilton is an affordable Swiss brand with many low-cost offerings. A Hamilton can comfortably be in the hands of many people with a little bit of saving.

Should You Buy a Hamilton Watch?

The short answer is: yes, absolutely! Hamilton has a watch made for any situation, and its appealing designs and rich history will delight anyone who is doing their research on this affordable Swiss brand. Hamilton is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to upgrade their humble collection and will be safe on the wrist for many years to come.

The List

The Hamilton catalog is as vast as its rich history. To make it easier for you, we’ve assembled an expertly crafted list of the top 12 Hamilton watches for 2023. With Hamilton’s diverse catalog, there is something for everyone to love!

1. Hamilton Khaki Field Murph H70605731

Hamilton has been a force in many movies, and the Murph was extensively featured in the science fiction epic Interstellar. In the film, ex-NASA pilot Joseph Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, embarks on a journey across time and space to find a way to save humanity from impending doom.

Before leaving, he gives his daughter his Hamilton watch as a memento. The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph appears multiple times throughout the movie, and fans will be delighted to see the details on this watch. The dial is very legible and large, at 42mm.

There is also a smaller 38mm option available. The dial is an abyssal black color, and the movement is a modified ETA 2824-2 with an impressive 80 hours of power reserve. The most exciting features of this $995 watch, however, are the packaging and the seconds hand.

Engraved on the seconds hand is the word ‘Eureka’ printed in Morse code. It is an extremely subtle nod to a particular scene in the movie where the watch plays a significant role. Regarding the packaging, the first lucky 2,555 watches will come with a colorful limited edition box inspired by the tesseract in the movie.

2. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical H69439931

Hamilton has supplied watches for the military for years. Known for their rugged and robust capabilities, this no-nonsense minimalist watch will survive everything from battlefield trenches to jungle warfare. Everything about the watch screams utilitarian. It is appropriately sized at 38mm and has minimal finishing and detail work on the case. The durable NATO strap makes the watch fit securely on the wrist.

The best feature of all is the price. Starting at $575 on Hamilton’s website, this affordable entry into the dynamic world of Swiss watchmaking will unleash the inner adventurer in every person.

Movie and video game fans will also be able to spot this watch in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie and its sequel, the appropriately named Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It’s strapped to the wrist of the local sheriff in the movie, Tom Wachowski.

3. Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Chrono H71626735

Another military-inspired watch that will delight potential owners is the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Chrono. This multifunctional warrior is sleek, all-black, sturdy, and ready for exciting adventures. This 42mm watch is modern and demands wrist presence.

The chronograph is accompanied by a very functional day and date window at 3 o’clock. The strap is particularly interesting, with very fine diamond-like scales and close stitching that resemble armor.

If this watch is good enough for Jack Ryan in the Amazon television series and can survive the dangerous ordeals that he goes through, the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Chrono will be more than enough to survive any of life’s challenges.

This iron-clad warrior can be yours for $1,845 on Hamilton’s website.

4. Hamilton American Classic PSR Digital Quartz H52414131

The Hamilton PSR is a stunning tribute to a historically significant watch in Hamilton’s catalog: the Pulsar. The story of the Hamilton Pulsar begins over 50 years ago, in 1968, when famed filmmaker Stanley Kubrick asked Hamilton to create a futuristic-looking watch for his upcoming space epic 2001: A Space Odyssey.

From this request, the world’s first digital watch was born. This retro blast from the past features a charming hybrid LCD and OLED screen for maximum clarity. The green display on this 40.8mm watch is time only, the same as the original Pulsar all those years ago.

Interested buyers will also be able to purchase this watch with a vibrant red display, a bright reminder of the domination of LED lights in the 60s and 70s. This modern interpretation is $745, quite a bit more affordable than its Pulsar ancestor. At the time of the Pulsar’s release, the watch sold for $2,100, translating to an eye-watering $13,000 in today’s money!

5. Hamilton American Classic Intra-Matic Chronograph H H38429730

The most expensive piece on this list, the extra money used to secure this stunning mechanical piece is well worth the investment. The Intra-Matic is an adaptation of Hamilton’s sporty racing watch from the 1960s. Vintage watches are extremely popular nowadays, and Hamilton has followed this trend extremely well.

The 40mm case size is slightly larger than the vintage 39mm version, but the extra size firmly places this as a modern watch. The Intra-Matic sits tall on the wrist and has large, prominent chronograph pushers on the side. This watch is not thin by any means, and the thick sizing makes this bold and daring.

The reverse panda dial is noticeable and a joy to look at on the wrist. The manual winding H-51 movement is charming in its own way, requiring owners to pay it a little more attention for daily wear.
This vintage classic is available for $2045.

6. Hamilton American Classic Pan Europ Day Date Auto H35405741

The Pan Europ is Hamilton’s foray into the exciting world of motorsports and racing. This colorful racing-inspired watch is a modern interpretation of the original Pan Europ, which was released in the 1970s. At the time, Hamilton was competing with other big racing watch names like Breitling, Seiko, and Zenith.

Despite the name, there is no mistaking the All-American spirit that this racing timer has. The beautiful, vibrant sunburst dial catches the light from many different angles. The case size is a modern and voluminous 42mm, giving it plenty of space to show off that colorful sunburst dial.

One of the most interesting features of the Pan Europ is the oval cushion case. The case sits comfortably on most wrists due to its curved shape. Powering this sporty race watch is the H-30 automatic movement. The large 80-hour power reserve and day date complication make this a practical companion to zip around the track with.

Catch this speedy $1,195 racing watch.

7. Hamilton Khaki Aviation X-wind GMT Chrono Quartz H77912335

In a nod to its rich aviation history, Hamilton has created some of the most complicated and feature-heavy watches with the X-wind series. This bold, stainless steel, 46mm aviation-inspired timepiece is like a Swiss army knife on the wrists of pilots.

The dial is filled with aviation features, like the prominent crosswind calculator around the bezel of the watch, the chronograph, and a second time zone.

The orange lettering on the GMT and chronograph subdial, as well as the chronograph seconds hand, gives the X-wind a bright splash of color. The long-lasting quartz movement will keep accurate time while zipping through the skies.

The $1,045 price point puts this watch in the middle of our $500 to $2000 budget.

8. Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Auto H77605135

Courageous and skilled soldiers with extensive training in tactical military diving and swimming earn the moniker of combat diver or frogman. The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman was initially created for United States elite combat divers and was one of Hamilton’s early contributions to the film industry, being featured in the 1951 war movie The Frogmen.

The Frogman Auto is the ultimate military diver watch, with massive, chunky numbers that are unmistakable in the murky ocean depths. Large triangle markers at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions surround the 42mm Frogman Auto. The tight and responsive uni-directional rotating bezel is extremely satisfying to use and hear in action.

The unusual locking mechanism protecting the watch’s crown is one of the first things that draw your attention. The word “LOCK” is highly noticeable on the mechanism. This protective shield contributes to the watch’s 300 meters of water resistance, enough for any military operation in the water.

Embark on a military dive expedition with this $1,095 warrior.

9. Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium H78505330

For anyone looking for an unapologetically large and bold statement piece, Hamilton has your answer here with the BeLOWZERO. With a massive 46mm case size, this watch will dominate any wrist that isn’t prepared to rock the look with confidence and attitude.

Despite its size, the watch is extremely lightweight and comfortable on the wrist because of the titanium that the case is made of. The BeLOWZERO’s natural habitat is deep under the water at crushing depths. The generous 1,000 meters of water resistance and helium escape valve will protect the watch from any challenge the water can throw at it.

Like most Hamilton watches, the BeLOWZERO is also in several different movies. This all-black, tactical watch accompanied Matt Damon when he was stranded on Mars in the science fiction adventure movie The Martian. It was also found in the mind-bending action thriller Tenet, where the watch was modified to have a fascinating digital display.

This survival watch can be found on Hamilton’s website for $1,845.

10. Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer Small Second Auto H78415733

Naval history meets elegance with the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer Small Second Auto. Inspired by marine navigational tools from the 1940s, this gorgeous timepiece is a reflection of days past and is a big contrast to Hamilton’s usual designs. The 40mm case size is perfect for almost any wrist, and the most striking feature of this watch is how clean everything looks.

The thin, elegant hands gently turn into sharp, narrow pointers indicating the time. The wire-like lugs are delicate and dainty, requiring extra attention. The small seconds complication is classy and provides visual interest for this marine navigator.

Travel back to an exciting age of maritime glory with this $1,095 watch.

11. Hamilton Broadway GMT Limited Edition H43725731

The Broadway is a small but stylish collection from Hamilton. Many of the Broadway watches, named after the world-famous Broadway street in New York City, have a distinct rectangular stripe running vertically on the timepiece.

This GMT piece is suitable for suave gentlemen who want to travel the world with a watch that reminds them of the glitz and glamor of Broadway theatrical performances. The GMT is one of the most practical and useful complications that a watch can have.

The bright red-tipped GMT hand will help track different time zones alongside the watch’s ceramic bezel that lists 24 destinations worldwide. Powering this GMT is Hamilton’s new H-14 automatic movement, making this watch a true GMT with an 80-hour power reserve.

12. Hamilton Ventura S Quartz H24201730

The Ventura is one of the most unusual watches not just on this list but in general. It looks like a small shield on the wrist. This oddly shaped timepiece will undoubtedly garner some looks across the room. Famously worn by Elvis Presley in the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii, the Ventura was also the world’s first electric watch.

This unconventional piece will stand out in any watch collection for its charming design and numerous customization options. One of Ventura’s best features is its numerous versions, allowing buyers to pick and choose their favorite ones.

The example listed here is an all-black quartz watch with gold lettering. The bold, irregular shape measures 24mm x 37.4mm. However, the Ventura is also available in different colors and sizes with automatic movements and skeletonized dials.

Priced at $895 on Hamilton’s website, this watch hits a sweet spot for people with a budget between $500 and $2000.

Conclusion

Hamilton is a Swiss brand that offers incredible timepieces at a reasonable cost. Any watch from Hamilton will bring with it rich heritage, history, and reliability. Whether you’re taking to the skies with their aviation pieces, experiencing American history with their classic designs, or surviving the most challenging situations with their military-inspired timepieces, Hamilton has your back.

Oris vs Hamilton (Brand Comparison Including ALL Collections!)

Posted on July 6, 2022October 5, 2023 by William Boyd

Searching for your first Swiss luxury watch? Need something to give your boss or dad? Want to have a casual everyday watch to wear? Oris and Hamilton offer incredible value with its high-quality material and sleek designs making both of them attractive options.

Getting started may prove intimidating and overwhelming. Do you want an experimental or large timepiece? With both brands releasing many models over the years, this guide will help you select the right brand and model for you.

Oris Design & Style

Osris designs are innovative yet traditional and modern. Refined and simplistic offering that won’t intimidate.

Many aficionados have Oris timepieces as part of their weekly rotation. Perfect for daily and weekend wear with the family, it also works well for conferences, church, and casual dating.

Timepieces are available in six iconic collections.

Artelier

This collection embodies the company’s commitment to heritage and innovation with timeless elegant timepieces. These versatile designs include minimalist mid-century to futuristic skeleton watches. You can find chronographs, moon-phase displays, and 10-day power reserves.

Aquis

These diver’s watches were designed with sub-aqua practicality in mind. Clear legibility and the classic unidirectional rotating bezel, a hallmark of a diver’s watch. Offered in a wide variety of materials and sizes, it is the brand’s most extensive collection.;

Combining stunning design with high-performance materials and fit-for-purpose functions. They include day-date complications and chronographs.

Vintage-inspired pilot waters with pointer date display

Big Crown

This vintage-inspired pilot watches pay homage to the a signature design, the Big Crown. Released in 1938, it featured an oversized crown that was designed to be operated while wearing leather gloves.

The collection resembles old-school aviator watches, but have state of the art mechanical technology. Most are distinctive pointer-date models with a full view of the month around the dial. Available in a range of sizes and styles, including a few limited editions.

Divers

Drawing inspiration to the company’s first diver’s watches, particularly the iconic 1965 model that had a bubble-curve crystal and rainbow of mid-century dial tones.

These are elegant timepieces that are vintage inspired and have innovative watchmaking techniques. You can find chronograph models in a wide variety of sizes, range of dial colors and bracelets.

Vintage-inspired diving watches

Propilot

This collection updates the Big Crown series with larger case sizes, more complex mechanical configurations such as chronographs and week-dates.

It is geared towards pilots that value cockpit-ready functionality and aesthetically. These come in a range of colors, case materials, and strap options.

Propilot X

This is the brand’s most limited and exclusive series. With only two models, ProPilot X watches have skeletonized movements, built entirely in titanium, and are light and high-tech. They feature a 10-day power reserve and Oris patented non-linear power indicator.

Hamilton Design & Style

Khaki Field

Inspired by Hamilton’s WWI timepieces, this military collection was a staple for U.S. soldiers that shipped out 1914. This marked the transition from the brand’s pocket watches to wristwatches to accommodate soldiers on the battlefield.

The collection evolved over the years to become one of the most robust watches on the market for modern wear.

Khaki Field Mechanical

Available in stainless steel or leather strap variants, it is perfect for sportsmen and those seeking action in great outdoors. An incredibly durable watch.

Khaki Field Auto

It uses hand-winding for superlative reliability and readability with hard-wearing materials and luminescent numerals.

Khaki Aviation

These modern timepieces are a creative take on the brand’s 1918 timepiece that was designed to keep the U.S’ airborne postal system running smoothly and on time.

Khaki Navy

Another timepiece that pays homage to the brand’s history, these timepieces are perfect for mariners, sailors, and divers.

These timepieces are waterproof, highly wearable, and made to the most stringent technical specifications and ready for any maritime endeavor.

Broadyway

This collection includes various movement and color options designed for urbanites and style-conscious men. Watches have clean metal finishes and refined faces.

Broadway Day Date Auto

A versatile piece, it is available in a variety of straps with both water resistance and a stainless steel surface. It also has an 80-hour power reserve.

Broadway GMT

With an adjustable bezel equipped with 24 different city destinations, a 24-hour display, with an 80-hour power reserve, the Broadway GMT is the ideal travel watch for the cosmopolitan man.

American Classic

Although the company has since moved to Switzerland, it’s long standing American history is found in their modern designs, especially the American Classic.

Intra-Matic Auto

Has a two-tone cream and black colorway with an 80-hour power reserve. It also houses an automatic watch movement with anti-magnetic allow to prevent interference.

Boulton Small Second Quartz

Preserving the American style found on the original design in 1949, it has Roman numerals, discreet second ticker and a vintage buckled leather strap. It also has a modern look with the PSR Digital Quartz.

Jazzmaster

The collection has an extraordinary suite of contemporary watches that blends exceptional craftsmanship with intrepid innovations and traditional touches.

Jazzmaster AutoChrono

The perfect blend of old and new, the Jazzmaster Autochrono utilizes an automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve.

Viewmatic Skeleton Lady

This unveils the watch’s intricate movement that uses a skeletonized dial and has stainless steel bezels with a mother of pearl face.

Open Heart Auto

An elegant companion to any woman’s wrist, it combines a white leather calf strap with four diamond indexes on a flower-design mother of pearl watch face.

Ventura Line

The Ventura still remains an unconventional classic with its triangular face and electrical movement for an effortlessly cool look. A reinterpretation of the original 1957 model, the stainless steel watch is battery-powered with stylized markers, and a distinct tri-tier bezel.

Ventura Auto

Using the identical technology found in the Khaki collection, the Ventura auto uses the wrist’s natural movements to help the internal battery. It also contains a glass window for a glimpse at the sophisticated movement.

Oris vs. Hamilton – Build Quality

Oris Build Quality

Oris has a sterling reputation due to its rich history, diverse offerings and overall vibrant and rich catalogue of vintage inspired timepieces. With its respective heritage, it is highly regarded as a brand every collector should own among aficionados. They are also a great entry point for a Swiss timepiece.

Stylish, innovative, versatile, and meticulously crafted pieces, Oris models are renowned for being one of the best values in the Swiss watch industry. Sensible-prices timepieces with ETA, Sellita, and in-house movements and available in a range of sizes, colors, and designs make it an exceptional value.

The brand maintains its unwavering commitment to mechanical movements and is one of the few Swiss horology houses that only makes mechanical watches. It’s destinct red rotor design is easily recognizable and an insignia for the brand’s dedication to high-quality mechanical movements.

In juxtaposition to high-end competitors, Oris is a better investment due to exceeding expectations and features than considerably lower priced watches with similar features.

Water resistance ranges from 30 to 500 meters.

They come with a 2 year warranty.

Hamilton Build Quality

There are only a few brands that are more versatile, well-known, and have extensive U.S. history than Hamilton. The brand is well known by aficionados and collectors to be a great value with attention to detail, solid performance, and overall great build quality.

The brand produces analog mechanical automatic and analog quartz and digital watches. Usually made of stainless steel with dial windows of sapphire crystal. They use ETA movements

Watches house reliable, mass-produced ETA movements with the latest tech such as silicon parts and extended power reserves with premium sapphire crystal. With a vast range models, wide variety of dial colors, many strap materials in multiple colors.

Water resistant between 30 to 100 meters.

They come with a 2 year warranty.

Verdict on Brand Quality

They are similar, however, Oris has more variety of movements and offers more water resistance in some models.

Oris vs Hamilton – Price/Quality ratio

Oris Price/quality ratio

The brand’s unrelenting dedication to using high-quality materials to preserving traditional mechanics makes it unique and one of the best on the market. In juxtaposition to other Swiss brands, it has affordable price points, especially at their entry-level watches.

Retail prices begin at $800 for its TT1 model and upwards to $19,000 for its limited edition Carysfort Reef desin.

Middle tier watches with more complicated functions range from $3,000 to $6,000

Topping out the price range are expensive options such as the yellow gold limited edition Carysfort Reef Oris, which retails for $19,000, along with the solid 18k rose gold Artelier Calibre 111, which retails for $15,500. There is certainly an option for every budget within the current Oris lineup.

Hamilton Price/quality ratio

The brand’s American heritage design watches are made of high-quality material and its combination of many styles make its offering extremely versatile. With dressy, sporty, and even futuristic timepieces that make it for a great casual watch.

Its distinctly American ethos and thematic designs like aviation, and cinema make it popular choice for mid-priced watches, especially when more expensive brands use identical movements and materials.

Hamtilon watches start at $325 for its Khakhi Field Mechanical and upwards to $6,195 for Jazzmaster

Verdict on Price/Quality Ratio

If you are looking for the brand that gives you the best value for your money, Oris is almost unmatched. It offers possible the best value in the Swiss-made industry.

So far we have compared both the brands in terms of design, build quality, and pricing. But now let’s go back in time and explore the history behind Oris and Hamilton.

History of Oris

With its unwavering commitment to affordable timepieces that are stylish and technical, the company is popular in the enthusiasts market.

Even the highest of the brand’s offerings are an incredible valuable that cannot be found on other Swiss brands within the price range. Highly regarded by many, it is a perfect choice for everyday wear.

Since its inception, Oris has taken pride in creating and engineering watches at affordable prices. Many aficionados have come to love the brand for its unrelenting commitment to value and perfect for everyday and any occasion wear.

The beginning

In 1904, Paul Cattin and Georges Christian come together to purchase the recently closed Lohnre & Co. watch factory and partner with the local mayor as Manufacture d’Horlogerie de Hölstein Christian & Cattin on June 1st, 1904.

Along with several trademarks, the pair created Oris after the nearby Orisbach tributary of the Ergolz river. It’s mission was to create modestly priced watches.

In 1925, the company produced leather straps to match the growing wristwatch market. They featured an additional bund-style piece with a leather cage to securely hold a pocket watch to the wrist.

Aviation and Military

Osris created its first pilot watch in 1938, which combined signature design elements – an oversized winding crown and a pointer calendar display.

WWI decreased the sales and production of timepieces and to combat that, Osris produced alarm clocks that featured a central alarm-setting hand. It came in various shapes, colors, and sizes.

Innovation and Technology

The brand created its first automatic watched that was powered by in-house Oris Caliber 601 in 1952. The 601 was a self-winding movement with 17 jewel rotor automatic and operated at 18,000 beats per hour.

It had running seconds and power reserve indicator that assured the rotor was functioning properly. This eviscerated the need for hand-winding.

Introduced in 1965, the Oris Waterproof 36mm was the brand’s first purpose-built diving watches. It featured uni-directional rotating bezel, black dial, and a water-resistant case up to 100 meters.

It was powered by an in-house movement with a frequency of 18,000vph and had a power reserve of 46 hours. These early models served as inspiration for the modern and popular Oris Divers Sixty-Five.

Oris’ first chronograph, the Chronoris 38mm was introduced in 1970. Housing a 17-jewel caliber 725 engineered by Dubois Depraz, it required manual winding and featured a clean display without elapsed minute and hour counters. An individual could align the bezel with a minute hand if needed.

Quartz Crisis of 1970-1980s

Like many others, the brand had difficulty navigating through the quartz crisis of 1970-1980s. With cheap watches from Asia infiltrating the market and other hardships like unemployment, it was carelessly acquired by ASUAG (presently known as Swatch Group). Antithetical to Oris’ heritage, THE ASUAG forced the company to create quartz watches.

It would gain its independence in 1982 and returned to mechanical timepieces. It also introduced its first mechanical watch using Point Calendar complication from the 1930s in 1984.

Playfulness and Novelty

The company’s first alarm wristwatch was introduced in 1988. The 34mm watch housed the caliber 418 and was available in an assortment of dial colors, indices, and case finishes.

Drawing inspiration from soccer and golf, the 40mm Player’s watches were introduced in 1990. They featured a timing bezel and movement model that had fourth push-button sport specific counters and an ETA 2824 caliber.

In 1997, the brand patented the innovative Oris Worldtimer that allowed wearers to adjust local time in 1-hour loops. Ideal for traveling between time zones.

The 2000s

The inauguration of the millennium marked the brand producing larger watches like the iconic Oris XXL to match fashion trends. The red rotor was trademarked and used as an insignia for the brand.

To celebrate its 100^th anniversary, the Centennial set was released in 2004. Limited to 1904 pieces, it included a 42mm Atelier Worldwide that housed a caliber 690 and 8-day mechanical alarm clock.

2010 and beyond

Oris introduced many introduced innovative technology like a sliding sledge clasp that kept a timepiece on a wrist and the Oris Aquis Depth Guage in 2013.

In 2014, the brand highlighted its 110^th anniversary with an in-house movement Calibre 110. This hand-wound movement features 40 jewels, 21,600vph frequency and a ten-day power reserve.

Recently in 2020, Oris introduced its first in-house developed automatic movement in decades, Calibre 400. It features antimagnetic movement, five day power reserve, and 28,800vph frequency.

History of Hamilton

Rise from the ashes

Hamilton has a long standing America heritage. Popular, well-respected, precise, reliable, and stylish, its watches are perfect for daily wear.

This Swiss brand with American roots offers aficionados and collectors incredible value. It also is approachable and fun for those who want to build a collection. Solidly built and reliable

Hamilton was a product of several failed watch companies – The Adams & Perry Watch Company, the Lancaster Watch Company, and the Keystone Standard Watch company. They inhabited the same manufacturing facility in Lancase in 1875.

A group of investors purchased the Keystone Standard brand and facilities, as well as the struggling Aurora Watch Company of Aurora, Illinois in October 1892.

They merged the two companies and transported Aurora’s machinery to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and extended the facilities with a new wing. They chose the name Hamilton as a tribute to the original owner and its first planners, Andrew Hamilton and his son James.

Railroad Industry Partner

The company’s Broadway Limited pocket watch helped mitigate the increasing number of railway accidents and fatalities that occurred during the late 19^th century.

Its relationship with the railroad industry and train conductors secured its place among others as the maker of “the Watch of Railroad Accuracy”. The company’s bread and butter, Grade No. 936, was accurate, reliable, and provided legibility. Most had beautiful white dials with stark black Arabic numerals and high-contract had for readability.

WWI & United States Military

Two years later, Hamilton shifted its focus from railroads to supporting American industrialism throughout WWI by becoming the sanctioned pocket watch supplier for the United States Military.

These could be depended upon in the trenches and battlefields, however, proved to be impractical for soldiers on the move. Infantrymen preferred the ease of strapping a watch to the wrist because they needed to use both hands to load his weapon while simultaneously checking his watch.

This resulted in Hamilton installing pocket watch movements in smaller cases that were sized for wrist wear. Additionally, produced timepieces that were powered by the Hamilton caliber 983, a 17-jewel 0-size pendant movement.

Some of the first “trench watches” were re-engineered pocket watches with lugs that were soldered strips of wired that connected the case to a strap of leather or canvas for wearing on the wrist.

In 1912, the company created “wristlets” for women using 0-size pendant watch movements. Company began modifying the pieces for soliders and men.

Although it was vogue for society gentlemen in early 20^th century, troops that came home after the War ended continued to wear their wristwatches and the style caught on contrary to the accepted feminine look. This established a relationship with the U.S. Armed forces lead to one of its most iconic and enduring product lines.

Aviation and travel

Hamilton transitioned from the railroads and military to being the preferred timepiece for skies. Pilots who made the first U.S. airmail run from Washington D.C. to New York began wearing Hamilton watches on their wrist in 1918.

In 1926, a Hamilton watch accompanied Admiral Richard E. Byrd on his a little under 16 hour flight to the North Pole. He then set out for his first Antarctic expedition in 1928 with 60 of the brands watches accompanying him and his crew. These were powered by the Hamilton caliber 992.

Throughout the 1930s, the company became the official timepiece provider for four major airlines in the early 1930s, Eastern, TWA, Northwest, and United. Its timepieces are still preferred by pilots today.

Yankees and expansion

Hamilton released its Piping Rock model in the late 20s and early 30s. It would eventually become one of its most popular designs.

After the Yankees won the world series in 1928, it presented its Yankee design to each team member. Both the Yankee and Piping Rock established Hamilton as a pioneer in watch design.

Hamilton also purchased the Illinois Watch company for over $5,000,000.

Art Deco

Inspired by the Art Deco movement 1930s timepieces were designed with Arabic numeral hour markers and many featured rectangular or geometric cases. Housing Hamilton’s own calibers, the watches were available in platinum, solid gold, or gold-filled cases.

WWII Watches

WWII started in 1939. The U.S. military prognosticated its involvement and made requests to watch manufacturers to create accurate marine chronometers for Navy ships.

Hamilton was the only company to provide marine chronometers that met accuracy standards. Hamilton supplied nearly 11,000 marine chronometers to the U.S. Armed forces.

1942, Hamilton ceased producing watches for civilizations and focused entirely on the military. It supplied over one million timepieces that had variations of caliber 987, the brand’s finest movement. Due to its dedication and exceptional timepieces, the Army-Navy “E” was awarded for excellence in production.

Technology and innovations

1957, Hamilton created one of the most dramatic changes to a design with the Hamilton Electric, the first electric watch. This began the end of windup watches.

The company developed the Venture in 1959, a sleek timepiece that was inspired by the Cadillac tailfins of the 50s.

1969, the company developed the first automatic chronograph, Calibre 11. This was a breakthrough for the company which was followed by the successful Pulsar model, the brand’s first digital watch.

Present Day Hamilton

1974, it was sold to SSIH (later became Swatch Group).

The company would eventually build relationships with air racing and aerobatics industry with watches created for Red Bull Air Race and Swiss Aerobatic Association.

During the 1980s, the brand revived some classic watch designs

2000s to present

2006, Hamilton celebrated the Odysee 2001 timepiece by releasing a limited series of 2001 pieces of ODC-X-01.

In 2019 to the present, the brand continues re-issuing some of its famous vintage watches such as Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50 and Field Mechanical.

Oris vs Hamilton – Conclusion

With in-house movements and a myriad of styles to select, Oris wristwatches are ideal for anyone that wants to begin their collection with quality timepieces without a steep price tag. The brand’s appealing case designs and technical features make them a great option for everyday wear.

Although a little bit more expensive, it’s high-quality materials and durability make it the easy choice to pick.

Tag Heuer vs Hamilton: Brand Comparison

Posted on August 10, 2021July 13, 2023 by William Boyd

If you want to make a list of today’s top Swiss luxury watch brands, you’ll have to include Tag Heuer and Hamilton.

Whether you are looking for a timeless wristwatch, a fine accessory for your wrist, or something to make a fashion and social status statement, these brands have done a great deal of work to ensure that they provide you with many options.

From sleek designs to seamless timekeeping, Tag Heuer and Hamilton wristwatches offer great experiences to the people who purchase and wear them. Because both brands offer a unique experience to their customers, making the ultimate choice of which brand to buy from can be a difficult task.

If you’re in the process of buying a luxury sports wristwatch, this article will help guide you through the process of making a decision, so you can purchase something you will be proud of for a very long time.

At first glance, both brands appear similar in their products’ designs and pricing structure. However, when you take a closer look, you’ll begin to notice contrasting features. Let’s examine these differentiating factors.

Tag Heuer vs. Hamilton: Which is a Better Luxury Wristwatch Brand?

Let’s take a look at the major features of the wristwatches created by these brands so we can answer the question of which luxury brand is better.

Reputation

If you are buying your luxury wristwatch for just the feel-good experience, you may want to pay close attention to this point.

While both brands are world-class and involve feelings of wealth and affluence, Tag Heuer beats Hamilton when it comes to reputation. As a result of Tag Heuer’s reputation in the world of luxury watches, the brand has attracted the patronage of major celebrities, including Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, and Brad Pitt. So, if you’re looking for something to make a statement of affluence with, you may want to patronize the more reputable brand.

Design

This is one of the major areas where both brands are entirely dissimilar, although they occasionally produce wristwatches that look the same. Generally, while Tag Heuer wristwatches are known to have a sporty look, you’d most likely go for a Hamilton if you are looking for something with a minimalistic design. Because of the care that goes into their manufacturing and design processes, Tag Heuer wristwatches are usually considered more trendy and attract more positive attention.

Durability

This is one major factor that wristwatch owners usually consider before pulling their cards out of their wallets. Thankfully, many luxury wristwatch brands pay attention to this factor during production.

Hamilton wristwatches are durable, strong, and somewhat resistant to wear and tear. In addition to this, their batteries can last anywhere between two and four years. However, you may not know that the battery of your wristwatch is about to give up on you until it does.

On the other hand, it is not the same for Tag Heuer. In addition to being sleek and eye-catching, these wristwatches are sturdy, and extra care is taken to ensure that long-lasting, high-quality materials are used in the production process. According to users, a Tag Heuer wristwatch can last for a lifetime if you’re careful and meticulous about following the producers’ servicing recommendations.

In addition to this, the battery of your Tag Heuer can last for up to five years, giving you more time to enjoy the accessory. The more recent Tag Heuer wristwatches are also equipped with indicators that let you know when the batteries are about to die. With this feature, you’re less likely to be taken unawares by a dead battery and a wristwatch that won’t work on the day you need it the most.

Accuracy

Both brands have great accuracy in common. The average Hamilton wristwatch is built for precision and accuracy and can retain this ability for as long as the wristwatch battery remains alive. However, over time, accuracy can be tampered with if the watch is misused.

Tag Heuer, on the other hand, takes accuracy and precision to a whole new level. With an accuracy level of up to 1/1,000th of a second, Tag Heuer wristwatches have built a reputation for precise timekeeping. As an attestation to this, they have been used in many large settings like the Summer Olympic Games (three consecutive times), Skiing Championships, and other gaming tournaments.

To ensure that your Tag Heuer maintains its accuracy for as long as you own it, be sure to handle it with the utmost care and carry out the routine maintenance as directed by the manufacturers.

Water Resistance

You most likely wouldn’t want to have your wristwatch on when you take a shower, but this doesn’t eliminate the fact that the unexpected happens all the time. You may get a few splashes of water on your wristwatch when you wash your hands, or some wine could spill and make a mess of the accessory on your wrist.

For these reasons, you may want to purchase a water-resistant timepiece. Both brands do a good job when it comes to producing water-resistant wristwatches. However, there is a significant difference in the water-resistance levels of the wristwatches produced by these brands.

Water Resistant Hamilton Watches

Hamilton wristwatches have some level of tolerance for water. This implies that for most of them, although they wouldn’t break if they are exposed to a few drops of water, they won’t hold up under intense water pressures. This makes them perfect for the boardroom but unsuitable for the depths of the sea. A great example of this is the Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic H77725335, which is water-resistant up to 300 meters. Occasionally, you will find a Hamilton wristwatch with a water resistance level that is much higher than 300 meters.

Hamilton Khaki Navi Frogman, tag heuer vs Hamilton — Hamilton Khaki Navi Frogman Watch

Water Resistant Tag Heuer Watches

Tag Heuer wristwatches, on the other hand, are more resistant to water. Because the brand is more in tune with the world of sports (which also inspires most of their designs), their wristwatches are built to withstand higher water pressures without getting damaged. Generally, Tag Heuer wristwatches are highly water-resistant, even at 500 meters (1,064 feet) underwater. This makes them a much better option for deep-sea divers and people who are just looking for something which can resist more pressure.

Although the water-resistance of wristwatches drops over time (as a result of several factors, including exposure to the elements of nature), careful usage and proper maintenance will help retain the water-resistance for a long time.

Resale Value

In addition to being perfect accessories, luxury wristwatches are an excellent investment if you know what to look out for at the point of purchase. Because popular brands of luxury wristwatches tend to have a greater resale value, people usually stick with them.

In a nutshell, resale value is the amount of money you can put your wristwatch up for if you want to sell it at any point after using it. If you play your cards well, you can get a fair price for your luxury wristwatch if you ever try to sell it.

However, this is dependent on many factors, including the manufacturing brand, the initial price of the wristwatch, and its overall condition. When every other factor is excluded, the manufacturing brand and its popularity play a significant role in determining your wristwatch’s resale value.

Tag Heuer performs better than Hamilton in this regard. When handled properly and with the right buyer, you are sure to get a fair deal, which is usually a lot more than you would have gotten if you were trying to resell a Hamilton wristwatch. If you know that you may want to resell your wristwatch in the future, make the right choice from the start.

Choosing what luxury wristwatch brand to patronize can be a herculean task, but you can make a guided decision with the right information.

Seiko vs Hamilton: Brand Comparison

Posted on June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 by Ethan Richardson

This is an interesting comparison as Seiko and Hamilton cannot be more different when it comes to their watch designs and constructions. This article will give a clearer picture of how each brand compares to one another regarding their watch construction and design. Seiko is a more prominent brand and certainly earns its reputation as one of the world’s best timepiece manufacturers. On the other hand, Hamilton is considered by many as a versatile all-around watch brand that covers a lot of bases. In this comparison guide, we will compare Seiko vs Hamilton.

Both brands are well-respected in the industry, each offering a unique take with their timepiece craftsmanship. Can Hamilton surprise us by one-upping Seiko, or will Seiko prove once again why it is among the top companies in this industry?

Seiko vs Hamilton: History of the Brands

History of Seiko

Seiko is a world-famous Japanese watch brand. Even casual fans will no doubt be familiar with Seiko watches. Seiko has a proven track record of revolutionizing the industry with its innovative technology. The company is probably one of the most influential in the industry as its innovations managed to shift the global market into new territories.

One of their most important innovations is their introduction of the quartz movement back in 1969. Quartz movement watches quickly gained popularity and jumpstarted the quartz watch revolution of the ‘70s. Leading the charge is the Seiko Aston, the very first quartz movement wristwatch in the world.

With this achievement level, you would think that Seiko would take it slow and enjoy the praise they gained with their quartz watches. But within a decade, Seiko once again revolutionized the industry. By 1977, Seiko unveiled its solar-powered watch technology to the public. With Seiko’s already highly precise quartz movement, the inclusion of solar-powered batteries further boosted the company’s overall standing in the industry to new heights.

In the late ‘90s, Seiko took the industry by surprise by introducing another new watch technology, called the Spring Drive movement. The rather Star Trek-sounding moniker was chosen deliberately. Spring Drive movement watches were designed to withstand the strain of space travel while also providing accurate time to the wearer.

Seiko is a giant in the industry, and it manages to deliver more awe-inspiring timepieces like clockwork. Expect more from the Japanese watchmaker soon.

History of Hamilton

The American-based watch company (now with a Swiss connection), Hamilton, has been in the watchmaking business since 1892. Hamilton watches have always been connected to American history. One of their more prominent eras came during the Second World War when Hamilton shifted its focus from making consumer timepieces to developing military-grade watches. They partnered up with the American military exclusively during this tumultuous period.

Once World War II ended, Hamilton once again returned to crafting watches for the consumer market. By 1969, Hamilton migrated to Switzerland and began operating and manufacturing from there. The reason for this significant change is due to their acquisition of the Buren factory. From this point on, Hamilton included Swiss quartz movements into their watches, improving upon their already impressive craftsmanship.

In 1974, Hamilton was picked up by the Swatch Group and has since been a subsidiary of the mega-conglomerate. This acquisition helped improve Hamilton’s sales by expanding its reach to a broader audience.

Until today, Hamilton has maintained its reputation as one of the more trusted brands in the watch market. Their models come in a wide range of prices, allowing more people to enjoy their fantastic looking timepieces.

Seiko vs Hamilton: Specs

Seiko Specifications

Let’s start with chronograph watches. This type of watch must provide excellent reliability and accuracy to the wearer.

Comprising of Seiko’s two popular features, the quartz movement and solar-powered technology, the Seiko SSC143 is a beast of a chronograph that few other watches can touch. The SSC143 features the standard three sub-dial functionalities. Main features include an alarm, a 60-minute timer, and a second timer.

As with all Seiko watches, the SSC143 incorporates the ever-reliable Japanese quartz movement with an analog display. The hands are all coated with Lumibrite to provide legibility even in low-light environments.

Whether you need a rugged tool for underwater or a stylish tool for wearing on dry land, Seiko’s Prospect collection has everything to offer from its Sea models. This collection is equipped with quartz movements and impressive water resistance (assisting with saturation diving), and it includes limited-edition models with cermet bezels. The Land series of the Prospex collection supports adventure seekers of every kind. Characterized by their legible day-date features and bold Arabic numeral hour tracks, they offer the explorer instant access to the time whenever it is required.

This Seiko chronograph watch comes with a two-tone black ion and silver design. An apt description for the SSC143 is that it’s a stylish watch with a mysterious edge to it. This is a timeless design that will still be turning heads even after a decade. The Seiko SSC143 is also surprisingly sleek with its 42.5 mm diameter case. Overall, not only is the SSC143 an extraordinarily reliable and well-made chronograph watch, but it is also one stylish timepiece that fits all occasions.

Hamilton Specifications

Hamilton watches are exceptionally accurate with its Swiss-automatic movement. The analog display is encased in a sturdy sapphire crystal window. The sapphire crystal used is tough and scratch-resistant, making this watch ideal for outdoor use. In regards to functionality, Hamilton is one of the company’s most exceptional timepieces. As for its aesthetics, Hamilton exudes an air of adventure with its tough cow leather strap and silver and black casing.

Additional features of note include a date display located over at the 9 o’clock position and a 100 m water resistance rating. If you are looking for a reliable chronograph watch for the outdoors and even looks the part, you might want to check out the Hamilton. The Hamilton comes with a slightly larger 44 mm diameter case. It comes with the primary three sub-dials with a three-hand analog display. One major deciding factor for most buyers will be the price as this Hamilton comes in at several times the price of the Seiko SSC143.

Seiko vs Hamilton: Warranty

Seiko offers a four-year warranty with additional features, and Hamilton offers a two-year warranty with additional features.

Seiko vs Hamilton: Conclusion

At the end of the day, it seems like Seiko is the better watch brand. Seiko has proven time and time again to deliver excellent timepieces that encompass a full price bracket. No matter the watch’s price, if Seiko made it, you can expect it to be a highly reliable timepiece to have.