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Hamilton’s Chrono-Matic 50 is an homage to the great race for the automatic chronograph

Hamilton’s Chrono-Matic 50 is an homage to the great race for the automatic chronograph

Nina Scally
  • The new Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50 is limited to just 150 pieces worldwide, priced at US$2,545.
  • Its sporty, helmet-shaped case retains the same bold 48mm diameter as the 1972 Chrono-Matic Count-Down GMT.
  • The watch celebrates Hamilton’s contribution to the iconic Calibre 11 of 1969.

Hamilton spent a good proportion of 2024 focusing on downsizing some of its bestsellers into more manageable sizes – seems that’s the way the industry is going lately. In addition to shrinking models like the PSR and the Khaki Field (this one even got a battery!), Hamilton treated us to a new white dial version of the Hamilton Murph – a model that belongs to the now-Swiss brand’s catalogue of cinematic novelties. Amongst the brand’s diverse treasure trove of nostalgic, sci-fi digi watches and futuristic, shield-shaped analogues is the Hamilton Chrono-Matic, which didn’t feature in a blockbuster film, but tells a story of its own.

hamilton chrono matic 50 1

Back in 2019, Hamilton marked the 50th anniversary of the Chrono-Matic (Calibre 11) movement with vintage-inspired releases from the Intra-Matric, the Khaki Pilot Pioneer, and the Khaki Field Mechanical ranges, giving collectors a new selection of accessible tool watches to choose from. Celebrating its role in developing one of the world’s first automatic chronograph movements in collaboration with Heuer, Breitling and Dubois Dépraz, the ex-American watchmaker also released the Chrono-Matic 50 Auto. One of the challenges in creating the Calibre 11 all those years ago was finding a slim enough chronograph module to sit on top of the automatic movement, hence why the models released around this time had the period-typical chunkiness that many wrists couldn’t contend with – paperweight, anyone?

The design of that model took direct cues from an evolved, GMT version of the 1970s Chrono-Matic (the Count-Down GMT Chrono-Matic), and paired them with a 48mm case. With its 16mm thickness and 51mm lug-to-lug length, it makes no excuses for its heftiness, boasting no fewer than five pushers and crowns. Its brushed steel helmet-shaped case, as large as it was, featured a black and white reversed panda bi-compax chronograph display, punctuated by red accents on the chronograph and tachymeter elements (the latter replacing the former model’s city ring).

hamilton chrono matic 50 profile 2

The new Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50 riffs of the 2019 iteration, capturing that same 1970s sports watch vibe without becoming a carbon copy. Those who loved the former Chrono-Matic 50 will be pleased to see that the new release keeps its multi-button sports watch architecture with a period-relevant egg-shaped bulkiness that measures 48mm wide on the wrist. Visually faithful in that the dial presents the 30-minute and small second sub-dials in contrasting colours, the new Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50 opts for a French racing blue display, similar to the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11, with orange accents, all framed by a polished bevel. The watch keeps its circular date window at 6 o’clock, the square-shaped lume-filled hour markers, and the silver-filled chrono counters, too.

The new Chrono-Matic 50 watch also retains the same radial brushing across the surface of its case, and locks down a solid, 100-metre water resistance. The three colour options for the crowns and pushers comprise two almost bronze-like chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, an odd black countdown crown at 10, and two unadorned steel crowns at 3 and 8. You’ll also note that the shape of the case doubles up as a shield of sorts, allowing the crown and pushers to nestle in for added impact resistance.

hamilton chrono matic 50 profile

Inside the case is the H-31 movement, based on the architecture of the Valjoux 7753 but with an extended power reserve of 60 hours. The movements comprises 27 jewels, hacking seconds and hand-winding, as well as a frequency of 28,800vph. Each watch also features an engraved caseback with their own unique “X of 150” numbering etched into their surface. Adding to the rarity of the watch is an unusual strap design. Like the black and red sandwich-effect leather band released on the 2019 edition, Hamilton opts for a perforated blue leather strap, this time revealing an orange underlayer that mirrors the sporty colours chosen for the dial.

The great race to the first automatic chronograph famously came down to the trio of Seiko, Zenith, and the Chronomatic consortium of Hamilton-Buren, Heuer, Breitling, and Dubois Dépraz, with the latter being the most unique. Instead of a fully integrated design, it featured a micro-rotor-powered base calibre, and while the latest Hamilton Chrono-Matic eschews this for a more up-to-date standard, it still serves as a reminder of the brand’s contribution to this event in watchmaking history. As such, it seems only right that its larger-than-life case design, although too large for some, portrays those first Calibre 11 releases in the truest of ways.

Though the 2019 Chrono-Matic watch was a limited edition of 1,972 pieces, nodding to the release year of the Chrono-Matic Count-Down GMT, I expect that the 150 pieces of the 2025 version will further amplify the desire for Hamilton fans to grab this design while it’s available.

Hamilton Chrono-Matic 5o Auto Chrono Limited Edition

The Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50 Auto Chrono Limited Edition is expectedly limited, to a series of 150 individually numbered pieces. Price US$2,545

Brand Hamilton
Model Chrono-Matic 50 Auto Chrono Limited Edition
Reference H51606640
Case Dimensions 48.5mm (D) x 16.05mm (T) x 51.5mm (LTL)
Case material Stainless steel
Water Resistance 100 metres
Crystal(s) Box sapphire front
Dial Blue reverse panda
Bracelet and strap Blue perforated calf leather, orange inlay, steel pin buckle
Movement H-31, ETA 7753 base, automatic
Power Reserve 60 hours
Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
Availability Limited to 150 pieces
Price US$2,545