Hamilton enters new stealthy black territory with its Intra-Matic Auto Chrono
Zach BlassThe Hamilton Intra-Matic chronograph has roots that date all the way back to the late ‘60s, inspired by the brand’s first automatic chronograph, the Chrono-Matic, introduced in 1969. The Intra-Matic Auto Chrono, as we now know it, made its debut nearly 50 years later in 2017. It is a range that is very faithful to and inspired by ‘60s Americana driving culture, and, fun fact, it made a cameo in the distant fictional future, appearing in the 2022 film The Matrix Resurrections on the wrist of (spoiler alert) Morpheus. Despite its 1960s inspiration, I can’t help but wonder if this new stealthy PVD trio of Intra-Matic chronographs would have been a better fit for the legendary character than the classic panda chrono style he went with. Admittedly, this low-stakes preamble was a means to set the stage for the real novelty element of this trio. Until today, the Intra-Matic was faithful to its vintage inspiration, but the models debuting today change that up with PVD-coated, black cases and unusually bright pops of colour.
The case
On the wrist, the Hamilton Intra-Matic Chrono feels larger than a 40mm watch due to its thin bezel and large dial. But with its 49.2mm lug-to-lug measurement, only wrists smaller than average will face any issues in terms of fit. At 14.45mm thick, tough, it’s not the most slender, but this is par for the course when it comes to relatively affordable, mechanical Swiss chronographs. Keep in mind as well, the case is 100 metres water-resistant with a screw-down crown, with the pump pushers being joined by a corrector at 10 o’clock for adjusting the date.
The dials
All three configurations have black dials, which notably forego contrasting panda-style counters. Instead, the two sub-dials (running seconds at 9 and 30-minute totaliser at 3) are also rendered in black. The main dial portion has a matte, subtly grained texture, while the registers get an azurage finish, which makes them pop more under light, making the counters easier to discern. And speaking of legibility, the central handset and the squared, index-adjacent pips are filled with Super-LumiNova for visibility in darkness.
I’ve seen plenty of brands that play at higher price points be disappointingly lazy, outfitting a dial like this with a stock-standard black-on-white date disc. So, props to Hamilton for making the effort to use a white-on-black date disc that far better blends into the dial and upholds the stealthy nature of the watch. With it framed at 6, the dial feels balanced and symmetrical.
The watches, however, are not entirely black. The three configurations distinguish themselves through the pop of colour they add through the central chronograph seconds hand and matching tachymeter scale. Well… actually, only two really add a pop of colour. The first configuration keeps it simple, opting for white to contrast against the black, with the other two adopting a brighter orange or yellow to liven things up a bit.
The straps
The aforementioned colour accents are extended to the leather straps, visible through the perforations. The orange and yellow variants are expectedly colour-matched, but the white reference deviates with an entirely black strap. Each watch and strap is secured to the wrist via a case-matching pin buckle, also equipped with quick-release tabs so you are free to make the most of the design’s 20mm lug width with ease.
The movement
Driving the Intra-Matic is Hamilton’s reliable H-31 movement. The nerdiest of watch nerds will be aware that this calibre is rooted in the ETA 7753 architecture, but in its spec-up and modification by Hamilton, it boasts 12 more hours of power reserve for a total of 60. Despite the spec upgrades, I found out that the H-31 is still susceptible to rotor wobble, something synonymous with 7750-derived movements, though this isn’t really a dealbreaker, and is something you’ll eventually just get used to.
The verdict
Though the Hamilton of today may not be associated with high complications or Geneva seal levels of decoration, the brand has become a strong fan favourite due to the quality and spec it manages to deliver at value-driven prices. As a result, it’s become the brand most can appreciate regardless of budget or watch knowledge spectrum. Whether we take the more classic, ‘60s-flavoured Intra-Matics or the new stealthy trio introduced today into consideration, I am confident that this is irrefutably one of the strongest Swiss automatic chronograph offerings at its price point.
Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono pricing and availability
All three references of the Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono in PVD black is now available. Price: US$2,295
| Brand | Hamilton |
| Model | Intra-Matic Auto Chrono |
| Reference | H38446731 (Yellow) H38446730 (White) H38446732 (Orange) |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 14.45mm (T) x 49.2mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, black PVD-treated |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal |
| Dial | Black |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Perforated calf leather strap, case-matching pin buckle |
| Movement | H-31, ETA 7753 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$2,295 |