The Hamilton Wandering Earth II expands the brand horizons, without spoilers
Borna Bošnjak- The Swiss watchmaker collaborates with a Chinese movie production producing two Hamilton Wandering Earth special editions
- A limited, transparent case model will be available in mainland China only, while Australians can find the two special editions in the Time+Tide Shop
- The second special edition is an adaptation of the Jazzmaster Thinline, with a Wandering Earth-themed dial engraving
There is no other brand with the kind of on-screen versatility that Hamilton has displayed. Whether it’s a generational epic like Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar or a movie about a very fast, very weird-looking blue hedgehog, Hamilton watches make perfect wrist cameos on so many occasions – something Luke and Andrew discovered together. Though the brand has mostly focused on Hollywood productions thus far, they’re now making a conscious effort to expand in other established markets – most notably, the Chinese film industry. Just after the beginning of the Chinese new year, two special editions surfaced as part of the Hamilton Wandering Earth collaboration.
The first is a transparent plastic-cased regulator style piece, making an appearance in the movie itself. Powered by Hamilton’s H-12 calibre, a development of the ETA 2825-2, its black and white dial variants will be produced in very limited numbers of only 122 per colourway. Their design was inspired by the Chinese philosophy of a round sky embracing a square Earth, and its release is restricted to mainland China only.
Fans of the movie that won’t be able to get their hands on the limited-editions pieces will have an alternative, however. Hamilton took the Jazzmaster Thinline and gave it the same Solar System-inspired dial relief that can be found on the resin-cased piece, though in a more conventional, everyday-friendly shape. I’m not one to spoil a movie plot, though the title and dial both hint at the main event – the Earth shooting off past its planetary friends towards interstellar space, doubling as the 12 o’clock marker.
A closer look at the dial reveals the round-Earth-in-square-sky motif again, serving as the small seconds sub-dial and a backdrop to the minimal Hamilton branding. I’m especially fond of the bright red hands, which remind me of cartoonish plasma jets that shoot out the back of some spacecraft capable of near-lightspeed travel.
The case is a mixed-finish affair, sized at 40mm in diameter and, as the Thinline part of its name suggests, a smidge over 7mm in thickness. Both watches are accompanied by the most literal execution of an H-link bracelet that I’ve ever seen, offering a stark difference in finish. The H-links are finely brushed, and I can only assume they stand for Hamilton, while the three intermittent links feature a high polish and rounded corners.
The caseback is a screw-on one, offering 5 bar of water resistance as stated by its engraving, alongside the special edition and model number. Its majority is taken up by a laser-engraved copy of the dial, showing celestial bodies and the Earth shooting off its course. It also covers the ETA 980.163, a quartz movement with a height of only 2.2mm. Interestingly, it’s an oval/tonneau shape with an expected battery life of three years.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Thinline Quartz Special Edition “The Wandering Earth II” pricing and availability:
The Hamilton Wandering Earth Special Edition is available now for pre-orders. Australians can pre-order the white and black models from the Time+Tide Shop. Price: A$1,000
| Brand | Hamilton |
| Model | Jazzmaster Thinline Special Edition |
| Reference Number | H38421110 H38421130 |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 7.35mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 5 bar |
| Dial | White or black dial with Wandering Earth-themed embossing |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Strap | Stainless steel H-link bracelet |
| Movement | ETA 980.163, quartz |
| Power Reserve | 3 years |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$1,000 |