Fergus Nash
Everyone loves black and gold as a colour combination, whether it’s the halls of a glamorous art deco building, a fashionable outfit, or a tastefully detailed watch. The mix of that precious yellow lustre with the ultimate darkness evokes a feeling of sultry class and luxury. Although there are plenty of watches with black and gilt dials, Hamilton have taken the concept one step further with the Black and Gold Capsule collection extending the bi-colour theme to the cases and straps on some of their most popular models. The absence of any colours other than black and gold makes for a captivating display of contrast, and also enhances the versatility of these watches as the black case makes for a more modern and sporty look.All of the different watch styles cover many bases, so you'll be sure to find an option that appeals to you. The Hamilton Jazzmaster Automatic 36mm offers a taste of dressiness at a moderate size, while the Jazzmaster Auto Chrono 42mm goes all-out on sharp details and adrenaline. The Pan Europ model takes things in a super-70s direction, with that bright gold chapter ring drawing plenty of attention. Lastly, the Ventura Chrono Quartz and the Ventura S offer two different flavours of space-age design, with the black and gold colour scheme drenched in lavish sci-fi goodness. The sophistication still comes through thanks to a clever use of finishing, with some of the watch dials varying between matte, brushed and sunburst textures.Each of the individual watches are paired with a style-appropriate strap, proving that black is by no means limited when it comes to variation. Black alligator-style leather supports the upmarket obscurity of the two Ventura models, while the Jazzmaster Auto Chrono is paired with a characterful matte black bund strap. The regular Jazzmaster Auto has a NATO strap made of a similar matte leather, but the Pan Europ crowd are really spoiled when it comes to straps. The default strap is black leather with a pronounced centre ridge and large holes in a 1970s racing style, and the underside is painted gold for an extra hit of colour whenever you catch a glimpse of it. Additionally, it comes with a gold-striped black NATO fabric strap with gold hardware.Covering some individual specifications, the Pan Europ and the Jazzmaster Auto use the H-30 and H-10 movements respectively, both supplying 80 hours of power reserve and a beat rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour, and both cases are waterproof to 50m. The Jazzmaster Auto Chrono uses the H-21 chronograph movement, with less power reserve at 60 hours but a higher beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The case is also safe for swimming at 100m, although you may want to swap out the leather strap. Both of the Ventura watches use quartz movements and have 50m of water resistance.The Hamilton Black and Gold Capsule collection pricing and availability:The Hamilton Black and Gold Capsule collection watches are now available from Hamilton’s website and authorised dealers.?Price: $1,845 USD (Jazzmaster Auto Chrono) / $895 USD (Jazzmaster Auto) / $1,045 USD (Ventura Chrono Quartz) / $895 USD (Ventura Quartz) / $1,295 USD (Pan Europ)BrandHamiltonModelJazzmaster Auto Chrono / Jazzmaster Auto / Ventura Chrono Quartz / Ventura Quartz / Pan EuropCase Dimensions42mm x 15.23mm / 36mm x 10mm / 32.3mm x 10.87mm / 24mm x 7.82mm /42mm x 11.55mmCase MaterialStainless steel with black PVD coatingWater Resistance100m / 50mCrystal(s)SapphireDialBlack and goldLug Width22mm / 18mm / 17mm / 13mm / 22mmStrapBlack leather / textileMovementH-21 / H-30 / H-10 / QuartzPower Reserve60 hours / 80 hours / Battery lifeAvailabilityAvailable from Hamilton’s website and authorised dealersPrice$1,845 USD (Jazzmaster Auto Chrono) / $895 USD (Jazzmaster Auto) / $1,045 USD (Ventura Chrono Quartz) / $895 USD (Ventura Quartz) / $1,295 USD (Pan Europ)
07.11.22