Kensington Watches
Hamilton American Classic Intra-matic 40mm Mens Watch

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Hamilton

Hamilton American Classic Intra-matic 40mm Mens Watch

Ref. H38416541

Among our 83 Hamilton watchesThis watch£2,135
Premium

Sits in Hamilton’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Hamilton watches we list, which start at £375.

Price range £375 to £2,265 across 83 Hamilton watches in stock.

The blue dial takes a reverse panda arrangement, with contrasting white subdials at 3 and 9 o'clock handling the 30-minute and 60-second chronograph counters respectively. The date sits at 6 o'clock, and a tachymeter scale runs around the outer edge. Super-LumiNova is applied to both the hands and the stick indices. The polished stainless steel case measures 40mm across and 14.45mm thick, with a 49mm lug-to-lug span and a solid screw-in caseback. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating sits above the dial. Power comes from the H-31 automatic, beating at 28,800vph with a 60-hour reserve. A brown calfskin strap with a steel pin buckle completes the watch.

Reference
H38416541
Brand
Hamilton
Collection
American Classic
Case size
40mm
Case thickness
14.45mm
Lug width
20mm
Case material
Stainless steel
Case shape
Round
Dial
Blue
Crystal
Sapphire
Movement
Automatic
Calibre
H-31
Functions
Chronograph, Date, Small seconds, Tachymeter
Water resistance
100m
Bracelet / strap
Leather strap
Strap colour
Brown
Clasp
Buckle
Lume
Super-LumiNova
Retailer
Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
Lug-to-lug
49mm
Power reserve
60 hours
Origin
Swiss made
Learn more about Hamilton

Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892, and its early business was the railroad. American rail accidents caused by unsynchronised timekeeping had forced the industry to adopt strict standards, and Hamilton built pocket watches accurate enough to meet them — earning the description the watch of railroad accuracy.

Two things then defined it. The first was war: Hamilton supplied over a million watches to American forces in the Second World War, suspending civilian production entirely, and its marine chronometers were fitted across the US Navy.

The second was electricity. The Ventura of 1957 was the first battery-powered electric wristwatch, and its asymmetric shield-shaped case, designed by Richard Arbib, looked like nothing before it. Elvis Presley wore one in Blue Hawaii.

Hamilton's cinematic presence is unusually deep — over five hundred films — and includes the watches designed for 2001: A Space Odyssey with Stanley Kubrick, and appearances in Interstellar and Tenet.

American manufacturing ended in 1969 as the quartz crisis approached. The brand was acquired by the Swiss and is now part of the Swatch Group, based in Biel, where it occupies a distinctive position: American design heritage, Swiss production, and ETA movements with long power reserves at accessible prices. The Khaki Field, descended from the wartime issue watches, is its best-known line.

1892
Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
1918
Supplies the first US airmail flights.
1957
The Ventura is the first electric wristwatch.
1968
Designs the watches for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
1974
Becomes Swiss-owned; now part of the Swatch Group.

All Hamilton watches

Also in 6 collections

This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,434), Stainless Steel Watches (2,782), Automatic Watches (1,540), Chronograph Watches (1,064), Leather Strap Watches (910) and Blue Dial Watches (758).

Manufacturer’s guarantee

What the specifications mean

A mechanical watch for everyday wear.

Strengths

  • 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
  • 40mm suits most wrists
  • Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
  • Luminous hands and markers for low light
  • One of Hamilton's more premium watches

Worth knowing

  • 14.45mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
  • Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Best forSwimmingEveryday wearTiming thingsFormal wear
Less suited toUnder a shirt cuff

Hamilton American Classic Intra-matic alternatives

Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.

American Classic Intra-matic 40mm Mens Watch compared with 2 alternatives from other brands
SpecificationThis watchAmerican Classic Intra-matic 40mm Mens WatchH38416541Raymond WeilFreelancer Date Classic Two-Tone Yellow Gold 40mm Cream Dial Mens Watch2741-STP-64001OrisDivers Sixty-Five 12H 40mm Mens Watch01 400 7772 4054-07 5 20 82
Price£2,135£2,095£2,240
Case size40mm40mm40mm
Water resistance100m100m100m
MovementAutomaticAutomaticAutomatic
StrapLeather strapStainless steel braceletLeather strap
Power reserve60 hours120 hours
This watchClosely matchedClosely matched

Your new watch

Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch

Can I swim with it?

Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.

Water resistance explained

Will the glass scratch?

Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.

Sapphire, mineral and acrylic compared

Does it need a battery?

No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.

Quartz, automatic and solar compared

How long does it run for when it's not worn?

About 60 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.

What size strap does it take?

20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.

Will it fit my wrist?

Lug-to-lug is 49mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.

Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.

How to size a watch to your wrist

Is it a men's or women's watch?

Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.

Cheapest place to buy

Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.

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