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Hamilton American Classic Intra-Matic Chronograph H 40mm Mens Watch Blue
Ref. H38429541
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.A bi-compax dial layout sits behind a box-shaped sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating, the matte blue surface divided between a printed tachymeter scale at the rim and white sub-dials carrying small seconds and elapsed time. Applied indices are treated with Super-LumiNova; the chronograph hands are bright orange. The 40mm polished steel case runs 14.35mm thick with a 49mm lug-to-lug span, and a screw-in case back secures 100 metres of water resistance. Inside, the hand-wound H-51 calibre — built on a Nivachron balance spring for magnetic resistance — offers a 60-hour power reserve at 28,800vph. A perforated brown calfskin rally strap on a 20mm lug width carries the watch comfortably; a stainless steel mesh bracelet is included alongside.
- Reference
- H38429541
- Brand
- Hamilton
- Collection
- American Classic
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 14.35mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Manual
- Calibre
- ETA 7753
- Functions
- Chronograph, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 60 hours
- Supplied as
- Gift set
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.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,782), Chronograph Watches (1,064), Leather Strap Watches (910) and Blue Dial Watches (758).
Temporarily out of stock
Mappin & Webb is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 19 September 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
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
- 14.35mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
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.
| Specification | H38429541 | 86011M01 | 724.gb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,980 | £1,910 | £1,780 |
| Case size | 40mm | 38mm | 38.5mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Fabric strap |
| Power reserve | 60 hours | 63 hours | 43 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
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 explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is hand-wound, so it needs winding every day or two but never a battery.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow 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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
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