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Hamilton American ClassicIntra-Matic Auto Chrono 40mm Unisex Watch Black
Ref. H38446731
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 40mm black PVD-coated steel case houses a matte black bi-compax dial with yellow hour markers, a vivid yellow chronograph seconds hand, and Super-LumiNova on both hands and applied indices. The layout places small seconds and a 30-minute counter in two subdials, with a date window at six o'clock and a tachymeter scale around the perimeter. The slightly domed sapphire crystal carries double-sided anti-reflective coating. Inside sits Hamilton's H-31 automatic calibre — a 27-jewel movement beating at 28,800vph with a 60-hour power reserve and a Nivachron balance spring for magnetic resistance. A black perforated calfskin strap with yellow detailing beneath fastens via a black PVD pin buckle, and a screw-down crown supports 100 metres of water resistance.
- Reference
- H38446731
- Brand
- Hamilton
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 14.45mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Black PVD
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- H-31
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49mm
- Power reserve
- 60 hours
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 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 Sports Watches (700).
Best of 2 retailers
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
Hamilton American ClassicIntra-Matic Auto Chrono alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | H38446731 | 01 400 7772 4054-07 5 20 82 | L38104036 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,265 | £2,240 | £2,350 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 60 hours | 120 hours | 72 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely 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 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 automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
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.
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 wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £2,265, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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