Just as the skies above Toronto started clearing from nearby wildfires, Hamilton opened a booth in partnership with the ICFF (more on this later) at the city’s charming Distillery District to celebrate their newest on-screen star. The star in question is the Boulton which graces the wrist of the legendary Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. I have not seen the most recent addition to the series, but like most other carbon-based lifeforms on this planet, I comfortably call myself a fan of the movies. Dial of Destiny promises to be an entertaining movie for me, simply because of the addition of the supremely talented Phoebe Waller-Bridge, of which I could probably recite many lines from her amazing show Fleabag.
I had myself armed with this as I made my way through Toronto’s hilariously grotesque traffic and construction. When I finally arrived, I realized the trip was worth it, and I welcome you to find out why. We will, of course, go over the timepiece and how it wears, but also of the festival that Hamilton decided to showcase their campaign.
The Boulton’s Fine Details
Hamilton’s Boulton line of watches first caught my eye at their novelty release party earlier this year. Classically themed and in sizes that can accommodate almost every wrist size we humans can throw at them, it was no surprise that one would be on Dr. Jones’ wrist in his newest adventure. The Boulton was first introduced in 1941, and this specific Boulton’s Art Deco case meets the stunningly detailed Gothic typeface, which brings together a distinctly American ambiance. An adventuring archeologist from Indiana Jones’ era may have worn this. The quartz movement is not the detractor in real life that some may make it out to be. For the small seconds subdial does not attract any attention to itself as it ticks away. Any thoughts of deleting the seconds register for a cleaner dial and hiding clues of the quartz movement is obliterated once one looks at the details. The seconds register is made of two beautifully separate tracks. The outer measures every five seconds, while the inner measures every second. The inner-most section has a machined circular pattern contrasting the rest of the smooth silvery-white dial. Foregoing a sapphire crystal in favor of a mineral crystal aids in the vintage aesthetic, as the light can mellow before touching the dial and golden indices. This softens the Boulton’s presence and makes it a more calming wearing experience.
How the Boulton Wears
Measuring 21mm by 31.6mm, this timepiece wears very much like a 36mm sports watch that has dress watch intentions. This makes the Boulton wear perfectly on my nearly 7-inch wrist and on the wrist measuring under 6 inches pictured here. The one detail that makes the Boulton a joy to wear on all wrists is the lug and case design. First, the case’s curve hugged both wrists perfectly. Second, the organically shaped lugs with the spaces between the case and the brown leather strap perceptually elevate the watch on one’s wrist. Unlike integrated bracelet watches or watches with tight gaps between the strap and the case, this small design feature treats your wrist as the stage for the watch to shine. Think of it as a powerful and endearing one-person play on stage. Sorry, that will be the only Fleabag reference in this article. This is something that I had noticed with my NOMOS and most of the watches from that brand. There is a sense of occasion with these watches, and these design decisions often go underappreciated. The thickness of the watch also helps make this pleasurable on all wrists. At 7.8mm, this watch can easily go unnoticed under a cuff.
Hamilton Boulton Specs | |
Case Width 27mm | Lug-to-Lug 41.5mm |
Case Thickness 7.8mm | Lug Width 18mm |
Water Resistance 30m | Strap Leather Strap |
Crystal Mineral Crystal | Lume No |
Movement Quartz | Price $745 |
How the Boulton Compares
As a writer, I touched upon one of the unfortunate things we stumble upon regarding watches. This is bumping into enthusiasts who make comparisons without handling the watches in person, and in doing so, they make statements putting down whichever model or brand they are not a fan of. In the Hamilton novelties article, we discussed how some enthusiasts would yell in a crowded room about the Hamilton Jazzmaster’s similarities to the Rolex Daytona and how this was false. In chat rooms, I read a similar comparison of the Boulton to Cartier’s Tanks and JLC’s Reversos. Both of which the Boulton looks nothing like, and Hamilton has a genuine 80-year history that it is drawing upon.
The Boulton is a watch that wears with a confidence of a timepiece whose identity is entirely its own. This confidence in its heritage can be seen in the strongly tapered lance hands and the aforementioned typeface. This watch wears like other watches from the era, and Hamilton does have smaller variants of the Boulton measuring in at 23.5mm by 27.4mm available for those who want to go all in for the vintage experience. Hamilton also offers the Boulton in a larger 34.5mm x 38mm size with a mechanical movement for those who want modern sizing.
Hovering around and below the $1000 mark, the Hamilton Boulton series of watches are a bargain compared to the rest of the marketplace. Try as I might, I have failed to find another offering that brings together this level of refinement, history, period-specific design, build quality, and service levels that a Swatch Group arm can get you. This is where one would have to stretch one’s comparisons to Cartier and Jaeger LeCoultre, but to do so and to do so aloud firmly rests in the domain of enthusiasts, and I shall leave that discussion for them alone.
Hamilton’s Booth at the Distillery District until July 21st
Hamilton has partnered with the Italian Cinema Film Festival (ICFF) and is celebrating all cultures and their arts in the fair city of Toronto. They will feature films from over 20 countries at the Distillery District, with an outdoor screening experience best described as immense and immersive. Watching a film in such a beautiful and historic setting is bound to be a unique experience. Besides the popular annual Christmas market, this is the best use of the space I have seen. Certain partnerships can feel forced, but not this one. The ICFF is a non-profit festival and a perfect partner for Hamilton, which has an unrivaled connection to cinema. Due to time constraints, I could not stay to watch a film, but I plan to revisit it in the next few days.
It would be easy to recommend those who live near Toronto to come to the Hamilton booth for some free items, but there are many more reasons to do so. If you pay them a visit, you will get a genuinely useful Hamilton-branded travel pouch for your watch and a keychain. However, if you buy a watch while there, you will get a very attractive Hamilton watch winder. Pictured here, the wood trim and grey accented winder will look at home in most living rooms. The darkened glass enclosure is also a nice touch, giving the unit a weight worthy of being prominently displayed in your home.
A few points about making your way to the Distillery District: the surrounding area, much like the rest of the city, is inundated with near-crippling construction. Before heading out, check your favorite maps application on your phone to plan your route effectively. I found that approaching from the north on Parliament Street is your best option. There is ample above and underground parking on Distillery Lane, but choose your timing wisely. If you can come during the weekdays, do so. The district is a popular destination for families and couples alike, and finding a seat at one of the many great restaurants will be a challenge during peak hours. I’d advise buying your tickets for the movies in advance, making an early dinner reservation, and maybe leaving the car at home and taking a taxi if you cannot go mid-day.
The booth is open daily from 3 PM until 9:30 PM and until July 21st, 2023.
Check out more Hamilton reviews at The Watch Clicker here
Check out the Hamilton website here and the Indiana Jones movie website here
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