Rumors continue to swirl around the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny movie. One of which is Harrison Ford may be wearing a 1941 Hamilton Boulton watch. If true, Indy’s wristwatch with a gold-filled case would have been manufactured right here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In fact, Hamilton watches have a long and illustrious 111-year history in Lancaster. The company was established when the Keystone Standard Watch Company was forced into bankruptcy in 1892 and sold at a sheriff’s sale to a group of Lancaster businessmen whose objective was to “build only watches of the highest quality.” During this same year, a merger was effected with the Aurora Watch Company of Illinois. A decision was made to name the new company after James Hamilton, owner of a large tract of land which was granted to him by William Penn and included what is now the city of Lancaster. The new company would be known as The Hamilton Watch Company.
The factory was originally built in 1894 on a thirteen-acre campus and was expanded several times to accommodate the growing demand for Hamilton watches.
Hamilton’s early years were marked by innovation and quality. The company quickly gained a reputation for producing accurate and reliable watches that were stylish and affordable. In the early 1900s, Hamilton introduced the “railroad watch,” which became a favorite of railroad workers and other professions that required precise timekeeping.
In the 1920s, Hamilton introduced several new watches that would become iconic timepieces in their own right. These included the Hamilton Piping Rock, which was named after a famous golf course on Long Island, and the Hamilton Flintridge, which was designed for use in the great outdoors.
During World War II, Hamilton played a vital role in the war effort by supplying watches to the U.S. military, many of which were used by pilots. Hamilton’s military watches were known for their accuracy and durability, and they became highly prized by collectors after the war. The company produced over one million watches for the military during the war, and many of these watches are now highly prized by collectors.
In 1957, the company introduced the world’s first electrical watch powered by a battery. The Ventura was a unique and stylish watch that quickly gained popularity among consumers. The watch became famous after Elvis Presley wore it in the 1961 movie “Blue Hawaii.”
In the 1960s, Hamilton was acquired by the Swiss watchmaker Buren, and the company’s headquarters were moved to Switzerland. However, Hamilton continued to maintain a presence in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the factory in Lancaster remained a major manufacturing facility until 1969, shifting manufacturing operations to the Buren factory in Switzerland.
In 1970, Hamilton introduced the Pulsar, the world’s first LED digital watch. This legendary timepiece featuring a futuristic design revolutionized the watch industry signaling the beginning of the digital watch era. Many famous people, including President Gerald Ford and actress Farrah Fawcett, wore Hamilton’s Pulsar watches. The Pulsar’s unique style and functionality quickly made it a cultural icon and a symbol of the modern era. Today, the Pulsar is considered a classic timepiece and remains highly prized by collectors worldwide.
As the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 film has a strong connection to time and possibly even time travel, it seems only fitting that the man in the hat would add a wristwatch to his wardrobe for the first time.
However, this is not the first time Ford was been spotted wearing a Hamilton watch on the silver screen. In the 1994 film “Clear and Present Danger,” Ford wore a Hamilton Khaki Field watch. The Khaki Field is a rugged and durable watch inspired by military watches from the 1940s, a good fit for his Jack Ryan character. The watch has become a favorite of adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates its classic design and functionality.
Off-screen, Ford has also been spotted wearing Hamilton watches. He is known to be a fan of the Khaki Aviation collection, which includes watches inspired by vintage aviation timepieces. One particular model he has been seen wearing is the Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day Date Auto, which features a stainless steel case and bracelet, black dial, and day-date complication.
Wearing a Hamilton watch isn’t Ford’s only connection to Lancaster County. In the 1985 film “Witness,” Harrison Ford played the role of John Book, a police detective forced to go into hiding with an Amish family in Lancaster County, PA to protect a young boy who witnessed a murder.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases on June 30, 2023.
Thanks to throwmethewhip for the Indiana Jones / Hamilton Watch connection tip. Give him a follow on Instagram for the latest Indiana Jones news.
Update
It looks like the rumors are true! Here’s a post from Hamilton Watch made on June 1, 2023.
Adventure Awaits!
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Keep up the great work.
Seeing Elvis wearing a 2010ish Ventura is hilarious!