The leader of the horological pack when it comes to movie watches – as evidenced by the appearance of a Boulton in the recent Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – Hamilton has again taken a starring role in a film tipped for Oscar glory: Oppenheimer, released on 21 July.
Director of Taxi Driver Paul Schrader, has taken to social media to describe Christopher Nolan’s story of the development of the atomic bomb as “the best, most important film of this century”. He concludes: “If you see one film in cinemas this year it should be Oppenheimer. I’m not a Nolan groupie but this one blows the door off the hinges.”
Set during the Second World War, the film’s epic cast is led by Cillian Murphy who plays physicist and Manhattan Project leader J. Robert Oppenheimer. Other cast members include Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh.
A stickler for detail, Nolan, who has worked with Hamilton on previous movies including Interstellar (2014) and Tenet (2020), once again collaborated with the brand to fulfil his Oppenheimer vision. Three characters central to the plot – J. Robert Oppenheimer, his wife Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer and director of the Manhattan Project, Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, Jr. – are all equipped with vintage pieces from the 1930s and 1940s that were loaned by brand enthusiasts.
For his lead role, Cillian Murphy (J. Robert Oppenheimer), wore three models: the Deco-style Cushion B, Endicott and Lexington. Kitty Oppenheimer, played by Emily Blunt, is paired with a gold Lady Hamilton A-2, while Matt Damon’s Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, Jr. is paired with both a Piping Rock and utilitarian Military Ordnance watch.
Hamilton watches have appeared in more than 500 movies over the past 90 years. Every Hamilton timepiece on screen is the outcome of a careful collaboration with the directors involving creating a unique prop watch, pieces from the current collection or, as in this case, locating vintage watches that correspond to the time period of the movie.
OPPENHEIMER’S WATCH STARS
Worn by J. Robert Oppenheimer
Cushion B (1930s)
Case: 26.7 x 26.7mm, gold plated
Dial: white/cream
Strap: Brown lizard skin
Lexington (1940s)
Case: 29mm gold/silver plated
Dial: Black
Strap: Green calf leather
Endicott (1940s)
Case: 27.8mm gold plated
Dial: Champagne
Strap: Brown calf leather
Worn by Kitty Oppenheimer
Lady Hamilton A-2 (1947)
Case: 13.5mm x 15mm gold plated
Dial: White
Strap: Brown calf leather
Worn by Lieutenant General Leslie Groves
Piping Rock (1920s)
Case: 30mm x 30mm steel
Dial: Champagne
Strap: Black calf leather
Military Ordnance (1940s)
Case: 32mm steel
Dial: Black
Strap: Green nylon
