Hamilton partners with director Denis Villeneuve to brings wristwatches to the screen in the epic sequel of Dune: Part Two.
A favourite pastime for us watch nerds is the detective work that comes with identifying wristwatches on the big screen (I promise we do get out much.) So while you’re all dutiful following the plot line, we’re following the props to see which horological stars made it to Hollywood. Should the time come that you are one day asked in a pub quiz: which watch brands are known as the watchmakers of filmmakers? Just remember the epic sequel, Dune: Part Two, and know that Hamilton is bestowed with the accolade.
Calling all Chalamaniacs, as part two of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic returns for the next chapter. And while they’ve upped the ante with the cast (a warm welcome to Florence Pugh and Austin Butler), it’s the watches that really steal the performance. Boasting a historic presence on screen in over 500 films since 1932, Hamilton takes on the fictional desert of Arrakis in a manner they’ve never done before.
Take for instance Hamilton’s totemic role in Christopher Nolan’s films, from Tenet to Oppenheimer, offering vintage models from the brand’s archives for characters to sport. But for Dune: Part Two, at the director’s request, and wit the support of the film’s prop master, Doug Harlocker, Hamilton created a brand new model from scratch.
“We need your expertise to design a tool for the wrist,” recounts Hamilton’s CEO, Vivian Stauffer, on the early conversations with the director. “When it comes to prop watches, it’s not something that directly gives a return on investment if you have to talk about money. But the beauty behind that is the creativity. It puts no limits on the watch in terms of construction; you don’t have a resistance limit, you don’t have power reserve. All of these constraints from the watch industry are gone and you can just let go.”
In the spirit of futuristic freedom, Hamilton conceived a hefty asymmetrical gadget-looking watch, that you’d struggle to believe was conceived on planet Earth in the year 2024. Behold, the magic of watchmakers.
But in a bid to make collaborations mean something more than two names co-existing side by side without intent, Hamilton has truly leaned into the minds of the Fremen (those that live in Arrakis) creating two otherworldly wristwatches to add to your collection.
Naturally, if we’re talking futurism, it had to be Hamilton’s Ventura – the aesthetically off-balanced triangle watch made famous by Elvis – with the Hamilton Ventura XXL Bright Dune Limited Edition and Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune Limited Edition. In both models, you’ll discover the cinematic harmony of electric blue from the characters irises, to light-up display dials when activated with a button.
While the Ventura XXL comes in a 52x 46.6mm stainless steel case with black PVD coating, the latter spans a slightly smaller 51x 47.2mm for daintier Dune fans. It’s a perfect cosplay between the audacious wrist tool worn by the Arrakis, to bring uniqueness to a modern-day dial. Above that, it’s yet another sign of the watch industry recalibrating its intentions, and for the better. “Where we put ourselves is really to connect passionate people with a story,” continues Stauffer. “That’s very important. A collaboration like this allows a watch to reach a very, very large audience – both within the watch world, but outside too.” The mission to get every Chalamaniac in a watch begins.
Shop the new Hamilton x Dune collection here.
