Nilomis introduces the Hamilton Fontainebleau Chronomatic Caliber 11, a rare vintage piece that marks a significant chapter in the history of automatic chronographs. This post delves into the watch's unique design, its historical context within the Chronomatic project, and the challenges of vintage watch collecting. Nilomis shares personal insights into acquiring and appreciating such a distinctive timepiece.
Team,
I decided to dip into the “rusty” (a.k.a. “vintage”) watches pond, when I saw this watch on the “block”.
I don’t normally do vintage because of the amount of frustration that may result when a nice piece stays forever on my watchmaker waiting for a part or, worst, when the watch shows irreparable damage made by less skilled watchmakers.
Anyway, I did some research (Watchprosite don’t have a single post about this watch!) and I already secured some parts for this model (the plastic crystal is unique for this model), that watch seller is a dear friend and I decided to take the plunge.
Let me share a few words about Hamilton Watch Co. (mainly from Wikipedia combined with other sources).
The Hamilton Watch Company is a brand of the Swatch Group, a Swiss watch company based in Bienne, Switzerland. The Hamilton Watch Company was formerly a storied American watch design and manufacturing company, which incorporated in 1892 and produced its first watch in 1893.
After its formation, the Hamilton Watch Company went on to manufacture and market pocket watches and wristwatches, ending American manufacture in 1969. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the Hamilton Watch Company became a diversified conglomerate itself and was subsequently purchased by a larger holding group, the third company integrated into what ultimately evolved into the Swatch group.
Today simply called Hamilton, the brand is one of more than twenty watch brands belonging to the Swatch Group, the world's largest watch manufacturer and marketer.
Making a long story short, in 1966, Hamilton took over BĂĽren Watch Co. in Biel.
Büren was a proper manufacture, creating its own movements – and it’s a specialist of automatic watches.
For instance, Hanz Kocher from BĂĽren invented the automatic watch with micro-rotor in 1957, allowing for the first ultra-thin automatic watches. Some patent licenses were even accorded to prestigious brand like Universal and Piaget.
Now we have the important point: At the moment of the take-over, BĂĽren was working with Dubois Depraz on a special and secret project: the automatic chronograph Chronomatic!
That’s how Hamilton can also claim to be part of the first automatic chronograph ever made (Let’s forget the endless dispute with Zenith for now).
Because of all fuzz, we tend to forget that in March 1969, was Robert Kocher, vice-president of Hamilton International on the side to Willy Breitling and Jack Heuer during the launch of this famous movement.
Hamilton made three Chronomatic watches: two with a normal round case and another with an exotic case: the Fontainebleau.
The Fontainebleau Chrono-matic uses a “squared-cambered” case with a size that approaches today’s modern trend of big watches.
This size was a plus to me, because smaller watches are always “confiscated” by my wife.
The movement, the famous Caliber 11, is not something that attracts me because I see this movement more as a “kludge” than a proper designed one.
Let’s see some pictures of my newest member:
The case shape is what called my attention. Exotic / Funk. Pure 70's.
The case back is also exotic.
A side view, cool
Ano
A traditional B&W picture
Now the details.
The Caliber 11, it may be a watchmaker
Finally a weird point. Notice the hands of this advertise material. It seems that no Fontainebleau Chronomatic was released with those hands.
As a wrap up, the watch seems to be keeping good time but I go to send it to my watchmaker for a full maintenance, since I consider this watch a keeper.
Thanks for seeing.
Cheers,
Nilo
Note: Searching Watchprosite didn't bring a single hit on the Fontainebleau. This means that, finally, I own a unique Purist watch?
Note1: It seems that I, without malice, violated some claims from a magazine (monochrome-watches). I already removed the pictures. I deep respect any intellectual property.
