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Lights, camera, Hamilton: New ODC X-03 watch continues luxury brand's long association with cinema
From 2001: A Space Odyssey to Interstellar, Hamilton pioneered the placement of timepieces in films
For more than 60 years, Hamilton watches have starred in some of Hollywood's best-known films, from Independence Day to Die Hard 4.0, Pearl Harbour to Men in Black (I, II and III). If a filmmaker is looking for a timepiece that reflects the personality of the person who wears it, Hamilton is usually in the frame. The company pioneered the concept of watches being featured in films and likes to become involved in projects where the brand has a relevant role to play. Hamilton believes that when used effectively, watches can be key components in the definition of a character's personality.
Hamilton's new ODC X-03 was inspired by the Endurance spaceship from the film Interstellar, one of the biggest sci-fi blockbusters of recent years. Designed by Nathan Crowley, Interstellar's three-time Oscar-nominated production designer, the watch's dial is a 3D-printed image of Jupiter, on top of which three sub-dials tell the time in three different places. Visually, the effect is of three moons in orbit around the solar system's biggest planet, an impression reinforced by the main time dial being positioned slightly off-centre, leaving a moon-shaped opening along its side. The watch's case-back is also engraved with key facts about Jupiter, such as its size and temperature.Visually, the effect is of three moons in orbit around the solar system's biggest planet. That impression is reinforced by the fact that the main time dial is positioned slightly off-centre, leaving a moon-shaped opening along its side. The watch's case-back is engraved with key facts about Jupiter, such as size and temperature.
The ODC X-03 is the third in a trilogy of models with its roots in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. Kubrick asked Hamilton to create the futuristic watches and clocks that appear in the film and the company duly obliged - although the timepieces used were too difficult to produce commercially back in the 1960s. It wasn't until 2006 that Hamilton finally made the ODC X-01, a near-exact replica of the watch from 2001, with a second version, the ODC X-02, released in 2009.
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But don't expect to see any of the Interstellar characters wearing the ODC X-03.
For the film itself, Hamilton created a modified version of its Khaki Automatic timepiece for Murph (Jessica Chastain). Leading man Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) wears a Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day Date.
Time plays a critical role in the Interstellar story so it's no surprise the film's makers turned to watchmakers with Hamilton's Hollywood pedigree. "In Interstellar," says the company, "the Hamilton watches used are not just accessories; they reveal character and add meaning to the story."
