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Hamilton’s Most Head-Turning Affordable Watch Has Never Looked More Striking

The Jazzmaster Skeleton demonstrates why green is the most underrated dial color.

Close-up of a mechanical watch face with a green outer ring and silver hour markers. The watch has visible internal gears and components through cut-out sections in the dial. The hour and minute hands are silver, and there is a thin silver second hand. The watch casing is metallic with a polished finish.Hamilton
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By Brad Lanphear

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Hamilton is going green!

Not in the environmental respect, although designing watches to last a lifetime is helpful for the planet, but the much-loved, approachable Swiss watchmaker is adding more of the color green to its lineup.

Hamilton automatic wristwatch with a green skeleton dial showcasing the inner mechanical movement, silver hour markers and hands, housed in a polished stainless steel case, paired with a dark brown leather strap featuring visible stitching.
The Jazzmaster Skeleton with a stunning Empire Green dial.
Hamilton

Within the past month, the perfectly sized Khaki Pilot Pioneer and uniquely equipped X-Wind Day Date have joined Hamilton’s emerald ensemble. Green dials are nothing new for the brand, but most past examples have been in military olive or muted earthy tones.

Hamilton’s new crop of green dials embraces more refined shades, and the best example yet graces the Jazzmaster Skeleton. The already eye-catching daily dress watch is enhanced by a radiant, deep green with a faint, vertically brushed texture.

Silver Hamilton automatic wristwatch with a green skeleton dial, showcasing visible internal gears and mechanisms. The watch features silver hour markers and hands, a stainless steel bracelet, and a crown on the right side. The dial includes the text "Hamilton automatic" and "Swiss Made" at the bottom.
The Jazzmaster Skeleton is available with a steel five-link bracelet.
Hamilton

The Jazzmaster Skeleton, with its unique dial plate cutouts, was introduced in 2013. As with previous references, this one is available on a leather pin-buckle strap and a five-link steel bracelet with a butterfly clasp.

Hamilton offers the Jazzmaster Skeleton in both 40mm and 36mm case sizes, but to the dismay of smaller-case fans like myself, Empire Green is not available in 36mm.

The skeleton in the machine

Skeletonized dials comprise a significant portion of the Jazzmaster collection, with at least four distinct openworked designs currently in use.

Back view of a Hamilton wristwatch showing the mechanical movement through a transparent case back. The stainless steel case is polished, and the watch has a beige leather strap. Engraved text on the case back includes "HAMILTON," "SWISS MADE," "WATER RESISTANT 5 bar/72.5 psi," and "TWENTY-FIVE 25 JEWELS SWISS." The watch's crown is visible on the left side.
Of course, the rotor side of the movement is also visible through an exhibition caseback.
Hamilton

The dial plate on the Jazzmaster Skeleton may appear to have a random assortment of geometric holes, but the shapes and arrangement correspond to the caliber H-10-S automatic movement beneath.

Part of the Swatch Group Powermatic 80 movement family, it is equipped with an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring and an 80-hour power reserve (check out the size of that mainspring barrel).

Rather than creating as much open space as possible or simply being decorative, this skeletonized dial mirrors the placement and shapes of the mechanical parts below it. Key components like the mainspring, balance wheel and center wheel are individually framed.

Hamilton automatic wristwatch with a green skeleton dial, silver hour markers, and silver hands. The watch has a polished stainless steel case and a brown leather strap with visible stitching. The inner mechanical components are visible through the cutouts in the dial.
The cutouts in the Jazzmaster Skeleton dial frame individual parts of the automatic movement beneath.
Hamilton

Many skeletonized dials actually obscure the functions of a watch movement by breaking up the view into disconnected glimpses of machinery. Hamilton’s design assists curious horology fans by pointing out exactly where to look.

The dial is always greener

Hamilton refers to the new Jazzmaster Skeleton dial color as Empire Green, but to my eye, it looks like British Racing Green. That particular hue has been popular in the automotive community for decades, and it looks just as good on a watch.

Silver stainless steel wristwatch with a green skeleton dial showing internal mechanical components, featuring silver hour markers and hands, and a matching silver link bracelet. The crown has a star emblem. The brand name "Hamilton" and the word "automatic" are visible on the dial.
The Jazzmaster has curved lugs that hug the wrist.
Hamilton

Rolex has famously made good use of the rich, slightly-glossy green for decades on watches like the “Hulk” Submariner and the Datejust. It offers a refreshing alternative to black, blue and gray while offering similar versatility.

There is a scientific reason why dark emerald green is the most underrated watch dial color. Green is in the center of the light spectrum, which makes it just as complementary as the black and navy blue at one end and the white and silver at the other end.

Hamilton automatic wristwatch with a green skeleton dial showcasing the inner mechanical movement. The watch features silver hour markers and hands, a polished stainless steel case, and a dark brown leather strap with visible stitching. The dial includes the Hamilton logo and the words "automatic" and "Swiss made.
The Jazzmaster Skeleton’s applied indices, hour hand and minute hand have Super-LumiNova inlays.
Hamilton

The Jazzmaster Skeleton has looked fine in the past with white, navy blue, purple and pink dials, but the new Empire Green elevates it to a more covetable dress watch.

Priced under $1,500, it is an excellent bargain for an elevated daily dress watch — packing an automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, no less — that’s guaranteed to start conversations.

Availability and price

The Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton in Empire Green is available now from Hamilton and authorized dealers for $1,375 on a brown leather pin-buckle strap and $1,425 on a steel five-link bracelet with a butterfly clasp.

Hamilton automatic wristwatch with a green skeleton dial showcasing the inner mechanical movement. The watch has silver hour markers and hands, a stainless steel case, and a dark brown leather strap with visible stitching. The brand name "Hamilton" and the word "automatic" are printed on the right side of the dial.Hamilton

Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton Auto

Specs

Case Size 40mm
Movement Hamilton caliber H-10-S automatic
Water Resistance 50m
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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