Few watch brands are tied to pop culture like Hamilton. The American-born, Swiss-made icon has been featured in countless movies since it first popped up in the 1932 Marlene Dietrich vehicle Shanghai Express. Perhaps its most popular cinematic cameo was in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii, in which the relatively-new Ventura model was worn by none other than Elvis Presley.
Debuting in ’57, the Ventura bucked watchmaking’s lineage in favor of something highly contemporary. The mid-century-style sideways triangle case and dial were instantly fashionable and cutting edge, but the timepiece also happened to be the first-ever battery-powered electric wristwatch. In 2024, Hamilton came out with a new spin on the Ventura with the Ventura Edge, in line with the release of Dune: Part Two (naturally), featuring a more angular case design and digital interface. Now the Edge has evolved once more with a new skeletonized, mechanical variant (sans movie tie-in).
An Evolution in Form
Where the original Ventura Edge leaned digital with its Dune tie-in, the new Skeleton model swaps sci-fi movie prop vibes for legitimate mechanical credibility. The result is something that looks way more expensive than its price tag suggests — think less Hamilton, more haute horology. The sculptural case abandons the classic stair-step contours entirely, opting for sharper angles and aggressive facets.
But the real story here is the dial — or lack thereof. Hamilton calls it “inspired by shattered forms,” which makes sense once you see the fragmented, architectural layout. The two-layer construction pairs a skeletonized brass top plate with a gradient mineral crystal below that transitions from opaque black to translucent smoke. It’s a cool trick that only “incrementally” reveals the movement underneath, maintaining some intrigue rather than showing all its cards at once.
The Mechanics Beneath
Powering the Ventura Edge Skeleton is Hamilton’s H-10-S automatic movement, essentially a skeletonized version of the ETA Powermatic 80. With an 80-hour power reserve and a Nivachron balance spring for improved resistance to magnetism and shocks, it’s a solid workhorse. The skeletonized hands are filled with Super-LumiNova X1, which traces their outline with a laser-like green glow in low light.
There’s also a hammered metal framework under the dial that adds texture and depth, giving the whole thing an almost brutalist aesthetic. At 51mm across with a 47.1mm lug-to-lug, the case might wear large but shouldn’t feel overwhelming given how thin it is at 13.8mm. You get your choice of brushed stainless steel or black PVD coating, both riding on a black rubber strap with a pin buckle.
Spec Sheet
Model: Hamilton Ventura Edge Skeleton
Case Material: Stainless steel or black PVD-coated stainless steel
Case Size: 51mm
Lug-to-Lug: 47.1 mm
Case Thickness: 13.8mm
Movement: H-10-S automatic skeletonized
Dial: Two-layer construction; skeletonized brass top plate, gradient mineral crystal lower plate
Crystal: Sapphire with double anti-reflective coating
Lume: Super-LumiNova X1 on hands
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap: Black rubber with pin buckle
Pricing & Availability
The Hamilton Ventura Edge Skeleton is available now in brushed stainless steel for $1,925 or with black PVD coating for $2,025.
Recap
Hamilton Ventura Edge Skeleton
Hamilton evolves its Ventura Edge from last year by swapping in an automatic movement and gradient skeletonized dial that only partially reveals what’s happening underneath.
