Hamilton

For the first century of its life, Hamilton was one of the great names of American watchmaking. Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1892, its growth and expansion were tied tightly to that of American industrialization. In 1932, Hamilton began a quest to conquer Hollywood. The legendary Marlene Dietrich was the first to wear the brand in the film Shanghai Express. Hamilton’s watches also played an important role in war — the brand’s field watches were relied upon by troops during World War II and the Vietnam War. In 1970, the brand partnered with Electro/Data Inc. to develop some cutting-edge tech in the form of the Pulsar, the world’s first digital LED watch. Today, the brand is based out of Biel and continues to produce robust, reliable watches.