Hamilton RailRoad Automatic Chronograph 46 mm

The new Hamilton RailRoad Automatic Chronograph watch is the biggest member of the new RailRoad collection that the Swiss-American brand is launching this year.

Call me inattentive but, to say the least, I failed to notice any common stylistic cues between the new watch and any member of the original Hamilton Railroad pocket watches. Well, the bezel is still round, thank you very much.

The new watch, which is coming in a matte black stainless steel PVD case, is generously sized at 46 mm. The choice of the case size seems to be done for the sake of visual appearance, since, with a diameter of only 36.60 mm, the ETA Valgranges A07.211 that’s ticking inside of it, is a pretty compact mechanism.

Well, the last year’s Edox Grand Ocean Automatic Chronograph I that is equipped with a re-decorated version of the same movement is even larger with its impressive 48 millimeters of diameter and 17 mm in height.

The watch’s black dial with dark-gray printing on it leaves good impression although you will have to put a serious strain on your eyes to see the interplay of circles and scales on its face.

Talking about the eyestrain, it was a very good idea to equip the watch’s sapphire crystal with a magnifying lens. It really does make reading the current date a great deal easier, especially at the end of the office day when your eyes take longer refocusing from to closer objects.

Photos: Hamilton

Hamilton RailRoad Automatic Chronograph 46 mm watch specification

Price range: N/A
Movement: ETA Valgranges A07.211, automatic, 28,800 vph, 36.66 mm in diameter, 7.90 mm in height
Complications: Chronograph, date
Power reserve: 46 hours
Case material: Stainless steel, black PVD
Bezel material: Stainless steel, black PVD
Case shape: Round
Transparent case back: N/A
Case size: 46 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel, black
Strap: Black leather with white stitching
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 meters

Posted on February 23rd, 2010 by Evgueni Matoussevitch in Swiss Watches

Tags: 46 mm, Automatic, Basel 2010, Chronograph, date, ETA Valgranges A07.211, Hamilton, PVD, RailRoad