Hamilton American Dream – the US 66

4.3.2008 Basel – Hamilton is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the completion of Route 66 in real style with the launch of two special timepieces – the US 66 Power Reserve and the US 66 Small Second. Both of the watches are numbered limited editions, with just 2008 pieces of each hitting the road.

Born in the USA – made in Switzerland

The design incorporates the best of the American spirit, loyal to the brand’s roots, while high precision timekeeping pays tribute to its proud ‘Swiss made’ label. Both models have a distinctive shape, harmoniously mixing straight and curved lines. At 6 o’clock there is a ‘droplet’ in the sapphire glass running downwards from the crown like a perfectly symmetrical drop of oil to magnify the date display below. The power reserve indicator and the small second display are shaped like fuel gauges so both of these watches are raring to go in terms of style and functionality.

Easy riding with the US 66 Power Reserve

The US 66 Power Reserve model knows no limits with its 50 mm wide case and the power reserve holding 42 hours in its ‘tank’. The central part of the dial resembles the radiator drill of a sporty car, through which the ‘engine’, a top quality Swiss automatic movement in this case, is visible. One side of the speedometer-style dial has numbers ranging from 35 to 55, countdown style, the other has slender linear markings. A row of dots leads from 12 o’clock to 3 o’clock, reminiscent of the critical revolution range shown on powerful cars and bikes. Today’s Easy Riders can ensure the revs are kept up on Route 66 and elsewhere as the watch is attached firmly to the wrist by leather straps in either black or brown, or a high-tech metal bracelet.

US 66 Small Second

With its smooth black or white dial, the US 66 Small Second expresses elegance and graceful pioneering spirit. The half-moon second counter has two scales – one going from 0 to 30 seconds integrating a long silver-colored indicator, the other continuing from 30 to 60 and kept on track by a dynamic red arrow. The key digits, 3,6, and 9 are displayed with raised figures and the other markings are also in relief. As with the Power Reserve, the number of the piece appears on the side of the polished case. Eye-catching attachment signatures include a cream insert on the brown leather strap, rubberised leather with real carbon fibre, as well as a tri-link metal bracelet with an opening for the crown.

Editors’ Notes
Route 66 is as American as baseball and apple-pie! It was built to connect the main streets of rural and urban communities along its course because most small towns had no access to a major national thoroughfare. Its diagonal course linked hundreds of predominantly rural communities in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas to Chicago, enabling farmers to transport grain and produce for redistribution.
Today, 85% of the original route is still easily driveable in an ordinary car. Route 66 is approximately 2,400 miles long, although this figure cannot be verified since the road has had many different alignments over the years.

Fact Boxes

US 66 Power Reserve (Limited Edition – 2008 pieces)
Size 50 mm
Material Stainless steel
Dial Color Black / white
Attachments Black leather / brown leather croco style with smooth insert / stainless
steel
Movement Automatic 2897
Crystal Sapphire
Water resistance 50 m
Price $ 1‘495
EUR 995
CHF 1‘595

US 66 Small Second (Limited Edition – 2008 pieces)
Size 44 mm
Material Stainless steel
Dial Color Black / white
Attachments Black leather / brown leather with cream insert / stainless steel
Movement Automatic 2895
Crystal Sapphire
Water resistance 50 m
Price $ 995
EUR 695
CHF 1‘095