IMAGINED BY FILMMAKERS, PRODUCED BY ENGINEERS
HAMILTON & TENET:
Q: HOW DID THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HAMILTON AND TENET BEGIN AND WHAT DID IT INCLUDE?
A: Hamilton watches have appeared in over 500 movies and TV shows since 1932, and are often chosen by prop masters, production designers and costume designers in Hollywood. Hamilton is a trusted partner for filmmakers as we consider requests carefully, especially requests for a custom timepiece.
In 2014, we created an original watch for the movie Interstellar at the request of the film’s director Christopher Nolan, and production designer Nathan Crowley. A few years later, the award-winning duo would team up for their latest project: TENET. Once again, Hamilton was trusted not only to provide watches but also to design and ultimately produce a unique prop watch relied upon by the film’s main characters.
Up to the challenge, Hamilton collaborated with TENET’s design team to create a brand new timepiece just for the movie. We worked together to finalize the concept and after months of research and development manufactured the prop in our labs. Finally, we sent hundreds of prop watches to movie sets around the world where our watchmakers offered support with the prop’s special functions.
Existing Hamilton watches were also requested for the movie and our Jazzmaster Seaview Chrono quartz (H37512131) was provided for the actors to wear.
Q: HOW WAS THE PROP WATCH DESIGNED AND WHAT SPECIAL FUNCTIONS DOES IT INCLUDE?
A: The custom-made prop watch that appears in TENET is based on the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO. Its all-black stealth style and 46mm case size made it an ideal choice for the characters of an espionage thriller, and with a few enhancements, it would become a critical tool.
Throughout an 18-month period, conversations became concept drawings that turned into prototypes and sample watches created in our lab in Switzerland. After months of research and development, we produced the final prop watch – an original timepiece that combined the BeLOWZERO’s existing analog dial with a digital display featuring a countdown function in either red or blue numerals. The colours were an extremely important part of the design as each connects to a particular function utilized by the movie’s main characters. Watch the movie to find out more about the special functions!
Q: IS THE PROP WATCH AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE?
A: The custom-made prop watch is not available for purchase, as its special functions are only useful in the world of TENET. However, to celebrate our collaboration we created a special edition of our Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO, which served as the base for the movie watch. TENET’s production designer Nathan Crowley designed the special packaging. Each edition is limited to 888 pieces.
THE TENET SPECIAL EDITION KHAKI NAVY BeLOWZERO:
: WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDITION KHAKI NAVY BeLOWZERO AND HOW MANY WILL BE AVAILABLE?
A: Cased in lightweight titanium, the special edition Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO features a blue or red-tipped second hand as a reference to key colours in TENET. Special packaging imagined by production designer Nathan Crowley will match the second-hand colour you choose and contains clues to the film’s narrative. Palindromes, words that read the same backwards and forwards, are a repeating theme in TENET and is a reason we chose to produce 888 pieces of each colour version.
The special edition BeLOWZERO will be available for purchase July 1 on www.hamiltonwatch.com and with select authorized retailers. The price is $2,095 USD.
Q: HAS THE KHAKI NAVY BeLOWZERO BEEN IN ANY OTHER MOVIES?
A: Yes, the bold design of the BeLOWZERO is a favourite in Hollywood. The watch appeared in the 2010 sci-fi action movie Predators and in 2011’s Green Lantern. In 2015, it travelled to Mars on the wrist of astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, in the award-winning film, The Martian, and in 2016, timed Bob Stone played by Dwayne Johnson in the action-comedy Central Intelligence.
INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN CROWLEY, PRODUCTION DESIGNER OF TENET.
Q: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PRODUCTION DESIGNER AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT YOUR JOB?
A: The Production Designer establishes the overall look and visual concept of a film, working closely with the Director to create environments and settings that convey time, place and character in support of the script. My favourite part of the job is early in pre-production exploring the many design paths the film could follow.
Q: IS THERE ONE FILM OR PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN THE MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU?
A: Probably “The Prestige”.The art of Production design has many similarities with the world of the magician. The illusions of cinema rely on many old techniques.
Q: HOW DID THE HAMILTON AND TENET COLLABORATION BEGIN?
A: Our collaboration started on Interstellar with the “Murph and Cooper watches” and has continued through several projects. Hamilton will always go the extra mile to help design a watch that works for our complex film storylines.
Q: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY FROM TENET’S PRODUCTION?
A: TENET is my 8th film collaboration with Christopher Nolan. The projects are always practical and challenging especially for design. On TENET we filmed in seven countries which were exciting, to say the least.
Q: HOW IMPORTANT IS HAMILTON’S CUSTOM PROP WATCH IN TENET?
A: It’s important – Check out the film when it is released!
Q: HOW INVOLVED WERE YOU IN THE DESIGN OF HAMILTON’S CUSTOM PROP WATCH?
A: I am always the point person for the watch design, it is an important element in the film and both myself and Nolan want to make sure it serves the story.
Q: HOW WAS THIS COLLABORATION DIFFERENT FROM INTERSTELLAR?
A: Very similar – the Hamilton team is wonderful to work with and they have a great sense of humour and attitude.
