1969 Hamilton Chrono-Matic (Ref. 11002-3) Cal. 11

The calibre 11 movement is argued to be the first, if not one of the first automatic chronograph movements ever produced. In the 1960s many major watch brands were competing to create the first automatic chronograph movement. Rivalries and tensions were high between the Buren group (composed of Breitling, Hamilton, and Heuer), Seiko, Zenith. The Buren Group race to the automatic chronograph is said to have been secretly named Project 99. Once the Chronomatic movement was created, Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton housed many of their chronographs with this groundbreaking movement

Hamilton used the jointly-developed cal. 11 movement in a model known as the Chrono-Matic, which today stands out as one of the most famous and best-looking chronograph watches from the brand’s archives. The original Hamilton Chrono-Matic ref. 11002-3 from 1969, featured its winding crown on the left-hand side of its case, while its pair of chronograph pushers remained in their normal position on the right-hand side. This unusual design detail is characteristic of many watches from the various brands who used the cal. 11 movement, and it was intended to showcase the fact that these new automatic chronograph watches did not require manual winding each day.