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

The Caliber 11 is one of the very first automatic chronograph movements ever produced. During the 1960s, many major watch brands were competing to reach this milestone first, and rivalries were high between Seiko, Zenith, and the Buren group, which was composed of Breitling, Heuer, and Hamilton. The Buren Group’s race to the automatic chronograph is said to have been secretly named ‘Project 99’, and once completed, the involved brands powered many of their various chronograph models with this highly innovative and groundbreaking movement. Cue the beloved and truly fantastic Hamilton Chrono-Matic.

In addition to being one of Hamilton’s most famous and best-looking chronograph models of all time, the Chrono-Matic ref. 11002-3 also holds the distinction of being one of the world’s very first automatic chronograph watches, as it debuted in 1969 - the very same year that the first self-winding chronograph movements were making their inaugural appearances. Featuring a two-register layout, a date display at 6 o’clock, and an integrated micro-rotor design, the Cal. 11 represented a major step forward for the world of chronographs and the Hamilton Chrono-Matic ref. 11002-3 is easily one of the most important models from the brand’s archives.