WATCHES & STYLE

These Watches Pay Homage to Hollywood Blockbuster Dune Part Two

by Charmian Leong
20 Mar 2024

Hamilton takes the beauty of Arrakis down to Earth with two special edition watches that pay homage to Dune: Part Two.

In Frank Herbert’s Dune universe, the desert-dwelling Fremen are renowned for their ingenuity in developing state-of-the-art technology essential for survival in their harsh environment.

In the second Denis Villeneuve-directed Dune movie, some of these Fremen can be seen wearing a futuristic wrist device designed by the watchmaker of filmmakers, Hamilton. The irony is that despite being called a “desert watch”, the device doesn’t tell time (in fact, no one knows what it tells), making it the first non-watch movie prop that Hamilton has ever made.

Fortunately, Dune fans can look forward to two limited editions that actually give you the time while still capturing the spirit of the lore. Given that prop was loosely based on Hamilton’s futuristic Ventura line, the new pair are understandably of Ventura make. 


(Related: The Hamilton Ventura is out of this world)

Ventura XXL Bright Dune Limited Edition

The Ventura XXL Bright Dune Limited Edition measures a substantial 52mm wide, 46.6mm long, and 11.8mm thick with a smooth, black PVD-coated case and a rubber strap. It’s a standard three-hand configuration with black-treated brass hands and white indices, but the real fun is in the bright blue markings on the dial, reminiscent of the ones on the desert watch. The color was chosen to match the eyes of the Fremen, and these markings (but not the hands) light up when a pusher on the left of the case is pressed.

Ventura Edge Dune

The Ventura Edge Dune is another beast at 51mm by 47.2mm, and a thickness of 13.8mm. This model, too, has a black PVD-coated case and rubber strap, but the dial uses a digital display with two screens for the hours and minutes respectively. In this watch, the pusher for the light show resides in the crown. The rest of the dial design is done in relief, much like the desert watch.

The Ventura XXL Bright Dune is limited to 3,000 pieces, while the Ventura Edge Dune has a run of 2,000 pieces. Both are equipped with quartz movements and come in a special box designed in collaboration with the film’s prop-makers. Dune fans will appreciate that the box comes inscribed with the famous “Litany Against Fear” mantra.

SCREEN TIME

Three more watches that have stolen the spotlight.



Hamilton Khaki Field Murph Auto
Hamilton’s watches have appeared in over 500 movies and TV shows, so it’s hard to pick just one. But we chose the “Murph” watch from Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar because of the watch’s significance to the plot, and the fact that its vintage pilot styling makes it a supremely handsome accessory. First available in 42mm (like in the movie), followed by a 38mm version in 2022.



Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar
Dr Stephen Strange’s broken watch was such a vital and poignant symbol of his character development in Marvel’s Dr Strange movies that Benedict Cumberbatch continued to wear the watch while in full superhero garb. Even off-screen, the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar should be on the list for any dapper do-gooder.



Breitling AVI Ref. 765 Re-edition
The 2022 action-comedy flick Bullet Train wasn’t just two hours of wonderfully choreographed violent nonsense, but also a stealthy showcase of some very popular watches. Eagle-eyed watch fans would have spotted Aaron Taylor-Johnson sporting a Rolex Oyster Perpetual “Bubbleback”, and a Cartier Tank Solo on Joey King, but it was Brad Pitt and his platinum Breitling that commanded the most star power.

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