A Timepiece from 100 Years Ago: The Story Behind the Reissue. Hamilton’s CEO Reveals the Untold Story Behind the Development of the “Cushion Mecha.”

“Hamilton has a history stretching well over 100 years. Carefully unraveling this history was of the utmost importance to the brand. The ‘Khaki Field,’ the ‘Ventura,’ the ‘Jazzmaster’… While there are countless masterpieces, there was one element that was absolutely indispensable when considering American heritage. That was the cushion-shaped watch.”

Those are the words of Francesca Ginocchio, who visited Japan this past August to unveil her new collection. She was appointed CEO of “Hamilton International” in 2025.

Francesca Ginocchio, CEO of “Hamilton International”

Hamilton’s journey, which began with pocket watches, reached a turning point in 1919. The brand expanded its focus to include men’s wristwatches. The catalog for that year featured both round and cushion-shaped models. The cushion-shaped model refers to a square case with rounded edges on all four sides, much like a cushion. It is one of the models that defines the category of shaped watches (non-round).

The “Cushion” model from is a heritage design that has been in continuous production for a quarter of a century. In 1926, the “Cushion Plain” and “Cushion Engraved”—which bore this name as part of their model designations—were introduced. Now, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary, the “Cushion Mecha”—featured here—has been revived.

"If we wanted to bring the cushion-shaped design to life, there was a hurdle we had to overcome: developing a hand-wound movement that was thin enough to fit into a small case. We were committed to using a hand-wound movement because it is central to Hamilton’s identity."

The sizes derived from the Origin were 30 mm and 34 mm in diameter. The “H-42” movement—the result of a concerted effort—was based on the legendary “ETA 7001,” known by the name “Peseo.” The project took over a year to complete.

"If it were just a matter of fitting it into that size, it would be nothing more than a rehash. Taking it to the next level with modern technology—that was our top priority. It wasn't easy in any respect, but updating the power reserve was particularly challenging."

The 57-hour power reserve—a 130% increase over previous models—was made possible by the newly adopted Erinflex mainspring. Another key feature is the use of a Nivachron hairspring, which offers excellent anti-magnetic properties.

The design recreates the original shape and engravings, while the hands and hour markers have been updated with a modern sensibility.

"We chose Roman numerals because they embody a modernity befitting the 'Hamilton' brand."

The Art Deco-inspired design evokes the spirit of the 1920s, a time when America was brimming with hope.

It was the people who love who gave us the push we needed to launch this reissue project.

“It all started with a movie. That’s right—*Oppenheimer*. Christopher Nolan is a director known for his meticulous attention to authentic props. It was he who placed the ‘Cushion B’ on the wrist of Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy. It’s a timepiece that belongs to the Cushion lineage. Audience members who went to see the movie exclaimed, ‘I had no idea a watch like this existed!’ The small seconds hand—one of the distinctive features of the ‘Cushion Mecha’—is actually a design element inherited from the ‘Cushion B.’”

〈Hamilton〉 has been a part of this country’s development—from the railroad era to the military, and on to Hollywood, and so on. Its close relationship with Hollywood continues to this day.

"2026 was a fantastic year. Driven by the collaboration model for *Resident Evil: Requiem* (the latest installment in Capcom’s popular game series) and the *Khaki Field Mecha 36mm Japan Edition*, sales are up 138% year-over-year. And this fall, we have our flagship release—Nolan’s latest film, *Odyssey*—coming up.”