How many people do you think check the time by looking at a wristwatch these days?

Personally, I check the time on my phone. And if I wear a smartwatch like an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, I get messages and even track my exercise and heart rate.

Yet, despite this era, the popularity of automatic watches remains steady in the United States. Of course, they are not mass-market items.

They are not as commonly seen on the streets as an Apple Watch, and if you only think about the purpose of checking the time accurately, there's really no reason to buy one.

However, there are people who consistently buy them because they enjoy the fact that these watches wind themselves automatically (automatic) through the movement of the wrist.

For such people, Hamilton is a particularly interesting brand.

Hamilton started in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.

Initially, it gained recognition for producing accurate watches used by American railroads and later also made watches for the military.

During World War II, they halted production of consumer watches and produced over a million watches and marine chronometers for the military.

Today, Hamilton produces watches in Switzerland and is part of the Swatch Group.

In short, it can be described as a brand that was born in America and became a Swiss watch.

One of Hamilton's popular models is the Khaki Field Murph Automatic.

At first glance, it appears to be a typical field watch with a black dial, black leather strap, and Arabic numerals.

It doesn't give off the impression of being an expensive watch like a Rolex, even from a distance. However, this watch has an interesting story.

It is the very watch that appeared in the movie Interstellar.

Hamilton created a special watch for Christopher Nolan's Interstellar in 2014.

It appears as an important object connecting father Cooper and daughter Murph in the film, leading fans to start calling it 'Murph.'

After the movie was released, requests to sell the watch came in, and eventually, Hamilton launched it as a product in 2019.

Currently, the representative black dial Murph comes in 42mm and a slightly smaller 38mm size.

Especially, the 38mm model is quite sleek. It features a stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, and is powered by the H-10 automatic movement.

Once fully wound, it has a power reserve of about 80 hours, so you can take it off on Friday evening and still wear it on Monday morning without it stopping. It is also water-resistant up to 100m.

The current official price in the U.S. for the 38mm leather strap model is $995.

Someone who isn't interested in watches might think:

"Why would I spend close to a thousand dollars on a watch just to tell time?" That's a valid point.

Thus, automatic watches are no longer essential items but are more like personal preferences.

I believe this is also why the Hamilton Murph is popular. Its design is not overly flashy, and it pairs well with both jeans and shirts.

There's also the brand's history of over 130 years, the Swiss automatic movement, and the story tied to Interstellar.

That said, there's no need to go up to luxury watches that cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

Therefore, it seems that Hamilton often catches the eye of those looking to buy their first proper automatic watch.

For reference, the current official prices for Hamilton in the U.S. are $995 for the Murph 38mm leather strap model and $1,095 for the 42mm model, which is closer to the original.