Fans of the saga of Frank Herbert as well as the science fiction film brilliantly directed by Denis Villeneuve (without forgetting the many fans of Timothy Chalamet and Zendaya, of course!) had to wait, due to the Hollywood screenwriters' strike.
Finally, on February 28
, “Dune: Part Two”
arrives in theaters.
A sequel awaited like the Messiah!
What does this have to do with watches?
Usually none, in a science fiction film.
Except in
Interstellar
, of course, where it is the Hamilton given to young Murphy by her father which proves to be one of the keys to the story.
Hamilton?
The Swatch Group's watch brand of designer and military-inspired watches at (always) wise prices never practices product placement on the big screen.
On the other hand, she has had her own office in Hollywood for around fifteen years, and has not counted her appearances in the cinema since
Shanghai Express
... in 1932!
We will have seen his watches on the wrists of many stars, in more than 500 major films over the last decades, from Elvis Presley to the casting of
Oppenheimer
(vintage pieces, for the occasion), even Harrison Ford for the last
Indiana Jones.
Sketches of the watch concepts for the film Dune 2. Hamilton
The key to a good show on screen: corresponding to the role, the hero, his social status, his style, his age... Which requires being present very early on, from the writing of the script, with the screenwriters, prop masters and costume designers.
But when it comes to a science fiction film, usually no one wears a watch, period.
As if, in the future, the concept of time simply no longer existed.
So, tomorrow, no one will ever be late again... This is what makes the presence of a
tailor-made
“Desert Watch” in the next
“Dune: Part Two”
even more surprising .
And this at the express request of the director, Denis Villeneuve.
This time, the brand's teams had to work quickly and closely in close collaboration with the film's props manager, Doug Harlocker, in order to design a watch from another world that defied the norms of traditional watchmaking.
The final challenge: not even knowing the final function of the device worn more on the forearm than on the wrist by the Fremen fighters in the film.
A way, basically, to return to the invention of the watch worn on the arm and not in the pocket, the wristwatch (formerly written “brasselet”) by Abraham-Louis Breguet for Caroline Murat, then Queen of Naples. ..
A new Desert Watch and two Hamilton Venturas in limited edition for Dune 2. Le Figaro
It is therefore above all guided by Frank Herbert's book and Doug Harlocker's vision of the identity of the "families" present in Dune (Atreides, Harkonnen, Fremen...) that the designers imagined a massive and futuristic Desert Watch... .
And of course not giving the time!
With its robust style, its appearance of metal patinated by the sands of the desert, it sticks to the style of the combat outfits of the Fremen led by Paul Muad'Dib, nom de guerre of the young heir of the Atreides family, who became the Mahdi, the guide of the peoples of the Arrakis desert, in their fight against the ruthless Harkonnen exploiting their planet's key resource: Spice.
The Desert Watch imagined by Hamilton.
Hamilton
What will this “Desert Watch” be used for?
Readers of Frank Herbert's saga remember the vibratory shield blocking any rapid weapon, activated on the wrist by the soldiers of the Atreides clan.
Is this watchmaking-inspired module used for its activation in combat by the Fremen, who have become the army of young Duke Paul?
On the other hand, it is unlikely that Denis Villeneuve would have taken up the addition once made by David Lynch, in his attempt to adapt Frank Herbert's work on the big screen: strange modules controlled on the wrist and transforming the voice into a weapon.
Anyway, in a work whose main character is in fact the desert planet and its ecosystem, in such a deadly environment haunted by giant worms, there is no doubt that a Fremen does not carry on him, in addition to its distillation, an object that would be of no use in everyday life, whether for direction or survival.
Any unnecessary weight would mean wasting water!
Two limited edition Ventura watches, in blue tones like the eyes of the Fremen.
Hamilton
Alongside the Fremen “Desert Watch”, Hamilton also unveiled two limited edition Ventura watches.
Both feature a luminous blue dial reminiscent of the characteristic blue eyes of the Fremen, immersed in spice on a daily basis.
The Ventura XXL Bright Dune (1850 euros) includes a button that replicates the luminous blue lines of the “Desert Watch” dial.
The all-new Ventura Edge Dune (2,595 euros) features an angular case with a matte black PVD coating with blue digital display replicating the embossed elements seen on the film prop.
These limited edition watches come with a collector's box inspired by the film.
They are notably offered in Paris at Galeries Lafayette and at Emile Léon.