Hands-On With The Futuristic Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune And Ventura XXL Bright Dune Limited Editions
For the release of the second movie of the Dune trilogy, Hamilton teamed up with Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures. At the special request of filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, the brand created a special “Desert Watch” featured in the movie. So, to celebrate the release of the Dune: Part Two and the brand’s part in it, Hamilton is now releasing the futuristic Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune and Ventura XXL Bright Dune. These two limited editions are inspired by the watch from the movie. They make for a remarkable duo that proves once more that Hamilton does big things as part of the movie industry.
My first introduction to Dune dates back to the late 1990s when I became a big fan of a hardcore band called Shai Hulud. It’s not a very obvious name for a band, so I had to find out what it was all about. That’s when I discovered that the Shai Hulud are large sandworms that live on the fictional planet Arrakis, the home of the Fremen people and where the Dune books take place. It’s a weird way of getting familiar with Frank Herbert’s science-fiction novels. But by choosing that band name, I suspect many people unfamiliar with Dune were introduced to the remarkable series. I have to admit, though, that I never finished it. I started passionately but quit for some reason while reading the fourth part and never came back to it. It’s one of those things that I would have done differently now.
Hamilton and the Dune trilogy
But luckily, we now have the movies. While the Dune trilogy on the silver screen can never be as detailed and impressive as the books, I was genuinely excited about the release of the first Dune movie. Over the decades, the series of books had always been deemed impossible to transfer to the silver screen but not necessarily because it is unfilmable. Many of the books’ iconic passages make for great cinematic moments. Rather, it was due to the sheer volume, the different narrators, and how much individual character development would need to be crammed into one movie. Still, the first movie set the stage for the story perfectly. Hopefully, the second and third parts will further deepen the story in a way that does the Dune novels justice.
The Desert Watch
For Dune: Part Two, Dennis Villeneuve requested to have a watch specially made. This led to Hamilton working with the movie’s prop master Doug Harlocker. The goal was to create a watch that defies the shapes and functions of a traditional one. It was to become an instrument that did not have a specific set of functions.
The Desert Watch behind the scenes of filming Dune: Part Two — Image: Legendary Entertainment
But inspired by Frank Herbert’s books and Dennis Villeneuve’s artistic vision for the movies, the Hamilton design team developed the “Desert Watch.” The result is a distinctly Fremen device fitting Harlocker’s creative ideas and getting Villeneuve’s blessing to be used in the movie.
The Hamilton Ventura XXL Bright Dune
The Desert Watch inspired Hamilton to create two limited editions based on the watch from the movie. Because the movie watch is not a working timepiece with traditional functions, the Hamilton designers needed to find a way of integrating the style of the Desert Watch into a more traditional canvas. And what better canvas than the brand’s Ventura? This Hamilton classic lends itself perfectly to two futuristic watches inspired by the Desert Watch prop.
The first is the Ventura XXL Bright Dune, featuring a curved, oversized version of the characteristic Ventura case. It features a black PVD coating and measures 52mm wide, 46.6mm long, and 11.8mm thick. Technically, it also has a 23.5mm lug spacing, but the proprietary strap’s diagonally cut ends render standard aftermarket straps a no-go anyway. Nevertheless, this black rubber strap contributes to a rather low-key appearance, allowing the dial to take center stage.
The unique dial of the Ventura XXL Bright Dune
At its core, it is a traditional black dial with regular white markers and brass hour, minute, and second hands that have received special black treatment. But the special blue pattern on the dial stands out immediately. The blue color takes inspiration from the eyes of the Fremen, the people who play a pivotal part in the Dune stories.
But a little party trick makes this piece fun to wear. On the left side of the case, you will find a button that illuminates the blue lines that replicate the dial design of the Desert Watch.
The effect in the dark is fun and makes this Ventura a futuristic timepiece straight out of a sci-fi movie at night. A Hamilton quartz movement also powers the watch. The Ventura XXL Bright Dune will be produced in a limited run of 3,000 pieces and will be available for €1,845. It will come in commemorative packaging inspired by the film that fans of the movies and books will recognize.
The Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune
The second watch is the Ventura Edge Dune. The watch also has a matte black PVD-coated case. It measures 51mm wide, 47.2mm long, and 13.8mm thick. This one has a 23mm lug spacing, though, again, the strap has a proprietary fitting. The case is matched with a black rubber strap with a black pin buckle.
The stealthy piece has a digital display with two big screens that display the time in blue, mimicking the relief elements of the Desert Watch from the movie. The upper screen displays the hours, and the bottom screen displays the minutes. The large crown on the right side of the case also has a hint of blue for an extra splash of color. A push of the button in the crown illuminates the time display in outlines and a third central display. Talk about a futuristic party trick!
Overall, the design of this Ventura Edge Dune fits the futuristic nature of science-fiction movies a bit better. This has a lot to do with the 3D elements on the dial and the more angular, faceted design of the case. Still, both watches have a distinct presence that links directly to Dune: Part Two and the Desert Watch prop in the movie. This second model is powered by a quartz movement, just like the first. Hamilton will produce 2,000 pieces of this limited edition, which will be available for €2,592 each. Like the Ventura XXL Bright Dune, this watch comes in special packaging that Dune fans will love.
Wearing the Ventura XXL Bright Dune and Ventura Edge Dune
As you would expect, wearing these pieces is more about the experience than everyday versatility. Both watches are big despite their black, stealthy presence. Nevertheless, I must say that I am always pleasantly surprised by how well the case of the Ventura wraps around the wrist. Let’s start with the bigger Ventura XXL Bright Dune. Once on the wrist, it looks like an oversized Ventura. The overall presence is less futuristic despite the large luminous lines on the dial. The classic layout consisting of hands and indices makes this model somewhat conventional.
But once you push the button on the left side of the case, you are immediately aware that this is not a conventional watch. That’s when the “Dune mode” gets activated, transporting you to Arrakis. It’s a fun feature that I couldn’t resist using. Overall, it made it fun to wear this watch. It’s like being a kid all over again. Sometimes the joy is in the little things.
Wearing the Ventura Edge Dune
The Ventura Edge Dune is slightly smaller overall than the XXL Bright Dune. Though the former’s case is slightly thicker, the watch wears similarly to the other model, mostly due to its triangular shape than anything else. However, the overall presence of the Ventura Edge Dune is more in line with what I would call a sci-fi watch. That’s why this watch is the better embodiment of the Dune world for me.
The watch sits nicely on the wrist thanks to the way the case curves. Additionally, the rubber strap it comes on is super comfortable. And then there is the super cool display in the dark that makes it feel like a watch from another world. That’s why it would be my pick of the two. However, I can also see that true fans would buy both as they make for a nice set duo of Dune watches.
Final thoughts on the Hamilton Ventura Dune limited editions
How serious are these Hamilton Ventura Dune limited editions? Well, it depends on how serious you are about Dune. If you are a fan of the novels and the movies, these might be right up your alley as great collectible watches. In that context, I understand why Hamilton made these two new limited-edition Ventura models. This also shows that the brand is very active in the movie industry. It generates a potential new audience for the brand with every release.
With a movie like Dune: Part Two, that potential is huge. That’s why I do not doubt that Hamilton will sell all 5,000 pieces in no time. Plenty of dedicated fans would gladly pay for a watch like these two. They are the perfect reminder that I should finish the books. Realistically, though, I’ll probably watch the movies first, especially with Dune: Part Two coming out soon. The film debuts on the 29th of February here in the Netherlands. Other countries have different release dates, so check for that and spot the cool Desert Watch that inspired these two limited editions on the silver screen.
For more information, visit the official Hamilton website. Let us know your thoughts on these two timepieces in the comments section. Are you a fan of Dune, and can you relate to these two limited editions? I would love to find out.
