In 1966 Stanley Kubrick hired Hamilton Watch company to create the timepieces for his futuristic film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Two design department staffers, Ed Speakes and Ken Derr, designed and built a wristwatch and a desk clock that were so realistic and eye-catching that they were photographed and publicized in both Vogue and Esquire magazines. --Don Sauer, Time for America

Truth be told, these designers worked on several different ideas before they settled on the one that Kubrick eventually used in the film, and the one that Hamilton later produced and sold "Odysee" in 1969.

The watch that "Almost" made the film was based on the 1961 Hamilton Flight, a futuristic, forward look watch. According to our own Rene Rondeau: The Flight...is considered to be one of the most desirable of all Hamilton watches of the era, it is very rare.

Below you will see a number of photographs of 3 Flight/2001 concept watches. You will see how the concept was modified and finished, starting with a rough, hand drawn paper dial and rustic case, to a finished beauty with an interesting movement.

Enjoy!!

Left to Right: Early to late..

Left to Right: Early to Late

This is the First one.

While the bezel looks like the gold filled Flight II, the back looks rather rough.

The Dial is paper, and the design is hand drawn. You can see the ruler lines, and the empty date windows.

There is no movement

Here is the second version. Somewhat more finished and sophisticated.

Another view

Now that's fantastic! I'm a big fan of that movie and never thought about watches the actors may have worn for the shoots.

I'll have to watch it again and pay closer attention.

So... these were just concept watches, not the ones actually used in the film. Have any pictures of the ones actually used?

Very interesting by the way.

OOPS! Posted too soon! Many more pics to look at.

And another

The Back is much cleaner and sharper than the first attempt.

The dial appears to be the typical Hamilton metal (silver?) blank.

Back of the Dial

The case back could hold a movement

Isn't it magnificent?

The case is near mint.

Look at the Back

Here is the Dial

Stamped on the movement is the following:

Seventeen 17 Jewels

H

31

Swiss


Perhaps Rene Rondeau can help me here. 31??? What does that mean? The stem pulls out and the hands move. It appears that the watch has been overwound.

This is the watch Hamilton marketed to the public. The watch that was used in the movie is in a museum.