During the 1950’s, the science fiction world was experiencing a boom in its content and popularity. Starship Troopers, Asimov’s 3 Laws (summed up in the collection I, Robot), and the Space Opera style, which would eventually give birth to Star Wars, were all important creations during this time. So when Hamilton wanted to create a design for their new all electric watch, there was really only one style they could turn to. They enlisted the help of American industrial designer Richard Arbib, known for his designs of the Packard from 1951-1954 and the Astra-Gnome “Time and Space Car”. The futuristic style of some of his previous designs made Arbib the perfect candidate for the project. 

The shield design with the circuit diagram symbol for a resistor and its movement using electric power, helped the Ventura stand out amongst the growing crowd of watches being released. A world’s first tag definitely did not hurt the Ventura’s growing popularity. Eventually, the watch would come to be considered an icon of the horological world, and an important stepping stone towards modern day watches. But, before it became an icon, it was on the wrist of American “royalty”.