If you were going to Mars, which wristwatch would you take with you for the treacherous and difficult journey? That’s the kind of question that veteran director Ridley Scott asked himself and his fellow filmmakers while shooting the sci-fi blockbuster, The Martian.

“We literally, fundamentally design everything,” says Scott.

After rigorous research, they decided to go with Hamilton BelowZero watch. Because it is water resistant to 1000 metres and equipped with a helium escape valve, the watch is made for extreme settings. That’s why the filmmakers thought it was the perfect fit for astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, to take to Mars.

“It’s a process to gradually narrow it down, until we end up with exactly what Ridley wants to see on the screen. It had to be a tough watch,” explains Noel Coward, the film’s property master.

In The Martian, a manned mission to...