Jewellery & Watch News
Hamilton commemorate their heritage and an emblematic pocket watch, the Model 23, with a new trio of Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watches. Available in 38mm and 43mm, these utilitarian, vintage-inspired watches are yet another dynamic addition to Hamilton’s pilots watch collection.
Starting their rich history of military watchmaking in 1918, Hamilton have proven they are no strangers to the world of aviation. The original Hamilton aeronautical watch accompanied the first US Airmail service between Washington, D.C. and New York City. A couple of years later, Admiral Richard E. Byrd became the first aviator to reach the North Pole, circling it for 13 minutes before returning to base, timing his 15 hour and 57 minute adventure with a Hamilton watch. Today, their liaison with aviation can be admired almost entirely in their Khaki watch collections where we have seen faithful re-editions of historic models through the likes of the Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical and the Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Chrono. The new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watches are no different, tributing a pocket watch produced during World War II.
Known as Model 23, the pocket watch brought back to life in the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watches remains one of the most important designs in the Swiss watch manufacturer’s history. More than 27,000 units were supplied to the U.S forces during World War II, becoming of particular use to the U.S Army Air Force navigators. The pocket watch was largely characterised by its slim numerals, cathedral hands and an authentic railway track outer scale which together allowed for incredible legibility in the cockpit. While Model 23 was a chronograph, the new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watches are not, but instead they retain the very same utilitarian feel as well as the bidirectional rotating bezel, hands, numerals and onion-shaped crown.
Now onto the watches themselves. Starting with the smallest reference out of the three, the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watch under reference H76205530 is a more understated and multi-purpose take on the original pocket watch with a 38mm stainless steel case equipped with a statement crown at 3 o’clock, purposely designed for use even while wearing thick gloves. The crown is non-screwed but still appreciates a 100 metre water resistant rating. Topping the case is one of our favourite features, a scratch resistant mineral glass insert bezel with unidirectional functionality and a 60 minute countdown scale.
At the centre, the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer 38mm watch opts for a black matte grained dial with the very same hand and numeral styling as the Model 23 pocket watch. The hour and minute hands are cathedral shaped and treated to old-radium coloured Superluminova to match the colouring of the railroad track. The classic functions for hours, minutes and seconds are housed beneath anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and powered by the well-known H-10 automatic winding movement with an 80 hour power reserve, Nivachron anti-magnetic hairspring and 3Hz frequency.
For the remaining two Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watches, we’re treated to a 43mm diameter case available in either stainless steel (H76719530) or bronze (H76709530). For us, the bronze iteration is a no-brainer as it’s patina-developing properties fits perfectly with the rest of its retro aesthetic. The majority of the larger designs match that of the 38mm model with the same brushed finish, 100m water resistant rating, bi-directional bezel and onion-shaped crown. The main difference lies in the dial and movement with an additional small seconds indicator placed at the 6 o’clock position and the bronze case paired with rose gold-coloured hands in contrast to the nickelled hardware of the steel models.
Powering the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer 43mm watches is a manual winding movement, the ETA 6498-1 calibre, which is simply decorated as you can witness through the exhibition case back and promising of a 2.5Hz frequency and 50 hour power reserve. Both designs are also completed on a brown vintage-style leather strap, just like their smaller sized brother, and paired with a pin buckle in their corresponding case material.
If you’re interested in learning more about the new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pioneer watches and would like to order one for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at [email protected].
