For those who want a Swiss-made watch from one of the big, household name brands, some of the most compelling options within the industry can often come from the various companies that are part of Swatch Group. This is especially true for those that are positioned near the more attainable end of the price spectrum. Although Hamilton is hardly alone in this category, it frequently serves as a prime example of how you can often get a solid timepiece from a well-known and established brand for what can ultimately still be considered a relatively reasonable sum of money. The Jazzmaster is one of the cornerstone offerings in Hamilton’s modern catalog, and it’s often the go-to option for those who are looking for a classic and refined wristwatch with an inherently contemporary overall appearance. Joining the collection for 2023 is the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer lineup, which is a new family of models that adds a slightly sporty twist to the typically rather refined and elevated Jazzmaster series.
At the time of launch, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer lineup consists of a 42mm chronograph, along with time-only models in both 38mm and 34mm cases. With that in mind, each variation is offered in multiple different colorways and configurations, and while all of the models feature cases that are crafted from stainless steel, both the chronograph and 38mm time-only version are also offered with black bezels and a rose gold PVD finish. Additionally, regardless of their differences, all of the different Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer watches feature sapphire crystals above their dials, screw-down winding crowns at the 3 o’clock location, and 100 meters of water resistance.
The Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Automatic Chronograph 42mm is likely the model that will be the most interest to many collectors, and it offers what could almost be considered Daytona-adjacent vibes if it were not for the oblong shape of its pushers and its slightly more elevated approach to a traditional three-register chronograph dial. The 42mm case comes in at 15.22mm-thick with 22mm-wide lugs and the option of either a steel or black tachymeter bezel fitted to the top of the case, along with the option of either a black, blue, or white dial. Additionally, depending on the selected colorway, the lugs can either be fitted with a three-link stainless steel bracelet or a perforated leather strap that is fitted with a matching stainless steel folding clasp.
Meanwhile, the time-only Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Automatic watches have cases that measure 11.47mm thick with 20mm lugs for the 38mm-wide model, and 11.18mm-thick with 18mm lugs for the 34mm-wide version. While the 38mm Jazzmaster Performer Automatic is available with the same dial colors as the chronograph version, the smaller 34mm model swaps out the white option for light blue and mother-of-pearl dials. Additionally, rather than having fixed tachymeter bezels like the 42mm chronograph models, all of the various time-only Jazzmaster Performer watches are fitted with bezels that feature Arabic numeral minute markers engraved upon them for an inherently sporty overall appearance.
Similar to the chronograph models, the time-only versions of the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Automatic are available with either three-link stainless steel bracelets or perforated leather straps. The 38mm version is offered with the same options as the chronograph (a bracelet or perforated leather straps in black and blue), while the 34mm model swaps out the option of a black leather strap and instead offers a beige satin strap for the mother of pearl dial model. For the most part, the color of the strap is dictated by the dial of the watch, although it is the black dial versions that typically receive the bracelet (along with the light blue 34mm model), while the white dial versions of the chronograph and 38mm time-only watch are fitted with black leather straps to match their bezels.
Powering the new Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Automatic Chronograph 42mm is the brand’s H-31 automatic movement, while both the 38mm and 34mm version of the time-only model receive the H-10. The Hamilton H-31 is essentially the brand’s upgraded version of the ETA/Valjoux 7753, while the Hamilton H-10 is the equivalent that is based on the ubiquitous ETA 2824. Both movements feature Nivachron balance springs and increased power reserves, with the Hamilton H-31 running at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 60 hours, while the Hamilton H-10 runs at 21,600vph (3 Hz) with an 80-hour power reserve. At their core, these movements are both highly familiar designs, although since Swatch Group also owns ETA, Hamilton gets to benefit from upgraded versions of these popular and proven self-winding movements.
While the new Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer series is noticeably more sporty than a lot of the other options that exist within the greater Jazzmaster lineup, it is still quite a bit more refined and elevated compared to some of the highly utilitarian designs that can be found among the brand’s field watches and pilot’s models. Additionally, since Hamilton is positioned as one of the more affordable brands among the greater Swatch Group roster
Category: Hamilton Watches
Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Automatic 38mm
Founded in 1892, Hamilton has carved a space for itself in the upper echelons of watchmaking with its unique balance of authenticity and innovation. It’s also a brand that has carved its name in American history by synchronizing the first railroads and keeping time for aviation pioneers and US soldiers. Oh, and remember Matthew McConaughey’s Interstellar watch? That was Hamilton, too.
But no brand can survive purely off of its history. Hamilton remains at the forefront of luxury watches by maintaining momentum with pieces like the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer. Actually, the Hamilton Jazzmaster collection is a central pin of the label already, but one that’s topped off by its sportier offshoot, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer.
Designed with the sophisticated individual in mind, the new Jazzmaster Performer line comes in sizes ranging from 34mm to 42mm, making it a highlight for men and women. Each of the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer 42mm’s four distinctive looks expresses dynamism and action. This goes for the 38mm’s three versions and the 34mm’s four, too. It’s these values that lie at the core of everything Hamilton does, but particularly this design.
Perhaps most striking about the modern Jazzmaster Performer is the way that it balances cutting-edge technical performance and urban charisma. Housed in a sleek stainless steel or rose gold-colored PVD case with a fixed tachymeter bezel, the Performers stand out thanks to their sporty finish.
Beyond the cutting-edge visuals, there’s a world of detail powering the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer. The 42mm Jazzmaster Performer Automatic Chronograph is powered by the H-31 automatic chronograph movement with 60 hours power reserve and a balance spring made from non-magnetic compensating alloy Nivachron. As for the 38mm and 34mm versions, an H-10 automatic movement works in tandem with a Nivachron spring so that the Jazzmaster Performer blends timekeeping precision and highly functional design.
Overall, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer is the ideal daily driver. Its wear-everywhere style is balanced by a performance-driven mindset. It’s made for anybody who favors function and style in one package. It’s resilient enough for an adventurous weekend and a sophisticated suit-and-tie occasion alike.
hamilton jazzmaster lady quartz
Hamilton is a former American brand now owned by the Swiss watch conglomerate Swatch Group.
The brand offers appealing watches for all kinds of tastes, from field watches to chronograph watches. Furthermore, the prices are pretty affordable for a Swiss manufacturer.
In this Hamilton watches review, we shed light on the timepieces and uncover if they’re worth your effort. Also, we’ll analyze the brand as a whole through its rich history, quality levels, and reputation.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of what Hamilton and its watches are. As already said, Hamilton hasn’t been in the hands of the Swiss the whole time when initially it was established in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The success was quick to follow at the turn of the century when Hamilton watches became known for their durability and accuracy.
As a result, the brand was contracted to provide railwaymen with precise pocket watches. Not long after, a Hamilton watch became synonymous with railroad scheduling and eventually received the title: The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.
During World War I, the influx of wristwatches took off when soldiers needed handy timekeeping options. Hamilton didn’t lag behind when it provided the Armed Forces with reliable watches. In fact, it was during the war in 1917 when the brand’s first wristwatch was introduced. When WWI brought Hamilton to the wristwatch era, then WWII determined its position as the powerhouse of US watchmaking. Over one million watches were produced, with the most recognized being the chronometers for marines.
The post-war era added another facet to this brand when several Hamilton watches featured in major Hollywood movies. The Frogmen in 1951 and Blue Hawaii in 1961 were the cornerstone movies that ensured Hamilton was high up in the pecking order whenever a wristwatch was required for the screen.
Up until today, Hamilton has featured in more than 500 Hollywood films, with the latest blockbusters being Interstellar, The Martian, and Tenet.
Although Hamilton made a name for itself with Hollywood features and even introduced the world’s first digital watch in 1970, the financial conditions weren’t so rosy. Eventually, Hamilton was acquired by SSIH in 1974, which was the predecessor of Swatch Group. Despite Hamilton was owned by the Swiss, it didn’t start equipping its watches with Swiss ETA calibers not until the 1980s. And it took another two decades when Hamilton moved everything, including the headquarters, to Switzerland. Due to the fact that the brand is a subsidiary of Swatch Group, Hamilton watches are made in Switzerland and, as a result, carry Swiss-made tags. In other words, the movements have been assembled and inspected in Switzerland, and at least 60% of manufacturing costs are domestic.
Since a Swiss watch must be produced at least 60% domestically, it leaves the rest of 40% free of regulations.
Simply put, you can expect up to 40% of watch parts to be of foreign origins, such as China and various South-East Asian countries that offer lower production costs.
These regulations are set by the Swiss government and apply to every manufacturer, including Rolex, Omega, and other luxury brands. Now that the background of Hamilton watches replica is clear, let’s delve into the most interesting timepieces this Swiss brand has to offer.
I have picked watches from different collections so that the overview would be as complete as possible.
As follows, you’ll find Replica Hamilton watches from all the seven collections it currently offers – Khaki Field, Khaki Aviation, Khaki Navy, Ventura, Jazzmaster, American Classic, and Broadway.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Wandering Earth 2 Limited Edition
Introduced in 2013, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Wandering Earth 2 Limited Edition brings Hamilton’s innovative watchmaking expertise and flair for unconventional design to the fore. Today, Hamilton introduces the third chapter in its fascinating Face-2-Face saga with a swivelling case and two dials with chronograph functions on one and measurement scales and an openworked movement on the other. In a departure from the large oval-shaped cases of the preceding models, the new Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III comes in a more compact 44mm round case at an even more accessible price. An out-of-the-ordinary watch, the double-faced Jazzmaster is a limited edition of 999 watches.
Hamilton, the American watch brand that became a Swiss subsidiary of Swatch Group in 2003, revolutionised the watch scene by producing the world’s first electrical battery-operated watch in 1957, the Ventura. That might have been enough to secure its place in the annals of watch history, but it also stood out with its odd shield-shaped design. Still going strong, the Ventura isn’t the only quirky, niche watch in Hamilton’s line-up. The Jazzmaster is another go-to collection for contemporary watches, often with a surprising twist. The Jazzmaster Regulator Cinema, for example, which celebrates Hamilton’s ties to cinema, features rotating film reels on the dial. But if you’re looking for something truly extraordinary, the two dials and pivoting case of the Face-2-Face is where the action is.
The Jazzmaster Face-2-Face series, with its surprising swivelling case to reveal two separate dials, appeared in 2013. Pivoting watches with two dials are rare in watchmaking. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s more complicated high-end Reverso models, like the Hybris Mechanica or the Chronograph Retrograde, or even Bovet’s Virtuoso with its patented Amadeo convertible cases are some examples that come to mind.
While we can’t really compare these sophisticated, very high-end models with Haute Horlogerie finishings that are so expensive you have to request their prices, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Wandering Earth 2 Limited Edition models are not afraid of complications and are competitively priced. The first-generation Face-2-Face with a chronograph on one dial and a dressier three-hand timekeeper on the other was powered by two separate movements, and retailed for CHF 5,900, while the 2016 Face-2-Face II Auto Chronograph with chronograph displays on one side and a pulsometer, tachymeter and telemeter on the other powered by a single movement retailed for CHF 3,895. Both are now discontinued, and here’s the third edition…
Unlike the two former oval editions, the new Hamilton Jazzmaster Wandering Earth 2 Limited Edition has a round 44mm rotating case with a thickness of 17.25mm and 50m water-resistance. Still large, it will undoubtedly be easier to wear than the 53mm oval models. The architecture is bold and contemporary, with short jutting lugs and teardrop-shaped chronograph pushers underscored with brushed and polished surfaces. It is a bold watch, with a lot of presence, but this is what made the series appealing. Powered by the same automatic base movement found in the 2016 iteration of the Face-2-Face II, the new round case shape means that the indications are now more centred. The hour markers are applied to the silver-coloured peripheral precision minute track that extends out over the dial at 3 o’clock to incorporate the day and date windows. The black date disc is exposed on the dial and advances underneath the three slightly overlapping and different-sized sub-dials: the blue sub-dial at 6 o’clock records 12-hour elapsed times; the larger anthracite and snailed sub-dial at 9 o’clock is for the running seconds; and the smallest sub-dial at noon indicates 30-minute elapsed times. All three hands on the sub-dials and the hour and minute hands are treated with Super-LumiNova, while the central chronograph seconds hand is blue, matching the 12-hour totaliser.
Flip the case over, and the second dial reveals a silver tachymeter and a blue pulsometer scale on the periphery indicated by a blued hand (the Face-2-Face II model also featured a telemeter scale that has not been included in this model). Most of the dial is occupied by the automatic H-41 calibre that powers the functions on both dials. What’s interesting to note is that the blued hand on the movement side is connected to the hand that indicates the chronograph seconds, so it runs in an anti-clockwise direction. The somewhat raw, industrial-looking finishings – machined circular graining on the bridges and brushed areas on the openworked rotor – offer a different mood to the dial. Based on a Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement with day and date and passing-through chronograph seconds hand, calibre H-41 delivers an extended power reserve of 60 hours.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face
Writing on his excellent Substack The Fourth Wheel, the watch journalist Chris Hall recently considered the names brands give to their products. Among those singled out for Chris’s approval were Breitling’s Galactic, Junghans’ Chronoscope and Rolex’s Migauss (“Love the new-age-of-technology vibe”). Alas, it was a thumbs down for Speake-Marin, the high-end independent brand that had recently announced its entry into the luxury stainless steel watch market with a model it called Ripples.
“It’s a very silly word,” Chris wrote. “It makes people think of ice cream, or chocolate bars, and it sounds quite a lot like dribbles, or triples, or nipples. People at watch-geek gatherings will ask ‘What’s that? And you’ll have to say ‘It’s a Ripples’. See how the grammar of it trips you up. A Ripples? A Ripple? The Ripples?”
Brace yourselves, then, for a new release from the mid-range watch brand Hamilton – the singularly-titled Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III.
What part of that name is the most troubling? The substitution of a number for a perfectly good word, as per a 1980s rap group? The use of a Roman numeral to flag this is the third itineration of a family, the sort of thing the grandson in an American business dynasty might find themselves saddled with at birth? The word ‘Jazzmaster’? Or perhaps the combination of all three?
The watch itself is as thought-provoking as its title. It features a double-sided dial concept – one that tells the time and has a chronograph function, the other featuring three measurement scales. The stainless steel case is housed in a hinged ‘cage’, and rotates on its horizontal axis so the watch flips over (hence ‘Face 2 Face’). It contains two movements, one for each side. Which side you choose to display is determined by the job you’d like the watch to perform.
The non-time-telling side features an inner track printed with a tachymeter (to measure speed, or any activity within a one-hour period) and a pulsometer (for measuring heart rate).
All the scales are printed counter-clockwise since the chronograph – which Hamilton calls a “passing through chronograph seconds hand” – rotates ‘backwards’ on this side of the case. The pushers are also flipped – so the lower pusher starts and stops the chronograph function, and the upper resets it.
The Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III comes with a backstory.
Between 1892 and 1969 Hamilton was an American company, before a series of mergers and acquisitions bought it under the control of the Swiss giant the Swatch Group – home to Omega, Breguet, Blancpain, Rado and others. Today Hamilton does brisk business with accessibly-priced models across all the categories you’d expect – dive watches, field watches, pilot watches.
But its story also has a couple of quirks.
One is a long history in producing watches for Hollywood, for which it has amassed more than 500 credits, more than any other brand – Elvis wore a Hamilton Ventura in 1961’s Blue Hawaii, while the plot of 2014’s Intersteller hinges on a Khaki Field Murph, partly designed by the film’s director Christopher Nolan, a more compact reedition of which was one of our favourite watches of last year.
Hamilton also has form when it comes to throwing out leftfield ideas.
The aforementioned Ventura was the world’s first battery powered watch and came in a “shield-shaped” (ie: triangular) case. It’s 1972 Pulsar put a red LED display into a solid gold case and sold the resulting ‘space age wrist computer’ for £1,700 – at the time more than a gold Rolex.
Into that left-field bucket we may add the Jazzmaster Face 2 Face.
Jazzmater is the brand’s line of “contemporary, modern watches”, a broad category of automatic dress watches, some of which come with conspicuous details like power reserve indicators or ‘open’ dials that show off sections of their movement, and mostly sit in the sub-£900 bracket.
Hamilton’s website currently offers 402 different Jazzmasters (though some have been discontinued), with multiple dial options – more than 1,000 individual models.
The brand released the first Jazzmaster Face 2 Face in 2013, and it was a peculiar thing from the off. With its elliptical case and eccentric dial, it most closely resembled Audemars Pigeut’s Millenary collection. The flip-over case certainly made it stand out, though it was by no means unique – for the steep and un-Hamilton-like price of £4,000+ you could have picked up one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s more classic and enduring Reversos instead.
A sequel followed in 2016 – the Jazzmaster Face 2 Face. The case had now expanded from 44mm to a whopping 53mm, leading one YouTube reviewer to describe it variously as “borderline comical”, “a round wrist-puck of a watch” and “a wall clock”.
And here’s a third model, now with added hyphens in its title – the Face-2-Face III. The case size is back to a more manageable 44mm, the shape a more reasonable elliptical design. Otherwise the model’s selling points are all present and correct – the flippable double-sided dial, the “passing through” chronograph seconds hand, the multi-layered trio of measuring scales. (The preceding Face 2 Face II also had a telemeter scale, used to measure distance to sound, which has not been included this time. No great loss since the one and only use anyone can ever come up with for a telemeter is to measure the distance to a lightning strike during a storm.)
What’s it all about? A wonderful experiment in head-turning watchmaking from a brand with form in that area? A wild provocation? A third go round-the-houses at something that first baffled people a decade ago?
If nothing else, it’s certainly a talking point.
Perhaps surprisingly, back on Substack, Chris Hall had some love for the Jazzmaster name. “In spite of the fact it isn’t even the most famous product with this name [that would be the Fender line of guitars]. In spite of the fact it has nothing to do with the watch’s design or function. In spite of the fact that jazz doesn’t make me think of precision timekeeping.”
Then again, The Beatles was a crap name for a band. So what do we know in high luxury store?
Hamilton VENTURA XXL BRIGHT
The year was 1957. Elvis was shaking up the airwaves waves, and the USSR was first out the gate in the Space Race, launching Sputnik 1 into low Earth orbit. Back on terra firma, Hamilton was making waves of its own, as the brand launched the first electric wristwatch, the Hamilton Ventura. With its bold and futuristic looks and powered by an electric circuit, the Ventura was truly revolutionary. With the new Hamilton Ventura XXL Bright , Hamilton revisits this now-classic model with an all-new fiery look. The original Hamilton Ventura was designed by Richard Arbib, an industrial designer best known for his automotive designs during the golden age of American automobiles. Responsible for iconic automotive designs like the AMC Hudson Hornet, Arbib was a futuristic designer with an eye for the avant-garde. It only made sense for Hamilton to tap Arbib to create a futuristic design for a futuristic watch. More than a decade before quartz wristwatches would upend the entire watch industry, Hamilton and others were working feverishly to bring a battery-powered watch to market — one that would retain a traditional balance wheel but be driven electromagnetically by a solenoid powered by a battery small enough to fit within a wristwatch. The Ventura wasn’t so much ahead of its time, as it was a product of its time. In an era of ebullient optimism, the Ventura captured the spirit of an age when innovation was pouring forth at an exponential rate — when today’s dreams were tomorrow’s reality. Though the Ventura’s movement (the 500, later replaced by the 505) was groundbreaking, it was the wild case and dial design that inspired Elvis Presley to purchase one for himself, famously wearing it on screen in 1961’s Blue Hawaii. The Ventura became something of a Hollywood staple, appearing throughout the 1960s in the Twilight Zone and, later, as an essential part of the minimalist wardrobe of the Men in Black. Hamilton offers the Ventura in a wide range of colors, sizes, movements, and complications, but each stays true to Arbib’s original design brief. With the new Hamilton Ventura XXL Bright , Hamilton took inspiration from the vibrant colors and energy of a city at night. The Ventura XXL Bright is housed in an oversized (47.6mm), PVD black-coated case with that instantly recognizable triangular shape and art deco lugs. While the dial appears as a monochrome black with grey accents, everything changes when you push the small button at 9 o’clock. With one small push, the custom quartz movement provides an electric pulse, allowing the dial to come alive, illuminating it in a vibrant red like neon city signs at night. That said, the hands and markers still receive ample Super-LumiNova, allowing you to quickly read the time through the sapphire crystal without illuminating the dial.
The Hamilton Ventura is inexorably linked to its most famous wearer: Elvis Presley. And not, I may add, fat Elvis. The King wore his watch at the height of his cultural influence, in uniform. And that’s key . . .
By the time Elvis’ Hamilton Ventura broke cover, Army service had mainstreamed the singer. The Memphis Flash was no longer dangerous, no longer a lightning rod for racial animus. He’d become a social influencer, to use today’s terminology.
The Hamilton Ventura’s connection to Elvis is one of those famous-owner stories that never gets old. Ever since the King made it “his watch” in 1961, the avant-garde timepiece has been immortalized. Through the decades, the Ventura has spawned countless sizes, colors, executions, and movements. The latest iteration takes inspiration from a neon city at night as the energy and vibrancy come alive. The Hamilton Ventura XXL Bright features a dial that illuminates with red detailing and comes in a super-large size for the big-wristed or big-spirited among us.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto Chrono
The Hamilton Jazzmaster Automatic Chronograph watch family has a new member. Available in two dial colors, these watches are handsome additions to one of Hamilton’s core styles. Initially, there appears to be quite a bit of variation among the watches grouped together under the Jazzmaster label, but look closely and you can see that all of these models are bound together by a shared lug characteristic. It isn’t immediately obvious because there are loads of case diameters and dimensions within the Jazzmaster family, with several thicker and thinner iterations of the lugs, but without fail, they all feature a distinctive “notching,” which takes the form of a shoulder where the lug “joins” the case.
Hamilton’s entire collection is broken up into seven families. The Khaki series (of which there are three) deals with tool watches, in either a military or hyper-utilitarian style. The other four families are classically styled watches imbued with American Spirit. Names like Broadway, American Classic, and Ventura — the other dress collections that sit alongside the Jazzmaster range — conjure images of early 20th century Americana. The Broadway and Ventura collections are far smaller than the other two, while the massive American Classic family doesn’t have anywhere near the identifiable consistency of the Jazzmaster range.
So what does this mean for the customer? Well, the Jazzmaster family is large, with many incrementally different models simply because it is a very digestible base design that could look at home on a number of wrists. What Hamilton has here is a Swiss-made watch that feeds off a bygone era of American cultural evolution, using classical forms with a twist of character in the lug setup.
While multiple case finishes are available throughout the Jazzmaster range, these new chronographs both come in uncoated stainless steel. A variety of external surface finishes add a luxury flourish, while the 42mm housing and 100 meters of water resistance give the watches a reassuringly robust character. Powered by an H-21 automatic chronograph movement, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Automatic Chronographs boast a 60-hour power reserve and a date function (at 4 o’clock). This movement is effectively a juiced-up ETA 7750, which Hamilton explains has been expertly engineered to raise the base power reserve of 48 hours to a comfortable 60. That’s a pretty startling 25% hike and a great selling point. While not strictly in-house (the movement is manufactured by fellow Swatch Group company ETA), the H-21 automatic chronograph movement is made under a roof owned by the same conglomerate as Hamilton.
There are two dial options available in this new Hamilton Jazzmaster release, either a white option or a blue. The blue dial employs a nickel handset for a sharp, professional look, while the white dial is married with contrasting rose gold hands that add a flourish of luxury to an otherwise clean and basic dial layout. Both handsets are finished with thin lines of Super-LumiNova so they can be easily seen in low-light conditions.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Special Edition
Our friends over at Gear Patrol and Hamilton have partnered on a new special edition dive watch that we wanted to share with you. It’s the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto Gear Patrol Special Edition, and it’s currently available exclusively over at the Gear Patrol Store.
The watch itself is part of the already existing Khaki Navy Scuba lineup, but it comes in a black-and-orange colorway that is exclusive to Gear Patrol. All the tell-tale signs of a quality mechanical dive watch are there. The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto Gear Patrol Special Edition is a robust tool watch with 100 meters of water resistance and a unidirectionally rotating bezel. Two large crown protectors on either side of the screw down crown hold it in place and prevent inadvertent meddling with the crown when the watch is submerged in water. The watch also comes with both a stainless steel bracelet and a NATO-strap, which means that you’re all set when summer comes around. The watch comes in a presentation box with a strap-changing tool too.
This is a good-looking dive watch from a very well-known watchmaker, and it has an exclusive design that ties it back to a popular media brand that has long been an important voice in the online lifestyle game. The watch’s 40mm case size, and the fact that it comes with one of the Swatch Group’s souped up ETA-based movements with extra power reserve – the H-10 – make it a solid choice for those new to Hamilton mechanical watches and readers interested in a really nice value proposition (and who isn’t interested in that?). I see nods to vintage dive-watch design, but also elements of modern sports watch design.
It will come as little surprise to those familiar with Hamilton that Gear Patrol’s Hamilton collab comes at an attractive price point that sits well below the thousand-dollar mark. It’s good, value-oriented watchmaking, plain and simple. While this watch is not a limited edition, it is being released in small batches and the first 50 watches drop today.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation X-Wind GMT Chrono Quartz
“X-Wind” means crosswind and refers to a special function of the Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Day Date pilots’ watch. We accompanied an Air Zermatt helicopter pilot on flights around the Matterhorn and tested the watch to see how it performs in action. (Original photos by Marcus Krüger, story from WatchTime Archives.) The Khaki X-Wind helps a pilot calculate how to compensate for crosswind.
Shortly after sunrise, we glide in our helicopter close to rocky ridges, snow-covered peaks and mighty glaciers. Above these towers the Matterhorn, a pyramid of white dusted rock. Our pilot points to a plateau at an altitude above 9,000 feet. As our helicopter approaches, small plates of crust break free from the hardened snowpack and whirl away along with loose snow. We land. Our pilot brings a few skiers and their mountain guide to the starting point of a free-ride tour. The skiers make wide sweeps through pristine snow and ski down toward Zermatt, Switzerland.
A glance at the Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Day Date, our test watch, tells us that the time is 9:20 a.m. The watch’s blue dial with a sunburst pattern goes well with the slightly bluish-white color of the glacial mountains that surround us. The Hamilton X-Wind is clearly recognizable as a pilots’ watch thanks to its clear numerals, distinctive hands and sturdy rivets on the brown leather strap. The tip of the seconds hand highlights Hamilton’s signature orange color. The Air Zermatt pilots’ Hamilton helmets are the same orange color. Automatic Caliber H-30 is based on the ETA 2836, but has a convenient 80-hour power reserve. The scale enables the user to estimate the crosswind component.
The watch brand and the helicopter company have been partners since 2011. This is not just about boosting the brand’s visibility in the popular holiday resort of Zermatt, but above all to provide top-quality equipment to Air Zermatt’s professional pilots. They have been involved in the selection of the functions and design of various Hamilton models so that these watches will be easy to use aboard helicopters. In return, Hamilton provides financial support to Air Zermatt for costly airborne rescues in this region. The helicopter company must finance its lifesaving missions with income earned from commercial flights. Hamilton took part in setting up an air rescue service in Nepal, which Air Zermatt initiated and largely carried out. The team of Air Zermatt consists of highly experienced helicopter pilots and alpine rescuers.
A Fascinating Mountain World
We climb back into our helicopter and fly toward Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. In contrast to the Matterhorn’s distinctive pyramid, the dome-shaped glacial summit of Mont Blanc looks almost inconspicuous. It’s an unforgettable experience to float through this fascinating mountain world with its rugged rock faces, crevassed glaciers and glittering snowy slopes.
For every flight, a helicopter pilot must take into consideration the wind’s direction and strength. Although the winds fluctuate much more strongly here in the high mountains than in the lowlands, it is still important to compensate for crosswinds by steering according to a lead angle, which ensures that the helicopter reaches its intended destination. The helicopter flight around the Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in the Alps, is absolutely spectacular.
This is where the Hamilton watch comes into play. Its name “X-Wind” is derived from the word, “crosswind,” which causes airplanes and helicopters to drift off course and requires pilots to take countermeasures. The lead angle can be calculated using the watch’s rotatable scales and an estimate of the crosswind using the diagram on the rotor. To do this, you have to know the wind direction and speed, and the speed of the aircraft and desired course. The pilot then adjusts the two scales using the crowns at 2 and 4 as well as rotating the bezel. In practice, this calculation is done before the flight begins and is usually performed with the aid of a computer. But the watch can definitely serve as an emergency backup if you practice the calculation beforehand.
Rescue Operation
Back at the heliport, the helicopters buzz in and out like bees at a hive. Air Zermatt operates a total of 10 planes from its three stations. Most of them pause only briefly at the heliport to refuel while their rotors are still running and to pick up new skiers or passengers for sightseeing flights. A specially equipped rescue helicopter is also standing by. And now an emergency call comes in: a skier has fallen into a crevasse. The helicopter is quickly but calmly loaded with all the necessary equipment. Every move is perfectly rehearsed and performed; the work is carried out professionally and by routine. The helicopter takes the mountain rescuers to the scene of the accident in just a few minutes and takes the skier’s family, who witnessed the accident, to the heliport. An emergency medical professional is getting ready. The blue dial with sunburst pattern goes well with the slightly bluish-white color of the glaciers in the mountains.
In this case, the injured person does not respond to the team’s calls. Using a winch attached to a tripod, a rescuer descends into the narrow crevasse and begins to search for the injured man. The rescuer soon discovers him and finds that he is conscious and able to speak. The other members of the team now use the winch to raise the injured skier out of the crevasse. The on-call medical professional looks after him and accompanies him on the flight back to the heliport and then to the hospital. Thanks to the quick rescue, the man survived and is expected to recover. Everyone is relieved — because not all glacial falls have a happy ending.
The rescue helicopter will be called out again today to assist a skier who has had a heart attack. Since it was founded in 1968, Air Zermatt’s helicopters have flown more than 50,000 rescue flights. Fully equipped rescue helicopters, emergency doctors and paramedics are on call and standing by to assist in emergency situations. Air Zermatt also uses winches to rescue mountaineers who have fallen or gotten stranded on cliffs or steep rock faces. Air Zermatt has flown more than 50,000 rescue flights since its founding in 1968.
In the winter, falls are the main cause of injuries on many ski slopes. Time always plays an important role in these rescue operations because the injured skiers can only survive if they are rescued quickly enough.
In Any Weather
Rescue flights are not only flown in sunny weather but also in the rain at night, so it’s good that the 45-mm X-Wind Day Date has distinctive hands and dials, high contrast, and lots of luminous material so it can be read quickly under all lighting conditions. And as numerous older models on the wrists of Air Zermatt pilots prove, these X-Winds can also withstand the tough everyday life of helicopter flight operations. The handsome brown leather strap with double pin buckle is a good match for this pilots’ watch.
When we take a closer look at the X-Wind, we see that in addition to the good workmanship with numerous appealing details, calibrated scales and crowns, this pilots’ watch also has a transparent back through which you can view automatic Caliber H-30. In this model, the movement is undecorated except for the diagram engraved on the rotor. Other Swatch Group sister brands, such as Tissot’s Powermatic 80, use ETA’s Caliber 2836, which has a convenient 80-hour power reserve. The Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Day Date is priced at $1,095.
Our final helicopter flight lifts off. Its destination: Geneva Airport. One last time, we glide past rocky pinnacles, over ice-encrusted ridges and beside gigantic snow-covered mountains. We ask our pilot whether he ever grows accustomed to this beautiful natural spectacle and whether at some point the view seems mundane and nothing special. “No,” he says. He enjoys it every minute and every year.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Auto 46
There are times in life when a standard amount of French fries just won’t do. Or a measly two pairs of socks. Why should you settle? Go big. You, my friend, require a silo of deep-fried starch sticks with extra ketchup. Likewise, a 24-pack bale of tube socks is the minimum quantity to meet your current footwear needs. You know yourself better than anyone, and sometimes in life you just gotta say, “Screw it, supersize me”. Let others compromise.
Well, Hamilton has heard you. If you read the watch press on a regular basis, you’d be forgiven for thinking that every new watch release has a case under 39mm, and that vintage sizes are all anybody’s wearing these days. And you’d be wrong. Facts are facts, and along with opting for a watch with a date window, most buyers just flat-out prefer a larger case size. And by “most buyers”, I mean the overwhelming majority of customers, i.e, not watch nerds like me. Not for nothing, but a true tool watch is often necessarily bigger, especially when it comes to massively depth-rated divers. Welcome to the Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic 46mm, the biggest, baddest, most capable stainless-steel dive watch in Hamilton’s current stable. And while it’s a spiritual evolution from Hamilton’s original WWII-era Frogman issued by the US Navy, the two couldn’t be further apart.
If you have any doubts about the real-world capabilities of the new Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic 46mm , you need look no further than world champion freediver Pierre Frolla, a longtime Hamilton ambassador who tests the brand’s timepieces to the limit in the unforgiving depths of the sea. This is a man who dives to unfathomable (sorry) depths without the use of SCUBA tanks, so you can assume he knows of which he speaks. The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic 46mm ’s larger size is perfect for wearing over a wetsuit, and its bedrock-solid build quality and excellent legibility make it a no-brainer choice for most any adventure. A choice of finishes is always welcome, and I find myself leaning toward the stainless/khaki green for practicality, but the covert ops-ready black wins for undercover cool. If you prefer a bigger timepiece, the new Frogman delivers a lot to like, and a good bit of value too, at around $1200 USD for such a truly compelling option.
The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic 46mm is available now