First Look: The Hamilton Khaki Pilot Air Glaciers Special Edition in Titanium (2024)

Hamilton’s background in military and pilot’s watches is irrefutable thanks to its collaboration with the U.S. Armed Forces during both World Wars. With the advent of aviation, Hamilton took to the skies, providing pioneering pilots and U.S. Airmail pilots with watches from 1918. Developing partnerships with military squadrons, air rescue services and aerobatic pilots over the years, Hamilton’s legacy of pilot’s watches spans more than a century. In 2022, Hamilton signed a partnership with Air-Glaciers, recognised as one of the world’s most advanced helicopter rescue organisations, with almost 60 years of experience in the field. The latest Khaki Aviation Pilot, now in titanium with a bright blue dial, was designed with Air-Glacier helicopter pilots and bears all the ruggedness, legibility and precision of Hamilton’s pilot watches.

Hamilton’s best-selling Khaki collection, divided into Aviation, Field and Navy, offers a mix of vintage/wartime-inspired models and more contemporary designs to tackle adventures on land, sea and air. The latest model is based on the recently-updated Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date and comes in the larger 42mm diameter with a thickness of 12.1mm (the 36mm models do not have the day/date function). Crafted from titanium, the material was chosen for its hypoallergenic qualities and strength-to-weight ratio, reducing the weight of the watch by 45%. Entirely brushed to avoid scratches, the case features crown guards and is water-resistant to 100 metres.

Flying the red and blue livery of Air-Glacier, the watch’s dial emphasises legibility with its clear white markings, extensive use of Super-LumiNova and broad hands. Unlike conventional pilot’s watches, the main chapter ring does not feature the hours; instead, it is dedicated to the minutes. The white Arabic numerals representing the minutes (05-55) intersect with luminous rectangular markers at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock and an orientation triangle at noon. The maker at 3 o’clock is slightly shorter to accommodate the rectangular day/date window with a white background.

Customised to reflect the partnership with Air-Glacier, the central seconds hand has a series of red stripes designed to suggest a helicopter’s rotor blade. The large sword-shaped hour and minutes hands are also treated with green-emission Super-LumiNova, and, as you might have noticed, the hour hand has an openworked tip – for a reason. Had the hour hand been solid, the hours, which are relegated to the interior circle and smaller than the minutes, would have been hidden from view. The open-tipped area alights on the current hour and neatly frames it.

Another practical weight-saving feature is the blue nylon Velcro strap with a leather lining and the Air-Glacier logo on the fastener. Not only is it lighter than a metal bracelet, but it adapts perfectly to the wrist for enhanced comfort. The watch is also delivered with a casual brown suede nubuck leather strap.

Hamilton’s H-30 calibre powers the watch, a Swatch Group Powermatic 80 family movement based on the ETA 2836-2. The H-30 features a branded Hamilton rotor and benefits from the revised kinematic chain, reduced frequency, Nivachron balance spring and increased power reserve of 80 hours of the robust Powermatic 80. The screw-down caseback has a small semi-circular window to see the movement.

The Hamilton Khaki Pilot Air Glaciers Titanium is delivered in an orange R40 Pelican Ruck Case and retails for CHF 1,295, EUR 1,495 or USD 1,395. For more information, please consult hamiltonwatch.com.