Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Auto Chrono Air Zermatt (Live Pics & Price)
Celebrating 10 years of collaboration with the Alpine Helicopter rescue unit.
With the situation improving in many countries, the easing of COVID-19 restrictions paves the way for us to return to watch events. We had the pleasure of joining the Hamilton team in the beautiful Alpine village of Zermatt, with the Matterhorn rising as a dramatic backdrop, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their partnership with the famous Air Zermatt rescue unit. A perfect opportunity to go hands-on with the limited edition watch released on that occasion, the new Khaki Aviation Converter Auto Chrono Air Zermatt.
Founded in 1968, Air Zermatt is a transport and rescue unit in the Swiss Alps. The company has been at the forefront of mountain rescue and saving lives for over 50 years. With a team of 75 pilots, paramedics, technicians and support staff, a fleet of 11 helicopters, and a training school, it is a world reference in the field of aerial rescue. Hamilton’s long-standing ties with aviation require little introduction, and the brand has been partnering with Air Zermatt for a decade now. This partnership has given birth to several Air Zermatt x Hamilton special edition watches since 2011. To celebrate these 10 years of collaboration, Hamilton now releases a new limited edition watch based on its recent Aviation Converter collection, with a chronograph drawing its colours from the rescue team’s glacier-blue logo.
Presented in 2020, the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter stands out in the brand’s collection for featuring a logarithmic “slide-rule” bezel. Invented in the 1940s, such rotating bezels enable pilots to perform crucial computations on the ground before take-off and while in flight for factors like airspeed, distance, fuel consumption or flight time. The bidirectional crenellated bezel and its logarithmic E6B gradations interact with the fixed scale around the dial. In this instance, it is combined with a chronograph and paired with a tachymeter scale. While modern electronic devices have taken over, it really gives the watch a super technical (and complex) look.
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Auto Chrono is 44mm in diameter but, if you are ready for a watch that size, it sits quite comfortably on the wrist thanks to the curved lugs. The Air Zermatt limited edition is presented in steel with satin-brushed surfaces highlighted by polished details. The black dial features glacier-blue chronograph counters and blue details for the graduations. The small seconds hand and the tip of the central seconds chronograph hand are highlighted in red. The blue accents bring a fresh modern touch to this edition, distinguishing it from the traditional slide rule watches.
As you might have guessed from the dial layout of the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Auto Chrono, it is powered by a 7750-based chronograph movement. But there is more than meets the eye… Although the automatic calibre H-21 Si inside relies on the tried-and-tested Valjoux cam-and-lever architecture, it features several noteworthy updates. Its balance spring is in silicon and therefore is unaffected by magnetism – which is definitely an asset in a cockpit… or behind your desk. The balance still ticks at 4Hz, but the kinematic chain of the movement has also been optimised, resulting in a beefed-up power reserve of 60 hours (vs 42 hours for a traditional 7750). The displays include hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph with central seconds, 30min and 12h counters and the day/date indication. The Hamilton calibre H-21 Si can be seen via the screw-down exhibition caseback that features an Air Zermatt logo transfer. The crown is screw-down, and the watch is water-resistant to 100m.
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Auto Chrono Air Zermatt comes on a black calf leather strap with an Air Zermatt rivet and two sets of holes to match the signature Hamilton H-buckle.
Availability & Price
Released in a limited edition of 988 pieces, it will be delivered in packaging inspired by the Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT) device carried onboard Air Zermatt’s helicopters. Price is set at CHF 2,295, EUR 2,145 or USD 2,395, which seems, as often with Hamilton, excellent value for the money.
For more details, please visit www.hamiltonwatch.com.
3 responses
Wrapping it around a large pipe was appropriate . A normal wrist would be inappropriate.
I´m really curious as to why people with small wrists are always complaining about watches being too big, but people with big wrists (like me) never complain about watches being too small…
Obviously your watch doesn’t slide up and down your forearm all day