Looking at our stats, I see that demand for recommendations regarding diving watches is a seasonal thing with most visitors coming in summer and then gradually declining till Christmas only to start growing again in early January. “Pilots” are different animals: I have an impression that people are always interested in “aviators” regardless of the time of season. So, for your reading pleasure, a choice of fifteen timekeepers from under $200 to more than $10,000 as priced by online retailers that I find worthy of being considered while shopping for your new (or maybe your very first!) pilot’s watch this year.
Hamilton
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Automatic (ref. H82305931)
With this gorgeous Khaki Navy Scuba Automatic (ref. H82305931,) Hamilton not simply expands its line of diving companions. It finally offers a model that is not just “different” from the rest of the crowd, but -unlike their last year’s Navy Frogman- can actually be worn by a casual person without attracting weird glances from persons who “just don’t get it.”
Hamilton Broadway Day Date Automatic (refs. H43515735 & H43515135)
The 2017 Broadway Day Date Automatic (refs. H43515735 & H43515135), Hamilton’s recent attempt at grabbing their share of the growing “affordable dress watch” market, offers a nice blend of the interesting exterior, good build quality, and one of the best “long-play” mass-produced automatic movements that you can get in the sub-$1k price range.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto Chrono (Ref. H32596551)
Hamilton has recently updated its Jazzmaster family with a new automatic chronograph that sports a fairly fresh Caliber H21 automatic movement that we have already seen inside the Khaki Aviation X-Patrol model presented back in February 2012. Based on the time-proven ETA Valjoux 7750 blank caliber, the movement features an upgraded energy storage module with the maximum power reserve extended over 60 hours.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Automatic Chronograph
Look who has just got a sibling! The military-styled 2010 Khaki Pilot (ref. H64715885) has just received a younger brother. Called Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Chronograph (ref. H646666735), the new “aviator” from the legendary brand nicely fits a bullet-proof ETA Valjoux 7753 movement into the same mid-sized body of a (sort of) tactical timekeeper.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation X-Patrol Automatic
The new Hamilton Khaki Aviation X-Patrol (refs. H76556331, H76556131, and H76566751) looks like an evolution of the stealthy Khaki X-Mach Pilot that was presented almost exactly three years ago in February, 2009. The difference between the two? Well, preserving all the controls and being powered by virtually the same movement, the new version now lets you convert nautical miles into statute miles and back. And the watch has also become smaller.
Hamilton Khaki Flight Timer
The American-based watchmaker has finally introduced a full-fledged flight computer that you can wear on your own wrist. Designed for real pilots, the quartz-powered multifunction Hamilton Khaki Flight Timer (ref. H64554431) was created together with Air Zematt, the Swiss helicopter transport and rescue service.
Hamilton Conservation Auto Chronograph
The Swiss-American watchmaking brand and the environmental nonprofit organization Conservation International (CI) joined their forces to create a special-edition Hamilton Conservation Auto Chronograph (ref. H604160). Presented by CI’s Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors… wait for it… Mr. Harrison Ford himself, the new timekeeper seems to be based on the recently unveiled Hamilton Khaki Pioneer chronograph.
Hamilton Pan Europ Chronograph
First officially revealed at Baselworld 2011, the new Hamilton Pan Europ (ref. H35716545) chronograph is a tribute to the 1971 model that was issued under the same name. No wonder why its total production run is limited to only 1971 pieces. Comparing photos of the re-issue (below) and the original from the 1970s (can’t reproduce for copyright reasons, sorry, but you can easily google one) I can see that the new timekeeper is an almost exact reproduction of the 1971 model.
Hamilton Khaki SkyMaster UTC Automatic
It is always a pleasure to see a smaller brand going the hard way and turning a simple (and common) complication into a unique feature of its product. The new Hamilton Khaki SkyMaster UTC (refs. H77525553 & H77505433) is the latest example of such a daring approach.
Hamilton RailRoad Automatic Chronograph 46 mm
In any family there must be big brother to watch over the rest of the kids. The former American and now proudly Swiss-based brand apparently agrees to the principle and offers this new Hamilton RailRoad Automatic Chronograph (ref. H40686335) as the biggest member of the new RailRoad collection launched for this year. The only problem here is that there is just not enough family resemblance between the 46-millimeter model and the rest of the gang.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Seaview AutoChrono Automatic Chronograph (ref. H37646331)
The sporty Jazzmaster Seaview collection is available as a 42-mm GMT, huge 46-mm Automatic three-hander, as well as the medium-sized 42 mm Hamilton Jazzmaster Seaview AutoChrono (ref. H37646331) version that is briefly reviewed here. Priced at around $1.5K, the new range will be one of the most affordable offers in Hamilton’s current lineup.
Hamilton Khaki X-Mach Pilot Automatic (ref. H766860)
The now Swiss-owned and former American-based brand is the one that is responsible for the world’s first electric wristwatch, as well as for the world’s first electronic watch Hamilton Pulsar. Now it is going to start selling its new Hamilton Khaki X-Mach Automatic (ref. H766860): the world’s first mechanical timepiece featuring a real Machmeter gauge!