{"id":26627,"date":"2021-06-30T08:05:54","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T08:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/the-hamilton-khaki-aviation-converter-air-zermatt-watch-hands-on\/"},"modified":"2024-05-11T08:11:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T06:11:05","slug":"hamilton-khaki-aviation-converter-air-zermatt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/hamilton-khaki-aviation-converter-air-zermatt\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt watch hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

The relationship between Hamilton<\/strong> and the world of modern aviation is a close one and well established with aerobatic pilot Dario Costa<\/strong> and the Red Bull Air Race<\/strong> circuit, for instance. In contrast, a few people know that Hamilton<\/strong> has supported Air Zermatt<\/strong> for the past ten years.<\/p>\n

Air Zermatt<\/strong> prides itself on being a leading air rescue organization boasting 11 helicopters<\/strong> and 75 people<\/strong>, including pilots, paramedics, technicians, and flight instructors. A specific Khaki Aviation Converter Automatic Chronograph<\/strong> celebrates the ten-year partnership between Air Zermatt<\/strong> and Hamilton<\/strong> by adding a limited edition variant to the stock chronograph with a logarithmic scale and a slide rule.<\/p>\n

\"hamilton<\/p>\n

The new product\u2019s backbone is not anything new, but a timepiece that belongs to the Khaki<\/strong> chronographs offering for quite a few years now, despite Hamilton<\/strong> unstoppably updating and upgrading the product inside and out.<\/p>\n

The Khaki Aviation Converter Automatic Chronograph Air Zermatt<\/strong>, or Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt<\/strong> in short, adds specific design cues and superb packaging indeed, reinforcing the link between brand and organization further while adopting the standard technical and aesthetic template.<\/p>\n

\"hamilton<\/p>\n

With a 44mm<\/strong> diameter across and 14.60mm<\/strong> thick case, the Khaki Aviation Converter Automatic Chronograph<\/strong> belongs to a pilot-ready class of products, including bold three-register Chronos powered by a rugged self-winding mechanical movement.<\/p>\n

However, consider that the case tapers to 42 mm<\/strong>\u00a0approximate towards the case back for a couple of reasons, I think; the 42 case size is consistent with the mechanical movement\u2019s dimensions and helps improve comfort once you secure the timepiece on your wrist.<\/p>\n

\"hamilton<\/p>\n

The Hamilton H-21 calibre<\/strong> with a silicon hairspring<\/strong> and a sixty-hour power reserve<\/strong> is an evolution of the industry-tested 7750<\/strong>, a mechanical movement widely appreciated for its reliability as much as for its low service costs, less so when it comes to size and winding mechanism\u2019s noise. The case extending up to 44 mm aims to offer a bold watch for him, highlighting its technical prowess.<\/p>\n

You won\u2019t find any smaller sized sports Chrono with a slide rule in the benchmark, even when packing a quartz movement. Among a Khaki Converter Chronograph<\/strong>\u2018s distinctive traits, I\u2019ll list the bezel and crown boasting double knurling.<\/p>\n

Hamilton<\/strong>\u2018s designers are always good at giving each product collection a unique style, and the Khaki Aviation Converter Automatic Chronograph<\/strong> is no exception; their task is more challenging than anywhere else, given that the three-register Chrono template, even more so when paired with a slide rule, is mainstream and kind of \u201cdeja vu\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"hamilton<\/p>\n

Among the design cues that I like and make, no doubt, the watch stand out, are the light blue counters reminding the glaciers (matching blue is adopted on the bezel too) while I\u2019ll pick other two ones to discuss: the leather strap comes with a brushed and polished Air Zermatt logo<\/strong> placed on both ends (they look like rivets) and the case back houses a see-through sapphire crystal with Air Zermatt logo placed on top<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I love the first one, quite a nice touch, while I won\u2019t approve of the second one and I\u2019m going to tell you why. The H<\/strong>\u201321<\/strong> is a good calibre but not the one you\u2019re eager to display on a timepiece; also, I think that applying a logo onto a crystal is too old-school. I would have opted for a solid case and a logo engraving, instead; even more so considering Air Zermatt\u2019<\/strong>s tool watch pedigree.<\/p>\n

Hamilton<\/strong> wins hands-down when it comes to the packaging; the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt<\/strong> comes standard with an orange box with a sliding drawer mimicking the same ELT<\/strong> (Emergency Location Transmitter) you\u2019ll find onboard the Air Zermatt<\/strong> helicopters. It is way beyond expectations and a prop rather than a watch box.<\/p>\n

\"hamilton<\/p>\n

Hamilton<\/strong> will manufacture 988 pieces<\/strong> of the Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt<\/strong>, as many as the rescue missions successfully carried out by Air Zermatt<\/strong> so far, each retailing for 2145 Euros<\/strong>. If you\u2019re eager to buy a bold and big chronograph, you\u2019re a Pilot or just crazy for aviation, the Air Zermatt<\/strong> might be your next and full-fledged Pilot\u2019s chronograph.<\/p>\n

The designers managed to make a standard product far more appealing, and the uncommon product packaging is a big part of the storytelling. In contrast, the extra-large size is a letdown and a \u201cmissed opportunity\u201d<\/em> towards attracting a wider audience loving the proposition, less the product size overall.<\/p>\n