In the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer, these two worlds come together in a distinctive design. Mixing vintage aesthetics, superior engineering and both sporty and technical features, it’s a dynamic addition to Hamilton’s pilot watch collection.
The Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer takes its principal inspiration not from a wristwatch, but from a pocket watch produced during World War II. In addition to over one million military wristwatches and marine chronometers, timing devices and other instruments, we supplied U.S. forces with more than 27,000 Model 23 pocket watches throughout the war.
A cutting-edge chronograph of its time, the Model 23 was of particular use to U.S. Army Air Force navigators. Slim, ultra-legible numerals, cathedral hands and an authentic railway track outer scale, recreate the Model 23’s elegant dial aesthetic in the new Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer. The result is a sporty yet refined variation on a classic pilot watch design.
The most notable features include a bi-directional rotating bezel and a prominent winding crown in reference to the ‘onion’ crowns found on vintage aviation watches (including the Model 23), which were made large enough to be used easily while wearing gloves.
If the Model 23 was a chronograph, unlike the Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer, it still retains a decidedly functional style with its mechanical movement that displays only the time. It is distinguished primarily by its bidirectional rotating bezel and prominent winding crown reminiscent of the “onion” crowns of period aviation watches (including the Model 23), large enough to be handled with gloves.
The Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer is available in two sizes, 38 and 43mm. The larger one is driven by the hand-wound mechanical ETA 6498-1 caliber with independent small seconds counter. On the case side, choose between the purity of stainless steel or the exclusivity of bronze according to your tastes and your personality.
The smaller one comes with a stainless steel case and offers a simpler and more versatile interpretation of the model, without a small seconds counter. Powered by the Hamilton H-10 automatic movement with anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring and an 80-hour power reserve, it is ready for adventure.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 43 mm
References: H76719530; H76709530
Case: 43mm stainless steel case with bidirectional rotating bezel or 43 mm bronze case with titanium caseback and bidirectional rotating bezel; Thickness: 43 mm; Horn width 20 mm
Dial: Black dial, Arabic numerals coated with vintage radium-colored Super-LumiNova
Hands: Nickel-plated or Rose gold-colored cathedral hands coated with vintage radium-colored Super-LumiNova
Movement: aliber ETA 6498-1 mechanical with 50 hours of power reserve and small seconds at 6 o’clock
Strap: Dark brown leather strap with stainless steel or titanium pin buckle
Glass: Double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Water resistance: 10 bars (100 m)
Price: H76719530: EUR 1095; H76709530: EUR 1345
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 38 mm
Reference: H76205530
Case: 38mm stainless steel case with bidirectional rotating bezel; Thickness: 11.4 mm; Horn width: 18 mm
Dial: Black dial, Arabic numerals coated with vintage radium-colored Super-LumiNova
Hands: Nickel-plated cathedral hands coated with vintage radium-colored Super-LumiNova
Movement: Self-winding H-10 movement with 80-hour power reserve, Nivachron spiral spring
Strap: Dark brown leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle
Glass: Double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Water resistance: 10 bars (100 m)
Price: EUR 895
