It’s wild how Hamilton’s Khaki collection has grown over the years. After its WWII-era U.S. Army soldier’s watches spawned the definitive field watch in the Khaki Field, Hamilton expanded the Khaki collection to cover air and sea as well with a range of rugged and capable divers and pilot’s watches. Today, the Khaki collection is Hamilton’s most identifiable and expansive collection, consisting of 154 total references.
One more was added today, and it’s one of the most purpose-built Khaki watches yet. The new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto Air-Glaciers edition was made in conjunction with the eponymous Alpine helicopter rescue organization to their pilots’ specifications. And since the Air-Glaciers — who carry out more than 3,000 missions per year in the Swiss Alps — are dealing with literal life and death matters every day, each minor detail on the watch had to be considered.
HamiltonHamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto Air-Glaciers Edition
A switch to titanium … for a good reason
Hamilton’s standard Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto is crafted from stainless steel, which is fine for most people. However, the Air-Glaciers wanted the watch to be as light as possible on the wrist, so titanium was chosen for the case material based on input from the organization’s helicopter pilots. The result is a watch that’s 45 percent lighter than the steel version, with the material’s hypoallergenic qualities acting as an added bonus.
Two strap materials are better than one
For the watch’s Air-Glaciers branded strap, Hamilton went with a bi-material option with a rugged nylon exterior for resistance against the element and a smooth leather lining for greater comfort on the wrist. The strap closes securely via a Velcro loop system, making it easy to get an exact fit and also quick to adjust. Additionally, the watch comes with an extra brown suede nubuck strap, presumably so the watch can be dressed up for off-duty events.
