American-Swiss watch manufacturer Hamilton celebrates 10 years of partnership with the Air Zermatt Rescue unit with the release of the new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt Limited Edition. Designed with pilots, adventurers and aviation enthusiasts in mind, the watch beautifully embodies Hamilton’s own commitment to aviation with their iconic logarithmic “slide-rule” bezel centre stage while the dial tributes the brave men of the rescue unit dressed in the colours of the team’s famous livery.
For several decades now, Hamilton have established a solid reputation within the world of modern aviation having partnered with the likes of aerobatic pilot Dario Costa and the Red Bull Air Race circuit. Alongside this, Hamilton have also alongside the legendary Air Zermatt rescue unit since 2011, giving birth to several Hamilton Air Zermatt limited edition watches in the process. For those unfamiliar with the rescue team, Air Zermatt was founded in 1968 and is a transport and rescue unit in the Swiss Alps. For over 50 years, their team of 75 pilots, 11 helicopters, paramedics, technicians and flight instructors has become a world reference in the field of aerial rescue. For 2021, Hamilton unveil their latest instalment to the collaboration with the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt watch, a limited edition of only 988 pieces one for every Air Zermatt mission flown to the Matterhorn as of January 2021.
“The easy going and extremely personal nature of our relationship with Hamilton has remained since our first contact 10 years ago. It is these characteristics that ensure respect and trust can be built in the long term, and from which friendships then arise. Air Zermatt is proud of the partnership with Hamilton,” says Pilot and Air Zermatt CEO Gerold Biner.
Following in the footsteps of the luxury watch brand’s Khaki Aviation Converter collection launched in 2020, the new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt Limited Edition features the iconic logarithmic “slide-rule” bezel. Also seen on the likes of the legendary Breitling Navitimer, the slide rule bezel is designed to enable pilots to perform essential calculations on ground before take off such as determining fuel consumption, flight time and air speed. Although it may look overly complication at first glance, the system is super easy to use. The logarithmic E6B gradations interact with the fixed scale around the dial and when paired with the tachymeter scale and chronograph complications at the centre, pilots can calculate just about anything.
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt Limited Edition sits on the wrist at a generous 44 millimetres in diameter and 14.6 millimetres in height, engineered from stainless steel with both satin-brushed and polished surfaces. The screw down crown at 3 o’clock helps assist in a steady 100 metre water resistant rating while sapphire crystal glass with double anti-reflective coating protects the chronograph dial. Turn the limited edition over and you are welcomed to a screw down exhibition case back decorated with the Air Zermatt logo.
Through the case back, the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt Limited Edition offers a view of the calibre H-21 Si automatic winding movement based on the tried-and-tested Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement. On top of its dependable base, the movement comes equipped with a silicon balance spring purposely designed to withstand the effects of magnetism, something certainly worth having when in the cockpit. The balance spring still ticks away at 28,800 vibrations per hour but the kinetic chain movement has been improved allowing for a more impressive power reserve of 60 hours compared to the 42 hours on the standard 7750 calibre.
The H-21 Si automatic winding movement continues to impress by powering two central hands for hours and minutes, a chronograph central seconds hand, a day and date window and three subsidiary counters for 30 minutes, 12 hours and continuous seconds. Each of these functions are laid out on a smooth black dial detailed with accents inspired by the Air Zermatt team’s livery of red helicopters adorned with the glacier-blue Air Zermatt logo. Contrasting beautifully against the black face is two blue chronograph counters and red tipped chronograph seconds and small seconds hands. Further blue accents can be spotted on the slide rule bezel.
To complete the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt watch, the limited of 988 pieces is secured onto a black calfskin leather strap and presented in a unique box inspired by the Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT) device carried aboard Air Zermatt’s helicopters. For more information on this piece and to order your own, head over to the Jura Watches website here or contact one of our luxury watch specialists by calling 01335 453453.
Specifications: Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter Air Zermatt (H76706730)
- Case Size: 44mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Bidirectional, slide rule
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down, exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre H-21-Si automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, day, date, chronograph seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours counters
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Jewels: 25
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black with blue subsidiary dials, Superluminova hands and tachymeter scale
- Strap: Black calfskin leather
- RRP: £2,070
- Limited Edition: 988 pieces
