Hamilton Watch

Hamilton Watch makes Swiss-made timepieces with an American aviation past. The brand was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892. Hamilton built its reputation on accurate timekeeping before supplying the U.S. military. Today it offers watches for everyday wear and for the cockpit. Prices on its site run from about US$795 to US$1,495.

Pilot watches

Pilots know Hamilton for the Khaki Aviation line. It works with leading air squadrons and pilots. Each model aims to feel like a true navigation instrument.

• KHAKI CONVERTER AUTO CHRONO: Pilot chronograph with slide-rule bezel for at-a-glance conversions.
• Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chronograph: Vintage-style mechanical chronograph inspired by RAF pilot watches of the 1970s.
• Khaki Aviation X-Wind Chrono Quartz GMT: Pilot watch with large luminous numerals and cockpit-style hands.
• Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto, Air-Glaciers Edition: Pilot watch edition developed with Air-Glaciers helicopter pilots.

Hamilton is the official watch partner of Air Zermatt. It also works with Air-Glaciers for rescue mission timekeeping. The brand collaborates with smartflyer on hybrid-electric aviation innovation.

History in aviation

A Hamilton aeronautical watch accompanied the first U.S. Airmail service. Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s 1926 North Pole flight was timed by a Hamilton watch. Early aviators on the first California to Hawaii flight relied on Hamilton watches for critical calculations. In the 1930s the brand was the official watch of four major American commercial airlines. Hamilton was selected as official timekeeper for the first coast to coast service from New York to San Francisco. In 1942 Hamilton halted consumer production to supply the U.S. Armed Forces. Between 1942 and 1945 it produced over one million timepieces for the military and earned five Army-Navy 'E' Awards.

Collections and movements

Key collections include Khaki Field, Khaki Aviation, Khaki Navy, Ventura, Jazzmaster, and American Classic. Hamilton offers Swiss-made automatic, manual-winding, and quartz timepieces. The Ventura was the world's first electric watch. Elvis Presley wore the triangular Ventura in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii. Hamilton helped pioneer the first automatic chronograph movement, Caliber 11. The brand has appeared in more than 500 film and television productions.

Service and support

Every watch carries the Swiss Made label and a 2-Year International Warranty. Hamilton offers Free 2nd Day Shipping on all watch orders. Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 7 PM EST.

Pilots and aviation fans like Hamilton for useful tools and a long tie to flight. The watches bring practical features and history together, in the air and on the ground today.