Sometimes a few millimeters can make all the difference between a watch you can wear all the time and one that will never see the light of day. Too large and a timepiece might become heavy and cumbersome on your wrist over the course of a long outing; too small and things such as legibility and style might get compromised. We’ve learned that the 39mm/40mm territory is pretty safe. And a lot of watch manufacturers have been listening to the masses who want an in-between size that fits just right.
A particular watchmaker following suit is one of our favorites. For Hamilton’s Khaki Aviation Pilot Auto, the brand has now slotted in a new 39mm size between the 36mm below and 42mm up top. Let’s take a look…
The Khaki Aviation
Yes, the Khaki Field Watch may be among the most prevalent models on our site, but the American-born, Swiss-made watch brand has two other Khaki lines: the Aviation and Navy. While all three ranges are very similar in terms of overall design language and their vintage military inspiration, the Khaki Aviation is the one dedicated to pilot’s watches, making nods to the watchmaker’s days of supplying timepieces to U.S. Airmail pilots in the early 20th century.
Earlier this year, Hamilton expanded the Aviation collection with seven new references in 36mm and 42mm case sizes. And now there’s one more that enters the fold.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Auto 39mm Basics
Without really changing anything in terms of the design of the Khaki Aviation, Hamilton’s new 39mm pilot’s watch is a much more wearable option for those who don’t love 36 or 42mm case sizes. Available with black, dark blue, or OD green dial colors, the stainless steel watch is now 11.6mm thick with the same 100m of water resistance as the other two options. You also still get the anti-reflective sapphire crystal on top, the Super-LumiNova X1 lume, the sloped seconds track around the outside, and the light polishing on the bezel edge and crown.
We’ve always loved the dial design here, with the inner 12-hour circle, the larger minute numerals as the main display (counting up by 5s), and the counterpointed handset where the minute and hour hands each have a different section opened for viewing the respective numerals. Like the 36mm option, there’s no date window here either.
Visible through an exhibition caseback is the ETA-base H-10 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve and a hacking seconds function. Lastly, the watch gets either a stainless steel bracelet or a brown leather strap, depending on which dial you choose. While the black gets both options, the blue only gets the steel bracelet and the green only gets the leather strap.
The new 39mm cases might not seem like a huge deal but this makes the Khaki Aviation range more attractive to consumers who may have opted for the popular Khaki Field instead.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 39mm
Case Thickness: 11.6mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: H-10 automatic
Band: Stainless steel bracelet or brown leather strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Best of all, the pricing on the new 39mm Khaki Aviation Pilot Auto is the same as the 36mm and 42mm versions. The watches are currently available from Hamilton’s website with a sticker of CHF 995 (~$1,175).
Recap
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Auto 39mm
Hamilton adds a 39mm option of its flagship pilot’s watch as a more wearable option between the 36 and 42mm versions.
