Kensington Watches
Hamilton Khaki Aviation 42mm Mens Watch

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Hamilton

Hamilton Khaki Aviation 42mm Mens Watch

Ref. H64615135

Among our 82 Hamilton watchesThis watch£990
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape

Price range £375 to £2,265 across 82 Hamilton watches in stock.

The Khaki Aviation earned a place in popular memory when it appeared on Matthew McConaughey's wrist throughout Interstellar, and Hamilton leaned into that association — this is the watch the film's fans know as the Cooper. The connection is not merely cosmetic: the pilot brief runs through the design, from the day display at 12 o'clock and the date at 6 to the Nivachron hairspring inside the H-40, which resists magnetic fields of the kind that cluster around cockpit instruments and, increasingly, everyday electronics. At 11.85mm thick it wears closer to the wrist than most tool watches of this rating, and the sunray black dial shifts between near-matte and faintly lustrous depending on the angle of the light. The 80-hour power reserve means a watch left on the nightstand Friday evening is still running Monday morning. The exhibition caseback makes that movement worth looking at.

Reference
H64615135
Brand
Hamilton
Collection
Khaki Aviation
Case size
42mm
Case thickness
11.85mm
Lug width
20mm
Case material
Stainless steel
Case shape
Round
Dial
Black
Crystal
Sapphire
Movement
Automatic
Calibre
H-40
Functions
Day-date
Water resistance
100m
Bracelet / strap
Stainless steel bracelet
Strap colour
Silver
Clasp
Folding clasp
Lume
Super-LumiNova
Retailer
Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
Power reserve
80 hours
Origin
Swiss made
Learn more about Hamilton

Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892, and its early business was the railroad. American rail accidents caused by unsynchronised timekeeping had forced the industry to adopt strict standards, and Hamilton built pocket watches accurate enough to meet them — earning the description the watch of railroad accuracy.

Two things then defined it. The first was war: Hamilton supplied over a million watches to American forces in the Second World War, suspending civilian production entirely, and its marine chronometers were fitted across the US Navy.

The second was electricity. The Ventura of 1957 was the first battery-powered electric wristwatch, and its asymmetric shield-shaped case, designed by Richard Arbib, looked like nothing before it. Elvis Presley wore one in Blue Hawaii.

Hamilton's cinematic presence is unusually deep — over five hundred films — and includes the watches designed for 2001: A Space Odyssey with Stanley Kubrick, and appearances in Interstellar and Tenet.

American manufacturing ended in 1969 as the quartz crisis approached. The brand was acquired by the Swiss and is now part of the Swatch Group, based in Biel, where it occupies a distinctive position: American design heritage, Swiss production, and ETA movements with long power reserves at accessible prices. The Khaki Field, descended from the wartime issue watches, is its best-known line.

1892
Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
1918
Supplies the first US airmail flights.
1957
The Ventura is the first electric wristwatch.
1968
Designs the watches for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
1974
Becomes Swiss-owned; now part of the Swatch Group.

All Hamilton watches

Also in 6 collections

This watch appears in the Hamilton Khaki Aviation range (8), Back in Stock (3,988), Stainless Steel Watches (2,814), Automatic Watches (1,546), Sports Watches (700) and Pilot Watches (39).

Best of 2 retailers

What the specifications mean

A mechanical watch for everyday wear.

Strengths

  • 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
  • Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
  • 80-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
  • Luminous hands and markers for low light
Best forSwimmingEveryday wear

Hamilton Khaki Aviation alternatives

Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.

Khaki Aviation 42mm Mens Watch compared with 2 alternatives from other brands
SpecificationThis watchKhaki Aviation 42mm Mens WatchH64615135William WoodExtinguisher Collection 41mm Mens WatchWWEW01CertinaHeritage DS-1 Big Date 60th Anniversary DS Concept Special Edition 41mm Mens WatchC0294261109160
Price£990£995£960
Case size42mm41mm41mm
Water resistance100m100m100m
MovementAutomaticAutomaticAutomatic
StrapStainless steel braceletRubber strapMesh bracelet
Power reserve80 hours—80 hours
This watchClosely matchedClosely matched

Your new watch

Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch

Can I swim with it?

Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.

Water resistance explained

Will the glass scratch?

Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.

Sapphire, mineral and acrylic compared

Does it need a battery?

No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.

Quartz, automatic and solar compared

How long does it run for when it's not worn?

About 80 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.

What size strap does it take?

20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.

Is it a men's or women's watch?

Listed as men's.

Cheapest place to buy

Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £990, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.

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