Eighty hours and a slide rule
By Rafael Ortiz, Mexico City ·
Hamilton keeps doing this: putting really useful specs into watches that cost less than a Breitling strap. The Converter GMT has a rotating slide rule bezel for flight computations, a GMT hand, and an H-14 movement with 80 hours of reserve. That last number is the one I'd notice. Fly out Friday, leave it on the nightstand at home, come back Monday and it's still going.
The case is 42 mm by 13.7 mm, 100 meters, with an open caseback and a steel bracelet with 21 mm lugs (annoying size, again). The black dial is well laid out, but the slide rule scales add a lot of text and the GMT hand has to compete with them. Under the dim light of a flight deck I'd want the GMT hand a little bolder.
It's a lot of watch for 1,645 to 1,795 dollars. Against a Navitimer it's a third of the price with most of the function. For a first pilot's watch, I think it's an easy recommendation.