Hamilton Xwind/3yr experience review

My thoughts on my 3 yr old Hamilton Xwind.

[@grahamsalmons2027]

No-one I’ve seen who has reviewed this watch knows how to use its #1 feature - crosswind calculations. Basically set the wind speed and the angle and with the outer bezel set to airspeed the incident wind vector is calculated (I am a pilot). The issue I have with it is that is a useless feature. The one time you really want to know your cross-wind is against limitation for landing, but to be honest rough math works it out so much faster: use the 1:60 rule. Basically divide your airspeed by 60, and divide the wind vector by this number: the wind vector is just the sin(degrees off). Ok ok so no one knows the sin of every number of degrees. Just use 1/2 for 30 degrees and all for 60. So if you are flying 270 at 120kts and the wind is 300 at 20. That’s 30 degrees different or 10 kts across. Your drift will be 120/60 or half off that, so 5 degrees of drift. You can do this in your head way faster than on a watch, and often I’ll even do it in the cruise at high altitude to figure out where to put the heading bug in a turn: even with naff math usually you’ll be within a degree or two. Having said ALL that, I think it’s a cool looking watch. The GMT version would be the most useful for a pilot I feel, but that loses the day of the week which I like. Also, quartz is more accurate (is actually an issue when you are in the air for a long period tour). Thanks for the video though!

[@darkchild57]

I've pinned your comment. Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us! I agree, I've seen videos where people have attempted demonstrate the slide rule and it's many functions. However I get the sense that the majority of the owners of this watch are not pilots, me included. The watch is a really nice design with a variety of visual interests. Quartz will always be more accurate, most of the time lighter weight and takes away the need to set your watch every couple days. I'm just a lover of automatic movements and the mechanical aspects. Thank you for watching, greatly appreciate you taking the time to explain the bezel function and the crosswind calculations! Take care :)

[@grahamsalmons2027]

darkchild57 I watched your video because I like the watch a lot and it was actually really nicely made video review. So thank you! As a pilot I’ve searched long and hard for the ‘perfect’ pilot watch (and I’ve tried many). I had a Brietling Chronomat Longitude for a while but it was unreliable and didn’t keep good time (propellor aircraft which I flew then) have high vibration and it disturbs the movement. I also had an Aerospace Evo, but the setting was so fiddly I sold it. Great if you are moving between two time zones only but if you are going everywhere and anywhere in the world it’s too difficult to set. At the moment my daily driver is the Citizen Navihawk AT. It’s ALMOST ideal, bar for a couple of slight criticisms. The LCD screens are two small. I’d have sacrificed the UTC dial for a larger screen. The backlight is useless. And there is no way to move the hands out of the way of the screen if you want to use it. I think my next watch will be a GMT watch of some sort. Assuming I’m still flying then. Keep making videos! Best wishes!

[@fahmi9]

“to figure out where to put the heading bug in a turn” Sounds like someone flies a Boeing! Am I right?

[@grahamsalmons2027]

fahmi9 😊 777

[@janPeja]

This feature is as useful as the fuel converters or tachymeter or other dial shenanigans on other watches. If I really want to stay analogue, I'd use simple math or charts and not the dial. I think it's more like a decoration that "is kinda meaningful". Currently I only use red triangle to mark minute or hour, like having an extra rough chronograph. :P

[@annonymouslibertairian9120]

Just got mine. Band is stiff but comfortable. I am a bigger guy (6'1" 220lbs). Everything looks and feels quality. Got mine for about a grand US online. Good purchase if you are adding to your collection.

[@darkchild57]

The band is super stiff on mine but after a while of wearing it did soften up. Nice watch and I'm sure it looks much better on your wrist than mine:)

[@degenerateWA]

Seems like the crosswind slide rule is mostly to determine course drift due to the affects of crosswinds (either headwinds or tailwinds). You would use this feature to calculate a course compensation to make good on your intended heading. I'm sure this would have been a great feature for pilots way back when but its realistically just something cool to have nowadays and not something practically used, especially with the voyage management systems/computers that are on most if not all planes. Still very cool and I believe keeps us in touch with the past. I ordered the H77765141 which is the auto/non-chrono version with a steel bracelet and I'm pretty stoked to get it on wrist.

[@tomzap7108]

Thank you. I just purchased mine this week. I really like it.

[@darkchild57]

Nice! I hope you enjoy the watch!

[@AfnanStudio_]

does it have gmt or dual time function?

[@rjmagoon560]

Thanks for the review!!! Definitely considering this one!

[@myzhiva1]

I bought mine in 2008/2009 and still going strong till these day, well made wristwatch at affordable price

[@atsylor5549]

Mechanical watches with chronograph are always thick. You have all those extra gears in there to run those 3 sub dials and the day date. Your wife made a great choice, your watch is beautiful.

[@john69red]

That watch is in pristine condition for being 3yrs old...Have had my X-Wind for 4yrs and it’s got plenty of character scuffs mainly on bezel ...Great well made watch...use mine regularly

[@darkchild57]

I have a bunch of watches which I rotate. I use to wear then in an office setting so not much chance to scuff them. Nowadays I don't even go out anymore lol.

[@bwwbww8339]

I love this watch! I love it for its looks. It is bold and chunky. It is also weird because of the fact that they had to invert the movement to set two of the controls for the rotating dials which caused it to look like a right hand watch (which is not) with a chronograph operating upside down (causes quite a bit of confusion). Do many people comprehend or even contemplate using the crosswinds calculator? (I seriously doubt that!) Hell, most people with a tachymeter on their watches (a lot easier to use) have never used that! Perhaps people use a telemeter to tell how far a thunderstorm is . I have seen a diver watch WITHOUT a chronograph with a dial for the tachymeter (totally useless if you can't mark the start of a 100m...) so, most of us, will be quite content with the occasional use of the chronograph and that is pretty much it. Mine has lost a bit of its original red color now more of a pink but still has its charm

[@henyujurai3907]

I own this watch as well It's my favorite watch I have

[@20thcenturyboy85]

Cool watch. Thanks for the update.

[@ginger1r1]

thank you, I needed help setting mine up.

[@darkchild57]

You're welcome: )

[@vc3946]

Nice watch, I find the leather strap come up abit short

[@anUntouchable]

Great review! I have the same watch and am looking to replace the strap to the Hamilton black version. Do you have any other recommendations?

[@darkchild57]

Thank you! I don't have too many watches but I love the Tissot Visodate, Orient Bambino v2 and my Seiko Samurai out of my collection.

[@bikramsingh2014]

Would you have some suggestion for a watch with similar grace and looks (I like brown/silver combinations) but with bigger case diameter?

[@forrestkimball6477]

I think I’ve found my first grail.

[@jeffjuice3886]

Man has it been 3 yrs since you got this already? I didn't realize how jam packed of functions this watch had. I didn't know that outer-inner ring rotated. I'll text you later about an idea that came to me, not sure if you've seen it done before in this particular fashion.

[@darkchild57]

Yarp! Time flies when you're spending money lol! Yeah this is a full blown flight watch so it has all the tools of the trade that goes with it:)....too bad I'm not a pilot! Cool, hit me up later.

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

I'm laughing but only a little, cool watch btw

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! and Thanks!

[@Al3xTrucho20]

THICC BOI!!

[@jjvr82]

44mm!!!

[@chrisn4369]

This watch would fit nicely.... for Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson!

[@junpalslancin573]

How much this kind of wacth sir..

[@pavliv]

Yeah this is too big for my tiny 17cm wrist. Love it though.

[@jaybusy04]

Is the crystal domed?

[@darkchild57]

As far as I can tell very very slight. There is a bit of distortion at steeper angles.

[@trasava1314]

May I know where do you buy this watch

[@trasava1314]

There is no watches shop sell this here in australia

[@darkchild57]

I bought mine from a jewelry store. I'm sure this watch can be found online by authorized Hamilton dealer. If you still can't find it then its time to try the secondary market such as watch forums and auction sites.

[@domualex]

sorry but this watch is very big for your wrist...i am not a hater and its nothing wrong with your wrist...the watch is too big

[@Packer1290]

I admit I laughed a little when it had to be set to the shortest length and it was still a little loose. 😆

[@trasava1314]

I really not sure Hamilton stil..or Hong kong made

[@darkchild57]

I'm not really sure myself.