Today’s review subject is the Swiss Watch Company (SWC) Hyper-G pilot’s watch. I first encountered one face-to-face at the 2022 Watches and Whiskey show in Hagerstown, Maryland. My first moments with the watch were a bit of a roller coaster. It looked great but felt…empty? I stood puzzled for a moment while my brain attempted to reconcile what I believed to be true with the physical reality in my hand. Was it aluminum, or did it house a tiny quartz movement with plastic parts, or might it be a non-functional mock-up? Then I heard the word “titanium,” and the world made sense again as I found myself even more impressed with the Hyper-G than when I had first seen it.
You see, the SWC Hyper-G doesn’t telegraph its case material the way many other titanium watches do. When I pick up a watch with a medium gray matte finish, I expect it to be titanium and, therefore, lightweight. SWC did not go that route, choosing instead a brushed finish accented with a bright mirror polish. It looks like stainless steel but weighs a scant 56g, which is even lighter than my titanium RZE Endeavour. The case is 40.5mm wide, 47.8mm long, and just a smidge under 11mm thick (ok, 10.8mm for all you sticklers for detail), so it is comfortably mid-sized. The design does not shout “tool watch.” It is slim and slightly arched. Polished bevels terminating in dramatic points thin out the lugs, and the polished bezel further bends the light, making the watch appear leaner still. The finishing quality is top-notch, with crisp, clean edges. I’d hesitate to call it dressy, but it is undoubtedly well-tailored, even elegant. For reference, I have a 6.75″ wrist.
The Hyper-G is also tough as nails, assuming, of course, those nails are made from a Grade 5 titanium alloy that has been hardened to 1000hv. Naturally, the crystal is sapphire and treated with an impressive 16 layers of anti-reflective coating. Being a pilot’s watch, you would not expect scuba-worthy water resistance, but you will get a highly practical 100m rating and a screw-down crown anyway. What you do expect from an aviator is a clear layout, magnetic shielding, bright lume, and a large crown. The Hyper-G comes through on all counts. Large Arabic numbers, a pronounced railroad track index, and daggerlike, faceted, and rhodium-plated pilot hands enable easy readability. X1-grade SuperLuminova shines brightly for your night flights. A soft iron core blocks those accuracy-destroying magnetic fields.
I’m glad SWC did not go for the traditional onion or diamond crown on this one. I know that big crowns are a hallmark of aviator’s watches, but even assuming your average pilot’s watch is being worn by a pilot (likely not), how many of those pilots are in unpressurized cabins wearing flight gloves (not many)? The Hyper-G’s signed crown is not oversized but definitely big enough, wider than tall, and fluted for ample grip. It suits the lines of the case, and I also appreciate how it echos the combination finishing present on the case.
SWC offers the Hyper-G in black, blue, slate gray, and burgundy, in addition to the green dial shown here. All are sunrays, which is in keeping with its dapper take on a pilot watch style.
Behind the screwed case back is a Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic. You know the one: ETA 2824 architecture, 28.8k bph, 26 jewels, and as seen in the SWC-supplied report below, it can be regulated to a high degree of accuracy.
The case back is simple. You won’t find much decoration here, just a cleanly engraved logo, serial number, and basic specifications.
Befitting a pilot’s watch, the Hyper-G comes equipped with a sporty leather strap that is nicely made and fastened with a titanium buckle.
I’m a vocal advocate for sensible watch packaging. I hate heavy boxes and waste, so I was delighted to see the Hyper-G arrive in a padded envelope containing a handy leather watch wallet. It’s a bit larger than a passport case, and it holds the watch, warranty card, accuracy record, and a nice little note from the good folks at SWC. It will also swallow a couple of pens or strap tools.
The SWC Hyper-G sells for $565 on the Swiss Watch Company’s website — or at least it will again when it is back in stock. For the money, you are getting an exceptionally well-executed, versatile, Swiss-made timepiece that will look great on your wrist for years to come. For more information, head over to swcusa.com.
