Over at MMI, founder Victor Wee has been quietly going about the business of making good watches since 2019, living up to his acronym of Modernization, Modification, and Innovation. After a series of dive-watch related releases, Wee has turned his attention to a new pilot watch, the MMI Sky-Hunter. Launched only two weeks ago, the watch is available for pre-order directly from the brand’s website.
The timepiece draws inspiration from Britain’s Hawker Hunter–a trans-sonic fighter jet that spent more than sixty years patrolling the skies from 1954 to 2014. The prototype for the jet, which used a newly minted Rolls Royce Avon Turbo Engine and a swept-wing design, broke the world record for air speed the year before it became commercially available.
Wee–who is based in Singapore–chose to commemorate the aircraft with his first pilot watch, as it was the Hawker Hunter that the RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) used in its own nascent fighter squadron from 1968-1992.
The Sky-Hunter joins the Turret 300 and the Turret Marine Chronograph in MMI’s growing stable of tool watches, which all make use of the same unconventional date complication. The Rota-wheel, which was first used in the Marine Chrono, functions like a reverse pointer date. Aside from indicating the day of the month, with a colourful day-glow display marker, the complication’s index–which circumscribes the interior of the dial–establishes a unifying structure among the brand’s different models. It also adds an element of interest in the architecture of each individual watch.
Subtly patinaed, mid-century numeral font @calibre321
The majority of the dial in the silver variant, featured here, is vertically brushed, with printed Arabics on the hours and a white minute track in the outer chapter ring. The three well-defined spaces, which are also layered, have the same effect as a more traditional sector dial. The pencil handset and hour indicators are also filled with Super-LumiNova. However, the is also a blue, full lume dial colourway available. All references are capped in a 2mm piece of sapphire glass which has been treated in AR.
Predominantly brushed with a polished bezel @calibre321
The Sky-Hunter case is milled from 316L stainless steel and is predominantly brushed about the mid-case, sides, and along the lugs. However, the substantial stationary bezel is polished. This element does a good job of highlighting the dial. True to its name, the watch measures 38mm in diameter and also has a conservative lug to lug of 45.5mm. Like all MMI watches, the case is slender, coming in at only 10.6mm. As such, despite its toolish intentions, the silver reference could easily pull double-duty at the office.
The sizeable crown is screw-down and nicely knurled. It is also signed and, like the dial elements, it is lumed. On the flip side, the screw down case back is engraved with an aerial view of the Hawker Hunter. Each piece is also individually numbered from 001 to 150. The Sky-Hunter promises 100m of water resistance.
Embossed and individually numbered case back @calibre321
For a movement, MMI chose the Miyota 9015. It’s a 4Hz calibre with 24 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve. It runs at a rate of -10/+30 seconds a day.
Each Sky-Hunter comes standard on a matching, stainless steel bracelet. The clasp is milled and signed. Like the majority of the watch, it is predominantly brushed. In addition to the silver reference, the Sky-Hunter is available in four other colourways, including black, champagne, white, and full-lume blue.
Pre-order pricing for the Sky-Hunter began two weeks ago and is calculated on a sliding preferential scale. At the time of publication, the current cost in $328USD. This constitutes a savings of 30% off the final retail price. Beginning in the new year, the price will climb to $352USD. In February it will be $375USD, and in March it will sell for its full price of $469USD. Only 150 units of each colourway will be produced. Estimated delivery is in April and May of 2023.
The brushing in the prototype is a little rough around the lugs. However, the level of finishing is difficult to judge. Adjustments are likely to be made to the final product. It should also be noted that in a 38mm watch, the dial text–particularly around the date complication–is quite small.
While the MMI Sky-Hunter does not look like a stereotypical pilot watch, it is certainly a decent candidate for your GADA. It is sized discreetly, but built solidly. Its brushed surfaces will live up to the occasional knock and ding, but the polished bezel adds a touch of class. I like the aesthetic of the Rota-wheel complication and what it brings to the structure of the dial, even if is is a little less functional than a typical date display. The dial layout is nicely balanced, as well. At 100m of water resistance, it would make a solid field watch and you could easily take it swimming. From a design standpoint, the Sky-Hunter is an interesting mix of contemporary cues, but also manages to maintain one foot in the past. Its subtly patinaed dial font, for instance, is firmly mid-century. The case shape is also more conventional than other timepieces in the brand’s lineup. Overall, the mingling cuts an attractive classical silhouette.
The Sky-Hunter is currently available for pre-order at $328USD. For more information, please visit the brand website.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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That’s a fantastic-looking watch packed with character!
Lovely dial action on this Sky-Hunter by MMI.