AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane AV-4011-06 Review

The Hawker Hurricane is an Aviation-Inspired Chronograph

And it carries that theme well. There are many versions of the AV-4011 series of Hurricanes, and the mustard-yellow and black version I have here is the best looking (in my opinion). The RAF theme and Hawker Hurricane branding make this quartz chrono fun to wear and look at.

I really love when a watch is designed well, and I’m impressed overall with how AVI-8 has styled the Hawker Hurricane. It breaks away from the usual and goes all-in on the fighter plane theme. I love that.

Let’s give the AV-4011-06 the run down and see if time really does fly when you’re having fun.

AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane AV-4011-06 Technical Specifications

Model Number: AV-4011-06
MSRP: $235
Case Diameter: 42mm
Alternate Models: Different colour and strap combinations available
Movement: Japanese quartz chronograph
Complications: Chronograph, date display
Battery Life: Estimated 3-5 years
Water Resistance: 50m / 165ft
Crystal Material: Mineral

AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Aesthetics & Design

The theme is consistent across the Hawker Hurricane’s surfaces. Top, bottom, and on each side, there’s something to remind you of the inspiration that gave the Hawker Hurricane its name and informed its style.

The design of the Hawker Hurricane works well because of how well thought out it is. No one part is too much; the face is styled but not overdone; the caseback features an engraving of the Hawker Hurricane silhouette; the crown looks as if it came straight from the RAF.

Even the subdials are labelled like flight instruments.

The mustard-coloured leather strap looks appropriately like the era the watch is based on. From a distance, you could almost think that this watch would be part of the kit for a fighter pilot or paratrooper in WWII England. The lume is certainly bright enough for the job.

The clasp is a matte finish black steel and is engraved with AVI-8’s logo. It compliments the watch completely, meshing well with the mustard strap and the ion-plated black case. It’s not a deployment clasp, which I always prefer when wearing leather, but even so, it does a good job pairing with the watch and completes the aesthetic.

I like how complete the style on the Hawker Hurricane is. Every piece, from the crown to the clasp, has been considered and done really well. The watch looks the part it’s trying to play, and that really adds to the fun.

AVI-8 AV-4011-06 Build Quality

My overall impression after spending a few weeks with the Hawker Hurricane is that it’s built as good as any other watch in this price range. The crystal could use an anti-reflective treatment, but that’s my only complaint.

Crystal, Case, & Dial

Mineral is the material used for the crystal, and that’s not uncommon in the sub-$250 price point. The $100ish Timex Expedition (and other chronos like it) use mineral; The $100 Castle Corbel has sapphire. I find it challenging to believe that sapphire is still too expensive to use on a quartz watch priced nearly $250.

The crystal sits nearly flush with the bezel, and as such it doesn’t attract too much negative attention. It has not scratched while I’ve worn it. As mentioned, reflection is a bit of a problem here- on a sunny day it can be hard to see the time when in direct sun.

The black ion-plated case looks good. The black coating is uniform throughout and appears to resist wear fairly well. There’s a lot more wear on the clasp than there is on the case.

I really like the dial and how well constructed it is. It looks great up close, with everything applied straight and even. It looks to be built well.

Strap & Clasp

The mustard-yellow strap looks great and feels even better on the wrist. It’s comfortable to wear, feeling soft and supple on both sides. It’s a little thicker than most, though, and that may be a problem if you’re looking for something thin and discreet. Of course, if you wanted something discreet, there’s questions to be asked about why you’re looking at a watch with a mustard-yellow strap and a picture of a WWII-era fighter on the dial.

The buckle is a black steel unit. It looks like every other buckle and is built just as well, too. It has a few scratches from being worn, but overall looks good. I think it will hold up well over time.

About the Movement

AVI-8 doesn’t specify the movement used, just that it’s a Japanese quartz chronograph. It could be a Miyota, though I’ve read on other sites that it could be an TMI movement; I haven’t popped the caseback off to have a look. When I know more, I’ll update this area.

According to toolwatch.io, the quartz chronograph inside this Hawker Hurricane is -0.90 seconds per day. That’s not bad, putting it off by somewhere around 25 – 30 seconds per month.

Other quartz movements are much more accurate (plug: the Bulova Accutron II Alpha, which is accurate to within 6 seconds per month), but let’s be real: not a lot of people need their watch to be accurate to the second, especially when shopping for a awesome-looking quartz chronograph.

How to Set the Hawker Hurricane

To set the time, pull the crown to position 3 (furthest). Turn the crown in either direction to set the time. Note that the date display will automatically roll over at midnight.
To set the date, pull the crown to position 2 (middle). Turn the crown to move the date forwards.

I Really Like the Hawker Hurricane

AVI-8 is a brand I’ve been wanting to check out for a little while; I’m glad that my first impression with them was positive. I’m going to try to get my hands on a few of their other watches, and hopefully a couple of auto’s too.

I feel that their price point is a little on the high side considering the materials and movement used. If you’re someone that values a watch based on the materials used, you may find the value proposition challenging. However, despite this, I’m okay with the premium because of how styled and well done it is. I think that the Hawker Hurricane is a watch with personality, and that’s worth something.

This AVI-8 uses a similar movement and general styling conventions as that of other quartz chronographs, but it does it really well. It’s a great example of how to build a fun and good looking watch that is also quite functional and easy to wear. I think that you’ll enjoy it.