I love Hamilton. There, I’ve said it. I own a fair few of them myself – the Ventura and two Khakis, including the odd-looking Frogman. They’re a great brand for a decent entry-level timepiece and if you want more than my word on the subject, just look at the new Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm.
Following the trend of releasing us from the shackles of oversized watches, it’s case size might sound a bit small on paper but with its long lugs should still feel right at home. It’s as close to a real vintage military watch as you’re likely to get outside of the Dirty Dozen and is rugged to match.
This version even comes with a pre-patinated dial to give that look of wear and age. It’obviously not an antique, but it’s still a pretty faithful reproduction of the original. The lume has a vintage sandy tint to it and the watch even has a hand-wound movement, and the NATO strap would look at home under a WWII uniform.
The Khaki Field isn’t a showy watch; in fact it’s stripped back to its fundamentals. But if you’re after a light, comfortable piece that can take more than its fair share of hard knocks, look no further. It might even be the fourth entry into my own Hamilton collection.
Price & Specs:
Model: Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
Ref: H69429931
Dial/Case: 38mm diameter, sand-blasted stainless steel
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: Hand-wound ETA 2801-2
Power reserve: 42 hour
Price and availability: £375
More at: www.hamiltonwatch.com
