A close look at the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, one of the most successful modern hand-wound movement timepieces, not only of recent years, but of all times.
There is an interesting vibe about the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. You may be looking for the one watch that you can use for the rest of your life, an enthusiast new to mechanical watchmaking, or a connoisseur that wants to add some color to his/her collection… Regardless of which of the mentioned definitions you fit, you can be sure that you will find almost everything you are looking for in this watch. I finally had the opportunity to add Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, one of the most successful hand-wound watches of recent years, to my collection. After a long period of use, I decided to write my experience with this watch.
Although Hamilton's Khaki Field has been handled with extraordinary care in every aspect, from its dimensions to its movement, from its history to its comfort level, it comes with an accessible price tag. The stainless steel case of the model gains a tactical look thanks to its micro-sandblasted surface texture, which also reinforces the military theme in the genes of the watch. The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical I bought measures 38mm in diameter and 9.5mm in height. The same model also comes with a 42mm case option. First of all, this diameter and thickness allow the model to be worn with great comfort almost on every wrist. The vertical lug-to-lug distance is 47mm, which is more than the usual length for a 38mm diameter case. I will talk about the problem caused by this in a moment. The comfort provided by the case dimensions is further reinforced by the total weight of 60 grams only.
There is a sapphire crystal on the front of the case and a solid case back on the back. There is no AR coating on the crystal. While this doesn't cause a legibility problem, it does make it very difficult to take a nice photo of the dial. Under the crystal is a matte black and textured dial. Hamilton Khaki Field hosts a dial and a set of hands designed for utmost legibility following the military watch theme. Thanks to the SLN on the indices and hands, the night legibility of the watch is also boosted to a sufficient level. Although the cream color, which reinforces the vintage vibe of the model, was preferred for this phosphorescent material, it glows green like regular SLN material. The crown at 3 o'clock is extremely easy to grasp and makes winding the watch a real pleasure. The waterproof value of the model is stated as 50 meters. I'm ending this issue by saying I'd feel more comfortable if it was 100 meters.
In this model, Hamilton offers the hand-wound Caliber H-50, produced with the help of the Swatch group. As you know, Swatch also owns the giant movement manufacturer ETA. The Caliber H-50 in this model is based on the legendary hand-wound Caliber ETA 2801-2. Robust, accurate, and reliable. What more could we ask for from a movement? The hand-wound movement inside the model contributes to the thinness of the case and helps to establish an organic bond between the wearer and the watch. 17-jewel caliber beats at 3Hz (21600vph) and offers 80 hours of power reserve when fully wound.
Hamilton offers the Khaki Field model to its customers with green fabric or brown leather NATO-type strap options. At this point, you understand why the lugs of the watch are longer when compared to other watches of the same diameter. NATO-type straps, by their nature, act as a double-layered fabric cushion under the watch. The long lugs make it much easier to remove and put the straps. If you don't like this type of strap, there is also a stainless steel bracelet version of the same model. Finally, you can put any 20mm wide strap to your Hamilton Khaki Field, but in this case, unfortunately, there will be a big gap between the end of the case and the strap, which some users might not like. More importantly, the alignment of the pin inserted into the strap of the watch remains under the case back level. In other words, the thickness created by the NATO-type strap, which comes with the model, by passing under the case back, is actually a comfort tool. Otherwise, if you try to use this watch with a thin strap, the watch may not be centered on your wrist. On the other hand, I can guarantee that this model will fit perfectly with a thick and sporty designed canvas strap.
Strap monster, one watch collection, a must for every collection or whatever you call it… Hamilton Khaki Field is a watch that will be appreciated by every watch lover, regardless of entry or advanced level, and will be impressed with its usefulness. Moreover, at this price, its build quality makes it unrivaled in its category.
