New Colours for Hamilton’s Accessible Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm

Released in 2018, the Khaki Field Mechanical quickly became a hit for Hamilton. And when you wear this watch, you quickly understand why. The essence of a military/field watch with a vintage-inspired design, it is rugged, simple, legible, well proportioned and comes with a genuinely accessible price tag. And it sure looks good! Following the launch of the inaugural black/steel version, this Hacked-inspired watch appeared in multiple colours and material combinations, with an updated movement and larger cases. New Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm models now join the collection, with steel or bronze options.

The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is inspired by a mid-20th-century model named the Hamilton “Hacked”. This unique name comes from the capacity of these watches to make the seconds hand stop when the crown is pulled – a feature enabling military forces to synchronise their watches, even if it has now become an almost mandatory feature on most modern timepieces. However, the inspiration is not based on the hacking mechanism but on the design. The Khaki Field Mechanical is all about WWII, field-issued military watches and proudly shows that on the case, the proportions and, of course, its dial.

First released in a 38mm steel case, powered by a hand-wound ETA 2801 movement with a 42h power reserve, the brand quickly upgraded this best-selling collection with a more powerful movement and a bunch of new colours. 2021 marked the arrival of a bronze case, which was particularly well received, increasing its retro, instrument-watch spirit. Besides its cool looks, the overriding no-nonsense approach and the highly accessible price give this collection its appeal. In short, a good, simple watch with a great design, good proportions, and reliable mechanics for a fair price. What more could you ask for? New colour combinations, maybe? You’ll be served.

For 2024, Hamilton introduces three new editions of its Khaki Field Mechanical, all housed in compact 38mm cases. Surprisingly thin at 9.5mm, this watch evokes the old days of the soldier’s no-frills tool watch with a matte, blasted case. It’s focused, clean and robust enough, even though the 50m water-resistance could be slightly improved. All models are worn on NATO straps, either in leather or fabric. A sapphire crystal protects the dial, and the back is solid metal, screwed to the case.

One of the distinctive elements of the Khaki Field Mechanical was its dial, which was heavily inspired by vintage military watches. It has large Arabic numerals, an additional 13-24 hour scale, triangular luminous markers and a nicely designed handset. Two new steel models join the collection: a new matte blue dial paired with a blue strap and a revamp of the classic white dial model that now has greenish Super-LumiNova and a new all-black NATO strap.

Also, the beloved bronze 38mm edition, which was only available in black, now has a white dial and a brown NATO leather strap. It is paired with black-toned hands and markers and beige SLN.

All Khaki Field Mechanicals are now powered by the H-50 movement, exclusively developed by ETA for Hamilton. Still based on the ETA 2801 (a hand-wound version of the classic 2824), it has undergone the same treatment as the Powermatic 80, with an extended power reserve of 80 hours and a 3Hz frequency.

Now available from the brand and its retailers, the white and blue steel Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm models are priced at CHF 550 / EUR 625 / USD 595; the bronze version retails for CHF 850 / EUR 965 / USD 895. For more details, please consult www.hamiltonwatch.com.