New Textures and Dial Colours for the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba and Khaki Navy Scuba GMT

When dive watches start to flood the watch scene, it’s a sure sign that summer is just around the corner. With this in mind, Hamilton updates its go-anywhere, do-anything 40mm Khaki Navy Scuba line with wave-patterned dials and new colours. For those venturing abroad, Hamilton also proposes three new editions of its pragmatic travel-oriented diver, the Khaki Navy Scuba GMT.

Built like Hamilton’s rugged military-inspired Khaki Field tool watches, the brand’s Khaki Navy is a well-stocked collection of robust dive watches, from sporty 100m water-resistant models to extreme 1,000m water-resistant models like the Frogman and  BeLOWZERO.

Khaki Navy Scuba 40mm

The Khaki Navy Scuba 40mm is the smaller, more versatile sibling of the 43mm Navy Scuba, pitched as an aquatic/adventure sports watch. Although it does not deliver the 300m water-resistance features of its larger brother, its 100m depth rating is more than sufficient for most recreational water adventures.

Recently refreshed, the five new Navy Scuba models feature wave-textured dials, adding a stylish touch to a watch that is also designed to be worn as a daily beater. The case has not changed and retains its 40mm diameter and 12.95mm thickness. The screw-down crown, protected by lateral guards, and the screwed caseback not only keep water out of the case but also protect it from accidental blows. The unidirectional 60-minute bezel, in black or blue sandblasted aluminium, features an inverted triangle at noon.

The dial is now decorated with a series of dynamic, undulating waves. Adding dimension and elevating its cachet, the stamped and lacquered wave-textured dial has a whiff of Omega’s Seamaster, a similarity that is further consolidated by the (new to this model) set of dot indices complementing the wedge-shaped markers at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Thicker than the applied indices on earlier editions, the indices are treated with Super-LumiNova, matching the hands.

Available in five iterations, three feature black dials (including a fun two-tone black and turquoise model). The silver model is paired with a contrasting blue aluminium bezel insert, while the blue dial features a tone-on-tone look with its blue bezel. The framed date window at 4:30 has a white disc – making it slightly harder to read on the silver model – and the 24-hour scale has been retained.

Hidden beneath the caseback is calibre H-10, Hamilton’s version of the Powermatic 80 with a robust 80-hour power reserve and an antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring. Paired with a 3-row stainless steel bracelet with a folding buckle, the black dial and the black and turquoise dial references come with a matching rubber strap with a pin buckle.

Khaki Navy Scuba GMT

Released last year, Hamilton’s dive watch and GMT combo was a welcome addition to the collection. Introduced in powerful 43mm steel or bronze cases with a thickness of 13.9mm, the robust 300m water-resistant diver returns in solid steel. In keeping with its sporty personality, most of the case is brushed with polished accents on the crown, the bezel’s notches and the bevels on the central link of the bracelet.

While its looks are clearly rooted in the 43mm Navy Scuba, the GMT converts the dive bezel into a 24-hour indicator to track a second time zone indicated by a red central GMT hand. The blue or black polished ceramic inserts in the notched bezel match the dial colour for a tone-on-tone effect. Treated with a contemporary grained finish, the blue dial features a subtle gradient effect.

The applied hour markers, a mix of dots and wedge-shaped markers, are treated with Super-LumiNova, matching the hands. While the date window is colour-matched on the black dial, the date disc of the blue dial is white.

Powering the watch is the H-14 automatic movement, based on Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80, with an 80-hour power reserve and an antimagnetic Nivachron balance spring. The black dial is available with a 3-row stainless steel bracelet with a folding buckle or a black rubber strap with a pin buckle; the blue reference is currently offered with the steel bracelet.

More information at hamiltonwatch.com.