Perhaps one of the most popular line of watches. the Hamilton Khaki line continues to produce fantastic pieces, both aesthetically and in the value department. I’ve personally owned and reviewed watches from this line, which is saying a lot considering my stringent criteria behind my purchasing decisions.  So, why do I find a 3rd Hamilton Khaki in my collection? This upgraded Khaki Field Mechanical simply raises the Khaki bar even higher.  Hamilton has somehow managed to improve on a near perfect watch.

 
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The Watch:

  • Size: 38mm

  • Dial: White

  • Lume: Super-LumiNova Hands and Indices

  • Lug Width: 20mm

  • Thickness: 9.5mm

  • Movement: H-50 Handwinding 80-Hour Power Reserve

  • Crystal: Sapphire

  • Water Resistance: 50m

On paper, the size shines.  At 38mm and 9.5mm thick, the Khaki almost disappears on the wrist.  Sometimes, lack of wrist presence can be a problem, but for a field watch, I’d argue that’s exactly what you want.  The simple design and 20mm lugs makes this a strap monster, looking good on anything from a nato, leather, suede, or anything in between. On the design department, less is more.

 
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So, what’s so special about this piece?

After owning multiple field watches and multiple Hamilton watches, why is this one in my collection today? 

  • An upgraded movement gives this watch an edge. I’ve slowly become a sucker for hand wound movements. They usually offer a thinner case, and there’s something about the daily winding of a watch that appeals to me.  This upgraded Khaki has an improved 80-hour power reserve movement that really blows its predecessors out of the water.

 
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  • Faux patina is a touchy subject, for me.  I’m of the opinion that most watches that go with faux patina would look better without it. However, Hamilton has nailed that look on this piece.  To me, the aged look alludes to the long line of heritage behind field/military watches. It highlights the history of this watch visually, while using state of the art technology internally.

  • The white dial offers a great change of pace from the usual black dialed field watches, both by Hamilton and other brands.  While it may not be “true” to the heritage of the line, it doesn’t bother me.  It’s a good thing I won’t be wearing this out in a military field.

 

Conclusion

If there’s a strong candidate for a one watch collection, it’s this one.  The size, versatility, power reserve, and design allow this to wear well with any attire and withstand most physical tests.  Hamilton has somehow improved a near perfect watch and created this fantastic timepiece.

 

Below is an unboxing video that shows what you get when you buy this piece, including dimension measuring and a lume shot.