I haven’t run the numbers (no time) but I’d argue the Hamilton Khaki Field Watch has popped up on HiConsumption more than any other timepiece out there — it’s at least in the top three. Not only does it check all of our boxes (utility, aesthetic, heritage, price) but it also happens to be an emblematic model in terms of our brand and what we love.
While the Khaki Field is fairly priced at upwards of $600 in its mechanical form, Hamilton has now put out a quartz version that’s at least half the price. But before we take a look, let’s see what makes the Khaki Field such an icon to begin with.
A Most Legendary Field Watch
Arguably the most favored among railroad workers when it came to their pocket watches around the turn of the 20th century, Hamilton got noticed by the American military in the 1910s. But it wasn’t until the Second World War that the bond became even stronger. In 1942, the company shut down civilian operations to exclusively make its GG-W-113 model for the U.S. Army as they defeated the Axis Powers. Over one million timepieces were delivered from their Pennsylvania factory in just a four-year span.
The decades that followed saw Hamilton continue its partnership with the military while coming out with different field watches for the public, including white-label models commissioned by other companies like L.L.Bean.
In 2017, Hamilton created its Khaki Field Watch, which took the legacy from the ‘40s and combined it with the aesthetic of its ‘60s-era General Service watches made for members of the British government. It currently provides a base for several iterations, including a recent Expedition variant and these new quartz modes, which have a slight design update from previous models.
Hamilton Khaki Field Watch Quartz
Available in both 38mm and 33mm versions, the Khaki Field Watch Quartz adds another influence to the mix with its dial text. These models now read “Khaki” in stylized block letters at the bottom of the dial, pulling from its Khaki Field civilian models from the 1980s — albeit those featured the text much larger. The connection to these past models makes this feel less like a “cheaper version” of the standard non-quartz Khaki Field and more of an inspired concept worthy of picking up, whether or not you already have a mechanical version of the watch.
The ‘80s flair goes along with the addition of the quartz movement here, since quartz was the king of things at that time. However, these aren’t the first quartz field watches from Hamilton. Their current range offers a 40mm version with design notes specifically from the automatic Khaki Field, with a 24-hour inner circle but none of the retro cues. The current 38mm and 33mm options blend their ‘80s nods with the current heritage-inspired manually-wound Khaki Fields.
The watch also comes in a trio of dial colors: black, blue, and white. Aside from the new dial text, the overall design is nothing new. All three dial versions come with a textured NATO strap. You can get the black dial in either a matching black strap or a green one. Meanwhile, the white dial comes with a green strap and the blue dial comes with a matching blue strap.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 33mm/38mm
Case Thickness: 7.5mm or 8.3mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: Quartz
Band: Black, blue, or green textile strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Not limited in edition size, the Khaki Field Watch Quartz is offered at $395 in both 33mm and 38mm sizes. Head over to Hamilton’s website to purchase one for yourself.
Recap
Hamilton Khaki Field Watch Quartz
Hamilton made a quartz version of its legendary Khaki Field Watch in both 38mm and 33mm versions. It also features a dial text inspired by its ’80s models.
