In the world of field watches, few brands can match the blend of ruggedness, legacy, quality, and value that Hamilton offers. Over the years, the brand’s Khaki Field line has expanded to include a wide range of sizes, materials, and executions, ranging from faithful renditions of midcentury designs to modernist reinterpretations of what a field watch can be. The Khaki Field Titanium Automatic line has hit a sweet spot for many enthusiasts in terms of style and amenities, combining a classic look with modern materials, but this classic undercurrent has historically been undercut somewhat by the line’s contemporary 42mm sizing. Hamilton aims to change this with its first major Khaki Field release of 2022, translating the Khaki Field Titanium Automatic into a trio of distinctive 38mm styles. Ranging from timeless standard colorways to bold experiments in color and texture, the three new 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models add depth and charisma to one of the brand’s most successful field watch sub-lines.
With new, more compact dimensions, these Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models’ 38mm titanium cases tie the design in more closely with their vintage military-issue forebears. The overall form is simple and function-first, with tapering athletic lugs, vertical case sides, and a narrow sloping bezel. Two of the three models accentuate this utilitarian feel with a fully brushed finish, which works in conjunction with Hamilton’s relatively pale titanium alloy to keep these variants visually close to their stainless steel predecessors in images. For the third model in the trio, Hamilton takes a bolder, more adventurous visual tack, coating this case in a full layer of matte black PVD. This modern tactical-style finish suits the clean lines of the case well in images, reframing the design with a more contemporary tool-watch bent. All three variants are rated for an adventure-ready 100 meters of water resistance.
As with the cases, the dials of these new 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models run the gamut from classic and conservative to eye-catchingly unique. The matte black dial model is the most traditional of the three, with a decidedly complex take on field watch themes including a “vinyl record” azurage hours ring, a boldly printed outer seconds scale, and an inner 24-hour scale with cleanly printed Arabic numerals. Black-rimmed syringe-tipped Roman sword hands and large printed Arabic hours numerals help to keep this pleasantly busy layout easily legible in images, while the pale sandy fauxtina lume fill gives this dial a touch of vintage warmth. The Khaki Field Titanium Automatic’s use of vibrant signal orange injects a touch of bolder character into the mix, coming across as a striking alternative to traditional red highlights. The olive green dial variant follows the same general pattern as its black stablemate, but the introduction of color reframes this design in a softer, more fashionable light in images. In addition, the orange highlights harmonize well with the light olive drab dial tone, subtly tying into the Khaki Field’s outdoorsy ethos. If urban exploration is more your style than fording rivers, however, the black PVD model is tailored for you. This model abandons the grainy matte main dial surface and azurage accent ring of its companions, in favor of unique pitted medium matte gray dial surface inspired by the texture of concrete. Despite the dynamic and complex surface texture, this design feels more open and spacious than its counterparts in images, but without brightly colored highlights this model might suffer slightly for legibility on the wrist.
Hamilton powers each of these new 38mm Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models with the ETA-based H-10 automatic movement. Made exclusively for Hamilton by the brand’s parent company Swatch Group, the H-10 offers a high-tech Nivachron balance spring and solid modern performance, including a massive 80 hour power reserve at a slightly underwhelming 21,600 bph beat rate. To complete the rugged field watch look, Hamilton pairs each of the three new models with a fully stitched nubuck strap. The black dial model receives a strap in deep muted moss green, introducing a cool contrast to the warmth of the lume and orange dial highlights while remaining subdued and easily wearable. For the olive green dial variant, the brand instead turns to a classic caramel brown strap option. Hamilton keeps the PVD-cased model’s contemporary monochrome colorway intact through a warm gray nubuck strap.
With more compact case dimensions, a range of styles, and capable construction, the new 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models bring intriguing new personalities and dependable executions to the brand’s cornerstone field watch line. All three new Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models are available now through authorized dealers. Pricing for the new 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic models ranges from $895 to $945 as of press time. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.
