Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical

[@soap.333]

I just purchased this little guy not too long ago and I am waiting for it to arrive on the mail. When I saw this timepiece it spoke to me in a way that no watch has spoken to me before. I can feel within me that this is a watch that I will truly love and cherish for many many years to come and most likely pass this down to my kids if in the future! This hobby is about collecting but also about how the watch you’re getting makes you feel.. and I cannot wait to have this on my wrist soon! I love the design, specs, history, and the quality of this Hami! Not to mention that I got this at an amazing deal on eBay!

[@dantimber]

Agree. Love it! Perfect vintage size.

[@GianMelendres-if7ph]

How’s the watch after 3 years?

[@soap.333]

@@GianMelendres-if7ph still just as awesome as the day I got it (: definitely happy to have gotten it.

[@soap.333]

@@kavashaman496 no no issues. When you finish winding it fully you stop when you feel resistance. It tells you that you’re good for a full 80 hours!

[@soap.333]

I love love my Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical! I got this baby for 600 rather than that 845 price tag. It’s more worth it in that price range. I sold my other watches for this one and I am super glad I did it. I dress it up and down and it’s great. It’s my number one!

[@bmassche]

Nice beauty of a 70s style case shape. Elegant size too. Good on Hammy!

[@meltdowngrfx969]

Love the case shape. Glad they used the old style Hamilton italic font. My hand wind Khaki field reissue is super accurate.

[@amg231]

It’s already down to $580 on amazon. Love this watch, think I might pick one up eventually

[@---bh8jq]

Yo shut up..thats not true I checked!

[@antidot556]

@@---bh8jq It is 650-700 usd here in official retailer. Still no discount.

[@jeremywalker2210]

I can’t understand the price on this watch, the khaki mechanical (hand wind) same movement bigger case and a sapphire crystal for $300 less. I love this watches aesthetically but can’t get over the price without a sapphire. Idk

[@mefjupl8679]

Lemme explain than- this brand sells newly made watches for more. This it how it was since I remember. After 2-3 years price on this one will drop 200-300 euro for new. And than im planning to revisit this one mby ending up buying. ^^

[@dougng78]

100m water resistance and brushed finish is a major upgrade. Bead blasted is an inexpensive finish.

[@shotgunmcshotgun1142]

There’s a huge quality jump with this over the field, I got this watch the other week and the brushing on it is extremely nice and the dial is amazing

[@omarkharnivall2439]

Dont forget lovely drilled lugs

[@shaned1500]

Technically the khaki field mechanical is around 500 on Hamilton's website right? Plus doesn't the field have a smaller power reserve also the finishing on the hands is much nicer on this watch and I would say the same about the case

[@jimbrown2044]

In the early 1970s you could pick up army surplus watches like this from several stores in uk and also by post.if I remember correctly Smith's Cyma hamilton were £10, omega longines £15 or £20.

[@jamesg4670]

This is such a well done well made watch....the aesthetic might not be for everyones taste but it is an awesome peice...the retail price is high but thats with every brand the 5kx was 400 bucks when it came out

[@leeharding8306]

I had a look at one of these a few weeks ago. Much smaller than I thought it would be and Rob didn’t mention that this model has ant reflective coating which is rare for a Hamilton. No sapphire is a deal breaker for me and you can get a khaki 40mm automatic for a much better price too.

[@shipmate3577]

Amazing looking watch. So cool. Hamilton definitely gives Seiko a run for it's money for watches around $500-$800.

[@mariog7213]

I think hamilton is much better than seiko in that price point.

[@69VAJRA]

@@mariog7213 not waterproof

[@scottlynch5804]

Fantastic watch! I've had a 40mm version of the Khaki Officer's Mechanical for years and it gets more wrist time than just about anything else, including watches that cost many times more. It's extremely reliable, predictable and a tough field watch. No doubt, this will be the same.

[@m.kennedy1128]

I own the same model on bracelet. Amazing piece! Not sure why Hamilton decided to discontinue it. It checks all the boxes.

[@yaaxarr8977]

That’s an amazing great looking watch Rob. Ty!

[@HJ-bd2rr]

Finally a review for this watch!! Great job

[@watchthisspace63]

Late to the party here….. I’ve had several Khaki Fields, mechanical and autos but this is by far the best of the bunch. Great legibility courtesy of the double domed mineral glass and bold numbers, along with a faux patina that actually looks like patinaed lume. Got it a for £550 GBP which makes it a steal in my eyes. This one won’t be leaving my collection anytime soon.

[@ryanstafford8544]

I freaking love this watch! Glad you reviewed it. I need to get rid of watches before buying more. Glad I just bought CWC G10 from 1984. The wait is killing me.

[@RandomRobReviews]

At some point I need to see some CWC watches

[@simonefranks7706]

Get the CWC Mellor72

[@bronco1199]

You really provide a service with your channel, every watch I'm interested in you preview and or review. Nobody ever factors hand size or forearm size when it comes to how watches look. A smaller wrist with big hands and forearms can pull off larger pieces. Contrary to that smaller watches can look OK on bigger wrists if the hands and forearms are smaller. That 36mm looks great on your wrist even though you have large hands and wrist. I'm sold on this watch, I have similar arm, hand and wrist specs as you.

[@elelegido7080]

I have this watch. And my wrist is 20 cms

[@garyk8285]

MWC does a very affordable homage to the CWC. They have some good watches. Also Pulsar was awarded the contract to the British civil/military services after CWC from memory and produced these G10 watches. You can buy ones that were used in service quite cheap.

[@shotgunmcshotgun1142]

Hamilton originally produced these watches before the quartz crisis. After this the Hamilton exec for the uk broke away from Hamilton and created cwc who continued producing the w10 watch

[@andrewd7586]

Lovely tribute watch Rob. I have a Vietnam issue Hamilton & just recently purchased a lovely second hand Hamilton Khaki automatic with the silver dial! I’ll add yet another one to my list!🥴💵💵 Cheers from Down Under👍🏼

[@almoscola8684]

I have never seen this Hamilton, very nice, thanks for sharing!!!

[@Himlovesrunning]

Happy to acquire this for around £550 brand new. Hamilton UK site has this listed for £720 though. Great watch.

[@aceburgers8801]

Clean, nice. Hamilton makes some nice pieces

[@stomartalar]

I have the vintage model and thinking about buying this one. That dial and the orange luminous paint giving it that vintage look. Wouldn't been nice to have some sort of design on the case back or just a more vintage look.

[@mmkbkk]

very elegant, nice to see normal size watch.

[@oes2546]

7:30 Why can't the Swatch group do decent lume on watches that are $700 and up??? My Certina is supposedly a diver, yet the lume is a joke compared to the Seiko's and Citizen I've owned. (I really mean it). I guess it is not that the Swiss are bad at lume, but that the Japanese are just really good at it.

[@michaelchurchman6018]

Do you think this watch would be suitable for regular ocean use? I'm a surfer and I've been looking for a simple, clean, highly legible and durable watch. All the divers I've seen are just too complicated for me. There's just something about pilots watches that I love but because of my sport, I'm too afraid to trust them in the ocean 3 days a week

[@ankitshah2795]

Buy God tier GShock.

[@ak2112]

Huge fan of how it looks. I'd strongly consider one at $500 or less.

[@amg231]

Love it! Thanks for sharing it rob

[@danryan4137]

Can I use poly watch to buff out those inevitable scratches on the glass?

[@cuestion-de-tiempo]

I’ll buy this one and the khaki when they come with se through case back - I know that for being military watches they shouldn’t have that feature but if we are honest here, we buy diver watches when the most we do is snorkeling, we buy pilot watches when maybe 1% of the watch community are going to pilot something in their lives, filed watches and we aren’t even Boy Scouts so... see through case please!

[@bambikiller338]

Nice watch, no complaints and thats says alot since I love to complain 👍🏼

[@cedarcanoe]

I am a sucker for those optics

[@davidgibson4411]

Nice watch! Hamilton is the best on Military watches!!

[@yyzca6126]

Ha Bruce, great videos. One question this new Khaki pilot pioneer or the previous model with the two crowns and inner rotating bezel? Two different watches same name which do you favour? Thanks

[@xavieralonzoparedes]

A mineral cristal! Why?

[@autry33]

The case is fantastic!

[@izaazkhalili]

Love it. Just wish it came with sapphire crystal.

[@FINEST-uz9ek]

Love the look of it but hesitant on size , I have a 6.75 wrist and even with that size wrist I would not go below 39. Also a little pricey for mineral glass and a nato strap! If it were in the $450-525 ballpark maybe .

[@shotgunmcshotgun1142]

I’ve a 6.75 wrist and it looks good on it

[@andrew811ful]

OMG freakin awesome thanks for the code just ordered!

[@rogersmith4926]

This Watch looks great on your wrist, i dont like those oversized watches because they are heavy and wearing them all day long is not that great. Enjoy it

[@AltonJRuffRev]

Mineral crystal? Hanging out like that I'd definitely be bashing it on things. 😔 Nice review. 👍

[@edteach3r]

Really nice Hammy, but I really wish that they still provided their handwind models with the ETA 2804-2 (as I have in my old Field Mechanical). I don’t care for the added poor reserve of the new movements ... I wind my watch every morning in any case and the ETA has that smoooooth second hand sweep.

[@ronelljones3327]

Eddie de Beer Greetings 😅, another neg is the beat rate being slower,, not sure exact rates I own 38, kaki field new movement,, very accurate,,80 power reserve, but its beat rate new movements not as fast as ETA ones The new movements however are deadly accurate set before shipping:: Just few thoughts

[@edteach3r]

Ronell Jones : Thanks for the clarification, Ronell. I think you are quite correct ... my Hamilton Murph with H-10 is accurate to within 2 seconds per day. Very impressive! Personally, I would sacrifice the power reserve for a higher beat rate, though :) .

[@jatx]

Sapphire or even acrylic and I would have bought it.

[@TheDobbermn]

Everything is full retail at that Mimo site. I can go to any Hamilton AD in town and get 15% off any Hamilton without even asking for it.

[@RandomRobReviews]

Rob25 Discount code

[@TheDobbermn]

@@RandomRobReviews Ahh.....that changes things :)

[@aodghostwalker8226]

Everytime i see this on chrono it says its 33mm :S i'm confused :D:D

[@Helios_17_]

Just picked one up myself but it seems every 6-8 hours it gains around 5 seconds. Does anyone know if this is normal or do i have a lemon?

[@mvrdamonxy7942]

If your unhappy send it back and get s new one the watch may also settle in how long have you had it?

[@Helios_17_]

MVRDA MONXY Thanks for the reply. I’ve only had it for 2 days so far; and with it still being on its first full charge it seems to be gaining around 4seconds every 12hours. This is my first non automatic mechanical watch so im not 100% sure what the norm is lol

[@mvrdamonxy7942]

@@Helios_17_ it has a ETA 2801-2 its a excellent movement. Wear it a few weeks and it will probably settle down to +/- 4 seconds every 24hrs its not cosc so I'd be happy with that if after a few weeks you are not happy send the watch back and ask for a new one or your money back.

[@Helios_17_]

MVRDA MONXY good suggestion ill try that. Thanks for all the advise!

[@mvrdamonxy7942]

@@Helios_17_ no problem buddy enjoy your watch its a nice piece.

[@garyk8285]

CWC homage?

[@DK-wr9nd]

Hmm, this watch seems to be perfect for me. Does your code work offline too? lol

[@torokun]

Why is it so expensive?

[@Halfmoon67]

Great design, just a bit too high in price IMO. Thanks for the review, it was a great pleasure to watch 👍

[@rafftime9831]

You lost me at mineral crystal $800 and no sapphire crystal come on Hamilton

[@evh4611]

I Hear you

[@TheAcolossus]

yeah thats some BS

[@waktosha7378]

I would want one once the price comes down, but the mineral crystal is a deal breaker!

[@xavieralonzoparedes]

Way over price by $500.

[@SuperAirman2000]

Love it!!!! Classic

[@kaisoerfjord8232]

No screw down crowns on the Hamiltons.

[@xstex]

I wanted this but it’s just too small.

[@giangvu7902]

Nice watch!

[@Trex100]

Gorgeous

[@yeth3569]

36mm is too small. I hope they make a bigger version soon.

[@mikec3454]

36mm is not too small ... go try it on your wrist before you write it off. 36mm is an extremely versatile size and can be worn appropriate on a large majority of wrist. I don't know if it's some "complex" some guys have that they can't wear 36mm. I started this crazy hobby collecting 43mm and up watches; I now exclusively own a 35mm dress watch (Longines Heritage Conquest) and two 36mm sport/tool watches (Rolex 116000 and Tudor Black Bay 36).

[@billymania11]

Partial to Hamilton but it seems pricey for what you get.

[@ronpower7790]

Its a real shame and almost a deal breaker that Hamilton fitted a mineral glas crystal. Both saphire or acrylic would be ok but mineral glas scratches very easy and theres almost no way to get rid of the scratches. Especially sad if you consider the official German retail price of almost 800 EUR / > 800 $

[@727coolstuff]

Nice watch that

[@tezzanewton]

MINERAL FECKING GLASS

[@shotgunmcshotgun1142]

I got one, no issues with it so far

[@tezzanewton]

Jack Penman I have a watch with glass and it’s scratched. The funny thing is, I don’t ever remember touching the glass against anything.

[@tippykaffu4047]

@@tezzanewton I used SKX007 as a beater for a year and it has hardlex. It only has 1-2 scratch.

[@tezzanewton]

Tippy Kaffu hardlex is a different animal all together.

[@flow2tech]

@@tippykaffu4047 1 or 2 too many!

[@mk-di2nu]

Why the heck did they put mineral crystal on it. Even a acrylic would have been good, but mineral? Mh

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

Definitely feels like a more affordable alternative to the Tudor Ranger.

[@GermanGonzalez]

Give me the khaki any day over this.

[@dixonstreetdrummer1846]

Looks great in pictures. Tried one on, too small and delicate , nato feels cheap, and no sapphire ? Not worth the money I’m afraid. For that reason I’m out. I love Hamilton, I have a khaki field auto 42, and love it. This one is just way too small for my liking

[@simondoutre6225]

Dial looks like wet dry sand paper... 480 grit 2b exact lol

[@xavieralonzoparedes]

Its a beautiful watch but the most I’d pay for that is $350.00

[@RandomRobReviews]

Guessing you wouldn’t find for 350, not sure how you can pay 350 for it when they cost much more.

[@franciscovargas9059]

Very nice

[@a.t.a.f.s]

😍😍

[@waktosha7378]

Yeah, a mineral glass crystal is unacceptable!

[@davideprimo5824]

❤️

[@MegaBlackley]

Love Hamiltons but I’m not super fond of this one. I think I’m just too partial to the Field.

[@danielchahua923]

It’ s a pity buddy ... just 36 mm case ... I love the hamiltons but , it’s a small watch for me.. But thanks anyway.

[@platinumtoofaim]

I love this design but no sapphire and a push pull crown with Hamilton's famously poor WR for this premium price is a no go.

[@tippykaffu4047]

screw down with hand-wind is a terrible idea and this watch is supposed to be 1:1 interpretation of the old watch. Boxed sapphire with double AR causes a watch to produce a milky ring. It is the famously known Omega sapphire sandwich problem. It was a turn off to many people, so they took the acrylic instead. As far as I have seen from people using this watch, there is no issue with the WR on this one.

[@commentjedi]

😍

[@roamy3605]

Dirty Dozen + 1?

[@tippykaffu4047]

Yes its a dirty dozen.

[@commentjedi]

W10 type of watch, similar DNA as dirty dozen.

[@roamy3605]

@@commentjedi Thanks Jezus: When I first saw this model the first thing I thought of was dirty dozen. Not a huge difference but you are totally right! I was not even aware of the W10 models made for military aviators. That's why I love this hobby (obsession). The different twists and turns it takes is incredible. Thanks again, or should I say F-U. Now I'm looking at the coolest W10's on the internet and thinking of ways I can start buying them.

[@commentjedi]

Roamy360 : yeah anytime! It's just all out there waiting. Nonstop discovery.

[@oldiesfreek]

If only I had more $$$ 😅

[@bentracy3305]

Nice watch. But $800+?? Don't get it at all...

[@FourIntoOne]

Mineral crystal? Seriously? How much again? C'mon Hamilton, stop taking the piss.

[@pressservantsfirst9997]

Glad it's too small, non drilled lugged, and too pricey for some of yous.

[@ang_dominic]

Nice but overpriced!!

[@vl7920]

Nice but overpriced

[@DonCacomixtle]

Overpriced and undersized but beautiful timepiece.

[@ForeverUnknowing]

Beautiful piece. I'd be in the market if it were about $300. I can appreciate the 1:1 copy idea and trying to stay faithful to an original, but paying the premium just for that fact with the specs it provides.... I'll have to pass. Love the aesthetics of the piece, though!

[@tippykaffu4047]

There is nothing wrong with the specs of that price. You can look at higher tier watches like Longines and find them to have lower specs. 80 hours of power reserve can't be achieved by any other brands than Swatch group within the price.

[@ForeverUnknowing]

@@tippykaffu4047 I'm sure it's true that I can find higher tier watches with lower specs for more money than this Hamilton. For me, that makes those watches even more overpriced for what I'd get out of them. As a value seeker always, I simply like to get the best watch I can for the best price I can obtain it at. I tend to look at things like, "That's great, now what can my money get that's an even better deal?" There is a great deal of subjectivity to that, really, because some people find value in things like hand-winding, hacking, sapphire, water resistance... and others don't. Then there is of course how the watch looks and wears. Subjectivity abounds. As for the 80 hour power reserve, Hamilton has Khaki Field Mechanicals with that power reserve (and sapphire crystals, if that's an important point for some), and those hit the market under $400 if you're looking in the right places. I think they do fall in a 50m water resistance range though, so that is something to consider. I personally don't think the 80 hour power reserve is that huge a deal for a mechanical watch that I will have to hand wind anyways. It's a nice feature, but it doesn't necessarily add to the value for me.

[@tippykaffu4047]

@@ForeverUnknowing Using boxed sapphire crystal with double AR would cause a milky ring. Thats why mineral is chosen. It has a double AR coating, KFM doesnt have that. Brushing is more expensive than bead blasting. 80 hours is extraordinary because there are almost no watches that is 80 hours or above in the mid range price. Assuming theres nothing wrong with the quality control, cause I didnt hear anyone complaining about this watch's WR being terrible. Its double the WR from KFM. The price is expensive due to the new tools bekng made for the watch. They need to keep the price up for the R&D. Which makes it slightly overpriced. Khaki field mechanical is cheap because it has been planned to be production for many years. Which decreases the effect of r&d cost. But then again, its just as you said.

[@ForeverUnknowing]

@@tippykaffu4047 All good points. Each watch is equipped with something the other isn't and some things are shared, so to spec them side by side... maybe a wash on a few points? Cost of R&D certainly plays a factor (I know this well because I'm involved in business), but I also do think that a good bit of the cost is because it's a "reissue" of a classic design that's selling for a tidy amount right now, or at the very least people are asking big bucks for them even if they aren't selling for those prices. All told, at the end of the day, I do like this watch for what it is. Just not for the price that's being asked for it. If it were quite a bit cheaper I'd have already placed an order probably. I actually would go so far as to say I love the case shape of it. I think it's a great looking watch. I'll watch the market and see what it does. If it drops significantly in price or a good secondhand one comes up, I may just put my money into one.

[@tippykaffu4047]

Asking $300 is just too little for that watch though. As KFM is around $300 market price

[@andrewbalahura1555]

Because crystal is so high Don’t like it and won’t buy it

[@antidot556]

Idk why Hamilton charges a few hundreds bucks more for this model, regular khaki field mechanical has better specs except for wr. No sapphire, only smaller diameter and 100 mt wr, same movement. I have khaki mechanical with white dial and cordovan strap. I was going to buy this one, then i saw Mercer Airfoil with far better specs which was a better choice.

[@RandomRobReviews]

I still hope to see a Mercer airfoil. They won’t hit me back.

[@kaisoerfjord8232]

No no, dude, that is a no go. «Value-proposition» - I dont think so.

[@Max-ti5nq]

Hamilton is just greedy and lazy in regard to this watch. This one should not be worth more than $400 as is and even so should have include at least a sapphire crystal or even one with AR coating on it if they care about how the dial looks, the main "reason" why they chose to go with the mineral crystal instead, oh come on, gtfoth really Hamilton.

[@Valera_Scotland]

I've read the reason was legibility, and if you are using this watch hard, a mineral crystal won't shatter in the way a sapphire would. Also its less prone to smudging and glare So it does make sense and I'll be getting this watch but yes I can see why many people are frustrated by it

[@desire68frogman98]

1st lol

[@D5quared91]

OI! YOU AINT A BRIT IS YA M8? THIS IS A MOD WATCH M8 NOT FOR YANKS!!!