The best and most perfect field watch ever created? Hamilton Khaki Field

The Hamilton Khaki Field has got a reputation for a reason. Both the brand and the model have a rich heritage that towers over all other affordable field watches. Nothing compares, it’s in a league of its own.
Handsome looks, unrivalled history, Swiss made, impressive hand crank modified movement with 80 hour PR; and did I mention the price? All of this for under £400. Honestly, if you’re after a field watch - then there’s no other choice.
Watch the video to see why I feel this way!
-
My equipment:
Camera: amzn.to/31zGaCS
Macro Lens: amzn.to/34DLg2V
Zoom Lens: amzn.to/3luipEf
Directional Microphone: amzn.to/2jUpcMz
Clip-on Microphone: amzn.to/32uv0hU
Monopod: amzn.to/2lsf9i3
Tripod: amzn.to/2jUpMtJ
Please note that some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I’ll make a small amount of money if you use them. It doesn’t alter my thoughts on any of the products and helps keep the channel running, thanks!
#12and60 #watchreview #hamiltonwatches #hamiltonkhaki

[@JusttheWatch]

Great looking watch. As always, love the photography and all the different angles you show it from. I recently picked up the Kahki King, but now you're kind of selling me on this one!

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

Thanks so much Dave, really appreciate it!

[@TheWayofGrace89]

I have the khaki Mechanical and King. While the mechanical is more traditional, the King offers more bang per buck overall, with the automatic and the day and date function. Both great, worth owning both IMO.

[@RobinsWatchJourney]

Great review. This watch was one of the first acquisitions to my collection and is still one of my favorites. It has an air of authenticity and simplicity. It’s a real keeper.

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

Thanks for sharing, great choice!

[@underdog5081]

Recently purchased one with the olive green dial. I’ve really enjoyed wearing this and probably gets the most wrist time amongst my collection which includes Rolex, IWC, etc. this is the first manual wind watch I’ve owned and probably the best “value” watch out there. Highly recommend getting this.

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

[@achillesdanieladam9486]

It is amazing that you prefer it over IWC.

[@underdog5081]

@@achillesdanieladam9486 never said I prefer it over IWC. However, hard to find a better watch for the money.

[@achillesdanieladam9486]

@@underdog5081 yes at the same money you only find boring tissot and seikos

[@achillesdanieladam9486]

It's a great watch! For me the only downside is the lack of anti reflective coating. Everything else is awesome!

[@mikesey1]

There have been complaints that the winding mechanism gives trouble: they break!. Never wind any watch right up to its end stop, just to its first resistance

[@MrE0919]

I just bought this watch today! Had to get a pre 2018 model so I could get the 28800 beat rate

[@PhilippLerz]

Where did you find such an old model?

[@edteach3r]

Exactly! That old ETA has such a smooth sweep of the seconds hand. I love it.

[@jerryadams4827]

Excellent review! I appreciate your comments on the metal-grommeted strap. Hamilton gets the little things right!

[@ret01101]

The review is extraordinary. Your enthusiasm made me of thinking again about this classic, which is missing from my collection. My main complaint is the lack of screwed crown. Jeans pockets hangs out unscrewed crowns. In my experience...

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

Thanks so much, really appreciate it! If you have a handwind movement, a screw-in crown is a massive faff

[@markjunkin5868]

I like this watch. Great review... thank you!

[@Tetlee]

I can't really see much real life usefulness of long power reserves on manual wind watches, unless you're just going to grab it to wear for a few days onlyI guess. The thing with a manual wind is you get used to winding it every morning so there is no risk of ever being caught out, if you were to wind every few days you're just asking to forget and get caught out IMO so the only way to avoid this is to continue to wind every day still. Personally I would choose the CWC Mellor reissue over this.

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

Fair enough! Thanks for your comment :)

[@bijakbijak4024]

Fantastic review and reviewing the khaki field is an easy job

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

You're right there!

[@markjunkin5868]

Great review! Thank you..

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

This is the gateway watch into Hamilton

[@goemboeck]

Looks good. I see they toned down a little from the automatic's 100m WR, that's probably good. I've the (previous iteration of the) Khaki automatic but may need to get my hands on that Ham strap for it.

[@jeeperspeepers8323]

Great review. Thanks.

[@WIAAWatchReviews]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@TheFlyrodder68]

I'm not too crazy about the big gap between the strap and the case. Thumbs up for the review anyway.

[@japd7897]

That will help to install a nato strap, I don´t know, maybe that is the reason.

[@TheFlyrodder68]

@@japd7897 Maybe but not everyone is nto nato straps.

[@japd7897]

@@TheFlyrodder68 The watch is into them. Natos are convenient if you are in the "field" 😉.

[@jeeperspeepers8323]

Gee, now I can’t see anything else. (just kidding)

[@TheFlyrodder68]

@@japd7897 I wear the strap and it may be a two-piece or a nato. Some may find it suitable with a nato and I can understand but as I said, that may not always be the case with everyone. That gap is way too big to accommodate a two-piece strap to be aesthetically pleasing, that's my take on the matter.

[@bakso1]

I’m so torn between the black or green dial

[@goteckwah]

Don't understand reviewer's reference of 'near-perfect' field watch. The gigantic gaps at the lugs, sub-par lume, reflective crystal, and non-automatic winding have negated that reference. To me, there is nothing 'romantic' about having to wind a watch once every two days. But it does reminds me of the Seiko SNK807. That to me is near perfect due to its affordability at $60, automatic winding, similar dial, day-date complication with red Sunday. So, that's my take.

[@TheFlyrodder68]

I agree with you. Check out the ALBA Military Solar Watch AEFD557. A true no worry field watch that's accurate and affordable.

[@goteckwah]

@@TheFlyrodder68 Thanks @Nunya .Bidness. I just checked out a video of AEFD557. It’s like a cousin of SNK809. But running instead on quartz and has no lume? That’s a bummer if you can’t read the time in a camping trip.

[@ivermec-tin666]

@@goteckwah Citizen BM8180-03E. It has BGW lume. Similar in size to the ALBA offering at 37mm in diameter with 18mm lugs. Solar powered highly reliable and accurate Citizen Eco-Drive. Made in Japan movement! The stock strap is crap. Pop it on an olive drab/green canvas single pass strap from Haveston, and you are good to go. Just keep your eyes open for a sale on the watch. Amazon had them on Amazon Prime day 2020 for $75.00. All it is missing is the 24 hr indicators on the dial. Instead, you get the day/date complications. IMO, Citizen owns the market for Solar powered movements, which they innovated. The Hamilton khaki is not as well proportioned as the original General Service watch from the Vietnam era. In attempting to modernize the proportions, they went sideways. Personaly, I prefer a manually wound watch because it is lighter, thinner, and less complicated. I would rather see a WR rating of 100M. If Citizen can accomplish this in a $100.00 solar watch, then Hamilton ought to be able to do so in their automatic.

[@TheFlyrodder68]

@@goteckwah Hello atomic G-Shock then! Lol!

[@nplus1watches35]

On paper the multi-6 and solar G-shocks would be the ideal field watch, and they are if you’re after a grab and go type of watch that you don’t have to fiddle with, but a good part of the charm of any watch is how it makes you feel wearing it, and I mostly use mine to set the time for all my other watches. I too like the simplicity of the ALBA AEFD557 except for the lume, I really don’t know what they were thinking, especially being a Seiko company, but another similar watch would be the Citizen BM8180 with Eco-drive. It’s very similar to the SNK80x series as well. It’s too bad Seiko didn’t think to put an NH35 movement into the case and make it a date complication and change the dial a little to make it field watch vs. a flieger B style, and call it good.

[@mikejamieson419]

Older movement better

[@TypeSly]

"Best and most perfect field watch"? LOL you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Ridiculously long lugs, with crappy AR coating and horrible lume. Not to mention the most boring dial and an ugly dull finishing on the case. 🤢🤮