Hamilton’s Most Affordable Field Watch Just Got Better (and Cheaper)

More attractive styling, improved sizing and a much better price.

By Johnny Brayson

Published August 27, 2024

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Updated August 27, 2024

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Hamilton’s Khaki Field is the field watch.

There is no more prototypical or iconic example of a field watch than Hamilton’s affordable mainstay, which traces its origins to the WWI trench watches and WWII field watches that Hamilton supplied to the U.S. Army back when the Pennsylvania-founded brand still called America home.

Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz

$395 at Hamilton

Khaki Field Options

These days, the most recognizable version of the Khaki Field is the Khaki Field Mechanical, a classically designed hand-cranker that retails for $595, making it one of the better bargains in the Swiss mechanical watch industry.

Still, if you wanted the absolute cheapest Khaki Field, then you would opt for the Khaki Field Quartz in 40mm. But at a price that was just $20 cheaper than the mechanical version — and with an arguably uglier design — you’d have little reason to.

hamilton khaki field watch on green waxed cotton background — The Khaki Field Mechanical is the most classic iteration of Hamilton’s iconic field watch.

But that has changed as of today, as Hamilton has introduced a brand-new Khaki Field Quartz that looks absolutely perfect.

The New Entry-Level Khaki Field

For starters, the new battery-powered field watch clocks in at 38mm across, the most iconic size for both the mechanical and automatic versions of Hamilton’s military-inspired flagship. There’s also an even smaller 33mm version for those who want a really vintage feel, as that’s the size of the original version of the watch.

The dial of the new watch has also been revamped and simplified, with no inner 24-hour track and an attractive railroad minute track. The dial text consists simply of “Hamilton” with the vintage “H” logo at 12 o’clock and the word “Khaki” at 6 o’clock.

a hamilton field watch on a rock — With a cleaner design and vintage Easter eggs, the dial of the new Khaki Field Quartz is a winner.

Notably, the “Khaki” logo here is very similar to the one seen on the first civilian Khaki Field watches that were released in the 1980s, adding another fun retro touch to the new watches.

The new Khaki Field Quartz is available in four matte dial colors with Super-LumiNova hands and Arabic indices: black with white lume, blue with white lume, black with old radium-colored lume, and white with the same vintage-inspired treatment.

four hamilton field watches lying on the ground — There are four colors to choose from, with each available in both 33mm and 38mm case sizes.

Ticking away inside is an ETA quartz movement, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to field watches. Quartz movements hold up to shocks better than mechanical watches (there are no mechanical G-Shocks, after all), which makes them ideal engines for tool watches.

Otherwise, the new Khaki Field Quartz offers everything you’d expect from a Hamilton Khaki Field. It has a sapphire crystal, comes on a nylon NATO strap, has bead-blasted stainless steel cases, and is water resistant to 50m.

a white hamilton field watch on a mans wrist — Could we be looking at the next cult-favorite watch from Hamilton?

The Price Is Nuts

Hamilton very easily could have priced the new quartz field watch just below the mechanical version as the brand did with the previous Khaki Field Quartz, but instead, it decided to make the watch more affordable.

Way more affordable.

The SRP for all eight variants of the new Khaki Field Quartz, whether you go for the 33mm or 38mm version, is just $395. $395! For an iconic Swiss-made field watch from a legendary brand! That’s pretty wild.

Quartz or not, that’s a pretty great deal, and I have a feeling the new Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz will quickly become a new enthusiast favorite.