If there is a line that has come to define Hamilton in the last few years, it would have to be its Khaki Collection, and perhaps more specifically—the Khaki Field Collection. Without trying to sound reductive, I think it’s fair to say that Hamilton dominates the area of entry level Swiss tool watches. This is a hardly a bad thing. Shouldn’t we all desire value, after all? In the sub-$1000 category Hamilton knocks it out of the park with offerings like last month’s Khaki Field Titanium. Now the brand is trying to win the hearts of enthusiasts with its new Khaki Field Expedition—a wholly new sub-genre in the Khaki Field Collection. With three colourways, two sizes, and the addition of a bi-directional compass bezel, the Expedition may, indeed, woo a fresh following.
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Perhaps we should start with the familiar. The dial begs, borrows, and steals some of the hallmarks from other great Khaki Field watches. Consider the dial, for example. The bold minute track used here would look at home on the Mechanical. The retro-styled font seems to have leapt off the Murph and landed safely on the Expedition, while the syringe minute hand and arrow-tipped seconds have practically become fixtures across the collection.
These remind us of the brand’s rich heritage and announce this new watch as a lateral evolution—one that fleshes out the collection rather than pushing it into new directions. But even among the familiarity there are surprises that look perfectly at home. The broad arrow hour hand, for instance.
The watch is equipped with a sapphire crystal and has been coated with AR. The hands and hour markers have also been treated with Super-LumiNova. Overall, the dial design remains minimalist and highly legible, as one might expect from a field watch.
However, certainly, the greatest departure comes in the case and bezel. Much beefier in appearance than its progenitor, the Khaki Field Expedition exudes a robust and masculine vibe. The stainless steel design comes in both 41 and 37mm sizes, which should appeal to a wide swath of the watch-wearing public. They are brushed and straightforward with slab sides and little chamfering. Both come in highly wearable lug to lug lengths, as well (48mm and 44mm, respectively). And despite the chunky bezel, the watches remain relatively slim at 11.5 and 10.45mm.
The Expedition is the only timepiece in the current Khaki Field lineup to sport a bezel, and it’s an interesting one. While some might consider a compass bezel as less useful in everyday life than a countdown or elapsed time bezel, the concept makes much more sense in a field watch called the Expedition. Employing a compass bezel for simple navigation is not difficult, either. Here, in the Northern Hemisphere, for example, you need only to point the hour hand in the direction of the sun and then rotate the bezel so that the “S” indicator is aligned with the halfway point between the hour hand and twelve. Bingo. You have now located due south. As long as you readjust the bezel throughout the day, you can navigate roughly by holding the watch flat. For the purposes of navigation, the bezel is bidirectional with 60 clicks.
The crown is screw down and of a good size. The case back, also screwed down, sports a second piece of sapphire and reveals the workhorse H-10 calibre underneath. The H-10 beats at 3Hz and has an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring. The watch offers an 80-hour power reserve and boasts 100m of water resistance.
You can purchase the Khaki Field Expedition on leather or a brushed steel bracelet. The leather, offered in three different colours, is actually quite sturdy. The bracelet is also solid with a foldover, push-button clasp and really looks at home on the watch.
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SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 37/41mm Diameter 10.45/11.5mm Thick 44/48mm Lug to Lug 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back & Crown 60-Click Bidirectional Compass Bezel 100m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal /w AR Printed Indices & Numerals Matte Dial Broad Arrow/Syringe Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | H-10 25 Jewels 21 600bph 80-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Stainless Steel or Leather |
Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition
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Of Interest
Designed to be legible and reliable enough for the field of battle, Hamilton’s railroad watches were employed as early as WWI. In fact, Hamilton watches were eventually issued to all branches of the US military during WWII. The Khaki Collections pay homage to these earlier timepieces and have since become popular as rugged everyday pieces. Their timeless design, durable construction, and versatile style make them suitable for both casual and formal occasions.
Quibbles
The bezel is not as easy to manipulate from the knurling as it is from the cardinal point indicators. The knurling, which is slightly recessed, does not extend to the edge of the case. It would also be nice to see lume on the numerals, in addition to the smaller hour markers.
Final Thoughts
I think enthusiasts will find that the Khaki Field Expedition is a solid addition to the collection. The strap and bracelet options are upgrades over most previous offerings. The bezel looks great, and having a screw down crown with 100m of water resistance makes this a definite GADA contender. Moreover, the watch simply wears well. The restrained lug to lug and the balanced height seat this piece perfectly on wrist. It looks the business on the bracelet, but I can also imagine it perfectly on a grey NATO. Even at 11.5mm, the watch will disappear beneath a cuff, should the need arise, but I suspect most of your time will be spent with this one somewhere cuffs are not required, unless at the end of a backcountry jacket.
The Khaki Field Expedition retails for $995USD on the strap and $1045USD on the bracelet. For more information, please visit the brand website.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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This is going to be a popular one for Hamilton. That dial is so well proportioned and I really dig the bezel.