Category: Hamilton Watches

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38

I’ve owned this little Hamilton watch for almost five years now, and it’s gotten as much wrist time as any other watch in my collection.
The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38 is, to many, the quintessential field watch. It’s a direct reissue of the no-nonsense mil-spec design contracted by the US government throughout the Vietnam Conflict.

Unlike its predecessors however, which were cheap and disposable, the modern Khaki Field line is rugged, yet refined. The kind of watch that looks just as good in a t-shirt and jeans as it does in a smart casual outfit. If that’s the kind of thing that appeals to you, definitely check this one out.
Hamilton is a company that needs little introduction. Established in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892, their watches have been seen on the wrists of prominent figures throughout history. They’ve made some notable achievements in watchmaking, including the world’s first electric battery-powered watch—and a favorite of Elvis Presley—the Ventura, and they’ve supplied the US military with timekeeping devices since World War II.

Although they ultimately came under Swiss ownership in 1979, they remain today most well known for their American military styled designs. The Khaki Field we’ll be looking at today is packed with that military heritage.
While there are a lot of things to love about this watch, it’s not perfect. Here are some things that stood out to me.

Despite being a conservative Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38 , the watch wears larger on the wrist due to its long lug length. This also results in a significant gap between the springbars and the case. While this makes changing NATOs and other one-piece straps a breeze, the gap becomes apparent when worn on a two-piece strap. Due to this, I believe the watch looks best on a NATO strap. Not only does the extra layer of fabric help to visually reduce the length of the lugs, it also prevents a sharp drop-off your strap might have if the lugs end near the edges of your wrist. For those of you with smaller wrists like me, this is definitely something to consider.

The lume application isn’t the brightest, but it works fine enough to read the time in a dark room. The faux patina is a polarizing aesthetic choice among watch collectors, but here I find it tastefully done. It breaks up the black and white contrast of the dial without becoming a distraction.

The crystal lacks any kind of anti-reflective coating. While the rest of the watch is committed to being subdued and understated, the domed glass picks up all kinds of glare. The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38 doesn’t warp the dial, so it’s not difficult to read the time, but it can be challenging to find a viewing angle free from reflections. This is also prominent in photos.

Lastly, and this is a minor nitpick, but I would’ve liked to see a screw-down crown for added water resistance. 50m is great for most situations, but I’d personally like the foolproof reassurance that water won’t find its way into my watch, especially on one as robust as a military field watch.

Hamilton Adds NATO Strap Options To The Adventure-Ready Khaki Field Expedition Watch

The classic field watch may have been around for over a century, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement — and Hamilton has done just that. Hamilton has been the first name in field watches since the inception of the genre, and with the Khaki Field Expedition, it’s clear just how far the humble field watch has come. With a compass bezel and five new looks, including a NATO textile strap, the Khaki Field Expedition is ready for adventure.
If you’re in the market for a field watch, there’s a good chance Hamilton’s Khaki line will be your first port of call. With over 60 models, from divers to chronographs, the core of the Khaki line is the classic field watch. Characterized by large Arabic markers and an emphasis on reliability and legibility, Hamilton’s Khaki field watches retain the vintage military design cues of its forebears and are built for a life in the outdoors.
The Khaki Field Expedition can trace its lineage to watches like Hamilton’s Officer’s Trench Watch worn by soldiers during WWI. Large numerals, simplicity of design, and, above all, reliability, were key to timing operations in the field. In the ensuing decades, Hamilton would continue to produce field watches for soldiers. When soldiers returned from duty, many found that the characteristics that made these watches so reliable translated seamlessly to outdoor pursuits during peacetime. First released in 2023, the Khaki Field Expedition took Hamilton’s timeless Khaki field watch blueprint and added a compass bezel, along with oversized hands and indices, to create an all-terrain, adventure-ready version of the already robust and capable field watch.
For a watch built for outdoor adventure, the addition of a compass bezel was an inspired choice. Following the old adage, “two is one and one is none,” the compass bezel provides a backup compass on your wrist while navigating the backcountry. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, just keep the dial level and point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Next, set the South marker to the mid-point between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock marker. Once set, you now have a rough estimation of direction to help you navigate — a nice failsafe in case of emergency.
Housed in either a 41mm or 37mm stainless-steel case, the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition is available in three distinctive dial colors: classic black, crisp white, and deep blue. Regardless of which one you choose, the hands and indices are coated with creamy tan Super-LumiNova that provides a vintage charm. Originally offered with only a choice of bracelet or leather strap, the Hamilton Khaki Field now adds a range of NATO strap options — the perfect choice for venturing into the great outdoors. The new NATO straps add plenty of versatility, whether you pair the white dial with a khaki NATO for a vintage look, the black dial with a dark gray NATO for a sleek and stealthy look, or aim for a color-matched aesthetic with navy on navy.
A field watch has always been a rugged and versatile option for venturing into the outdoors, but the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition takes this classic design to a new level with the integration of a compass bezel and the new option of custom NATO straps for added comfort and security in the field.

Hamilton Khaki Field Replica Watch

The new Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition takes a popular entry point into mechanical Swiss watchmaking and adds a few features in hopes it’ll live up to its adventurous name. Hamilton also makes a few considered tweaks to the dial and case. While these changes come at a price, the Expedition still makes a case for being your new $1,000 everyday watch.
With the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition, Hamilton takes its long-standing Khaki Field line and brings some additions and tweaks to make for a more robust field watch. The entirely brushed stainless steel case is now offered in 37mm (44mm lug-to-lug) or 41mm (48mm lug-to-lug). As the lug-to-lug measurements hint at, the oft-maligned long lugs of the Khaki Field Mechanical are gone, making for a more compact and wearable case. I have relatively small wrists (6.25mm), so I preferred the smaller size but the 41mm was still manageable.

The Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition is offered in four versions: a black dial on a strap or bracelet, along with white and blue dials on a strap. Compared to existing Khaki Field models, the dial is simple: just hour markers and an outer seconds track (with SuperLumiNova at the hour ticks), and two lines of text. It’s clean and easy to read, though the font feels a little squat. The SuperLumiNova in the hands is strong and serviceable; no lume on the numerals, sadly.

The most notable addition is the compass bezel. Using a compass bezel is pretty simple. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, point the hour hand at the sun, then rotate the “South” indication on the bezel to the point halfway between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock. That’s it, you’ve found south. Hold the watch flat and you’ll know which direction you’re moving. It’s not the most accurate thing in the world, but it’ll do; just adjust the compass bezel every few hours as the sun moves across the sky. (Technically, any watch will do the trick if you’re in a pinch, but the compass bezel helps make your orientation a bit more accurate.)The bi-directional rotating bezel is easy to grip. It has 60 clicks that give a muted sound when turned. If my life goes according to plan, I can’t imagine I’ll ever truly use or need a compass bezel. I might’ve preferred a simple polished bezel instead, but the bezel does illustrate a certain commitment to the whole “Expedition” theme that I respect. A polished bezel might’ve even been a better choice commercially, so respect to Hamilton for the dedication. Besides, the brushed steel of the compass bezel is relatively seamless with the case and not a design element that begs for attention. There if you want to use it, melts into the rest of the case if you don’t.

The case is fairly nondescript, with the dimensions better and more wearable than the existing Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. There’s an enlarged screw-down crown, a nice tool-watch touch. Thanks to this, the Khaki Field Expedition also has 100 meters of water resistance. The automatic H-10 caliber (an ETA movement) is visible through a sapphire caseback. The 37mm case is 10.45mm thick, while the 41mm is one millimeter thicker, which keeps both cases balanced. The Khaki Field Expedition is offered on a two-piece leather strap or an entirely brushed steel bracelet, both upgrades over the Khaki Field Mechanical’s equivalent offerings. The bracelet is also entirely brushed and uses pins on its removable links. For a watch like this – one that appeals to people for whom this might be their first mechanical watch – I’d love to see Hamilton use easy-to-change screws. The Khaki Field Expedition has a price of $995 on a strap or $1,045 on a bracelet. It’s a healthy premium over the Khaki Field Mechanical ($595; side note, doesn’t it feel like just yesterday these were $475?), but the screw-down crown and accompanying 100 meters of water resistance, compass bezel, and improved dimensions make a reasonable case for the price increase. While the bracelet is an upgrade over existing options in the Khaki Field lineup, this is still a strap watch to me, worn on leather, canvas, a NATO, or anything in between.

The under-$1,000 field watch category is as competitive as ever, though not all will offer some of the specs of the Khaki Field Expedition – the screw-down crown, increased water resistance, and compass bezel set it apart from much of the competition. If you want a list of field watches under a grand, here’s a list of ours to get you started. The Seiko Alpinist ($725) is the most obvious comparison, which has an internal compass bezel and 200 meters of water resistance. The Alpinist is slightly more elegant, or at least as elegant as any Seiko can be, while the Hamilton feels a touch more rugged. For the extra few hundred bucks, you don’t get any better specs, so you’d be paying for the look and feel of the Khaki Field Expedition. Either way, the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition has given consumers another option, and that’s usually a good thing.

HAMILTON Ventura Chrono Quartz

Hamilton is the only watch brand to showcase, on the Italian version of their official website, a page specifically dedicated to “Watches and Cinema.” It proves how active is the link between the brand and the film industry; I grew up when the brand had partnered with Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001 A Space Odyssey and just described, a couple of weeks ago, how significant was the Khaki Murph in the making of Interstellar.

However, Hamilton Watch first appeared in a movie more than eighty years ago when the Hamilton Flintridge and the Hamilton Piping Rock appeared in Shanghai Express. The Ventura is the last in a row of wristwatches not to simply appear in films or tv series but play an active role instead.
The Hamilton Ventura has this year doubled its presence, as did the brand when it created a new contemporary take on the Ventura alongside the classic one. They share the same signature case design, something you hate or love, that makes this timepiece unique.
The former, technically more refined, is the Hamilton Ventura Skeleton, appeared in Iron Man and showing up later in Spiderman: Homecoming, the last chapter of the saga.
The latter is instead the Hamilton Ventura Quartz, standard equipment to agents M and H in the sequel to Men in Black, the first ironic take on the alien-invasion genre, where Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, wearing a Blues Brothers‘ outfit like, have been replaced by two new actors, on of them being the American actress Tessa Thompson.
Let’s be frank: the Ventura is unusual. It is not the kind of watch that’s sitting on top of your list if you’re ready to buy your first one unless you specifically desire a Ventura. Tony Stark is, for example, a perfect character for the Skeleton as are fashion trendsetters, even though the Ventura has a large following already.

The first to have ever wrapped it around his wrist was Elvis Presley, who turned this odd watch into a status symbol. Kudos to Hamilton watch for often conceiving out-of-the-box products that add to core collections like the Khaki.
If we compare the Skeleton to the original version, we reckon the brand has transformed a thin and triangular-shaped edgy timepiece into a more modern, smoother, technically advanced, and avant-garde product. The skeletonized dial mimics the Spider logo visible on our hero’s suit and is black as the PVD-treated steel case. Is it just a design exercise? It is not, since it guarantees at least 80 hours of power reserve too. It is one of the best-crafted Hamilton watches I have ever seen, and one of the most comfortable I have ever worn.
When Will Smith played in the original “Men in Black” released in 1997, he was wearing a Hamilton Ventura Quartz chronograph. That film became a cult, and agent M, one of the two agents starring in Men in Black: International, played by actress Tessa Thompson, wears a Hamilton Ventura Quartz.
Compared to the Skeleton, the Hamilton Ventura Quartz is a whole different watch. Although the movie takes place in the future, Tessa wears an almost exact re-issue of the 1957 original watch.
Though Hamilton watches are dated back in 1893, the story of the Hamilton Ventura watches hit the air in the 1950s, few years before the brand had cut off its operations in America. With the help of their consultant designer, Richard Arbib, the company was able to create a revolutionary caliber. Which could run by the power of a mechanical movement, as well as an electrical battery. Following the modernization that was across diverse regions, Hamilton Ventura was forged to help instill the uniqueness of the Rock ‘n’ Roll music genre, which everyone believed had to follow a rare classic style and, very distinctive from the rest.

In 2015, while commemorating what would have been the 80th birthday of American singer Elvis Presley, the Swiss watch company brought out their new collection of the Ventura, Hamilton Ventura Elvis. A collection which has been warmly welcomed by men, following its inherent triangular-shaped design and the iconic attributes which it still holds.

Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto

In the world of horology, few names ignite the spirit of adventure quite like Hamilton. With a storied history soaring the skies, Hamilton watches have been the quintessential co-pilot for aviators since timing the first U.S. Airmail flight in 1918. Today, Hamilton continues this proud legacy, unveiling seven new references in the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot collection that merge time-honored tradition with the thrill of exploration.
Hamilton has long been synonymous with the zenith of aviation timekeeping. The new Khaki Aviation Pilot collection pays homage to this enduring legacy, offering a line designed for modern professional pilots, aeronautics aficionados, and terrestrial adventurers alike. These timepieces are not just instruments of precision; they are emblems of a century-old trust placed in Hamilton by those who conquer the skies.
Embodying the rugged, fearless spirit of the Khaki line, each of the seven references is a tribute to the wild blue yonder. Powered by the H-10 automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, the watches uses a NivachronTM balance spring, ensuring resistance to magnetic fields, temperature variations, and shocks — critical for any high-flying activities. The hands of each watch are coated with Grade X1 Swiss Super-LumiNova, offering unprecedented luminosity for clarity in the darkest conditions. This is more than just a feature; it’s a display of reliability, guiding adventurers and pilots through the uncertainties of any journey.
Today, we’ll go hands-on with models from the newest Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot series. These are great-looking watches that bring a healthy dose of everyday utility along with cues from pilot’s watches. Expect great legibility and specs. Also, because this is Hamilton, all of that goodness is affordable.
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot series will always have a special place in my heart. I think it was in the mid-’90s when I entered university in Pennsylvania. My parents came up from Florida in the fall, and one of the activities was to visit an outlet mall to stock up on cold-weather clothing — something I never owned back home. This was at a time when outlet malls were still novel, and during a visit to one in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, my dad happened upon a watch shop. It was there that he purchased a relatively inexpensive Hamilton Khaki with an automatic movement. I liked the watch for its no-nonsense looks and its reference to Lancaster. Fast-forward nearly 30 years later, and that experience still causes me to sit up when Hamilton releases a new model like the Khaki Aviation Pilot.
Hamilton is kicking off 2024 with what should be some highly popular models. The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot series brings seven new watches to the table in two different sizes. All of the watches use automatic movements with 80-hour power reserves and are water resistant to 100 meters. Low-light visibility is a real selling point here, and the newest Super-LumiNova formulation, X1, is on board to help these pieces glow like beacons. Of course, sapphire crystals with double antireflective coating are included. Now, let’s break down the models within the two different size ranges because there are notable differences.
Perhaps it’s telling that Hamilton is coming with several great choices for its smaller Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Auto watches. If nothing else, it’s very on trend in the current “smaller is better” climate. These 36mm watches may be more petite, but they bring an eyeful of detail. Large (frankly, exaggerated), brushed nickel pilot-style hands mix with a dial that feels like a cockpit instrument. A minute track is printed on an angled rehaut and surrounds lumed indexes at the quadrants. Large numerals are in between these and are scaled every five minutes. Interestingly, the hours are printed on the innermost portion of the dial and are visible when the skeletonized tip of the hour hand is on top. All in all, with the massive hands, it took me some time to acclimate to the looks, but I’ve adjusted now. This is a clean watch and is just different enough.
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot is also available with a 42mm diameter. Here, the watches have a 51mm lug-to-lug and a 12.1mm thickness. The 20mm strap width helps keep the watches from looking too large. The primary difference in the larger models is the inclusion of a side-by-side day and date display. Like the smaller pieces, the luminous markers at the corners are inset. This creates a very clean and modern look on a classic pilot’s watch visage. Note the engraved circle that separates the hour and minute tracks. This bisects the date display perfectly, which, at the very least, shows a level of forethought. To be frank, though, the day display comes a bit too close to the center pinion for my liking. Leaving this watch with a date-only function would have been my choice.
The new Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot models should prove popular with buyers who are looking for a clean, functional watch that can handle 99% of life’s activities. I like the 36mm models due to the cleaner dials, but I am sure that many will find them too small. In the larger sizes, the olive model is hard to deny — that’s a classic Khaki color. Then again, the blue-dial option on the bracelet also looks great. It’s always nice to see Hamilton continue to evolve with more Khaki models that are recognizable yet somehow fresh. What are your thoughts on these latest pieces?

Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton Dragon

The Hamilton Ventura is one of those watches that pretty much every watch enthusiast knows. The Ventura takes all the classic conventions of what a watch should look like and throws them straight out of the window. The most famous wearer of the Ventura was without a doubt, Elvis Presley. Back in 2015, Hamilton launched the Ventura Elvis80 collection on what was to be Elvis’s 80th birth year. Almost six years after that, the latest additions to the collection are the Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton watches. Are these two watches still the classic that Elvis wore? Let’s find out!

It’s remarkable how I managed not to review or even wear a Hamilton Ventura before. As someone that is predominantly drawn to the design of watches first, the Ventura is one of those iconic watches that stands out because of its design. But I somehow managed to never experience one from up close. But I’m getting my fair share now with two new skeletonized versions of the Ventura.
The statement the Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton watches makes has always been a staple of 1950s American design. The Ventura was introduced in 1957 and perfectly represents American design from that era. In an era where the Swiss watch brands introduced some of the most iconic watches ever released, Hamilton took a different route. Designer Richard Arbib created a statement that was all about being different. The designer made a name for himself at General Motors and the work he did for GM is reflected in the Ventura.

On top of that the Ventura was the first mechanical watch to be fueled by a battery. Hamilton invested ten years of research into the development of the H500 movement that would take away the ‘nuisance’ of having to wind your mechanical watch. Hamilton developed a battery specifically for the Ventura with the help of the National Carbon Company. It was the final missing piece of the puzzle and on 3 January 1957, the Hamilton Ventura was presented in the Savoy Plaza hotel in New York. A total of 120 journalists from all over the world witnessed the presentation of the next step in watchmaking.
In the first years after the Ventura was introduced, it turned out to be a commercial success for Hamilton. But the watch really hit the spotlights when Elvis Presley wore his white gold Ventura in 1961 in the hit movie Blue Hawaii. The King really loved the Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton watches . Not only did he own several Venturas, but he also gifted them to friends. Six decades later the legacy of the Ventura and Elvis is still one of the industry’s most famous stories. It made the Ventura into a cult classic that found renewed popularity multiple times over the decades. One of these moments is that the Ventura is the watch worn in the Men In Black movies.
But Hamilton decided to honor the Ventura’s most famous wearer with the introduction of the Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton watches collection in 2015. The collection was introduced in the year The King would have turned 80 years old. Hamilton completely redesigned the case of the Ventura for this new collection. The goal was to make sure its dimensions combined with its ergonomic case shape guarantee great comfort on the wrist. These latest additions to the collection are a pair of skeletonized Ventura models. They take the Ventura into the future rather than making it a staple of the past.
The new Skeleton models come in two variations. The first is a stainless steel version with a black PVD coating. The watch has a black open-worked dial that is lit up by a red electric pulse and comes on a black rubber strap. The second version features a stainless steel case with a rose gold PVD coating. This piece also has a black open-worked dial and comes with a rose gold electric pulse. And just like the black version, it also comes on a black rubber strap. The pulse is a nice hint to the origins of the Ventura that perfectly fits the modern aesthetics.
Both watches feature a 42,5mm x 44,6mm case that is water-resistant up to 50 meters. The dimensions might sound quite large at first. But due to the Ventura’s different shape, it cannot be compared to a conventional watch case with those dimensions. If anything, I feel the Ventura needs this size to be able to pull in a crowd that is looking for a modern and different looking watch. Especially considering its technical looks.
As you can see in the pictures there is quite a difference in presence when you see the watches together. What they definitely have in common though is their futuristic presence. The Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton watches look more at home in a sci-fi movie than in Blue Hawaii. It is proof that the Ventura is definitely not a one-trick pony when it comes to its design. And I definitely feel that this could be a direction for the Ventura that will attract a new and younger crowd.

If we zoom in a little more, you will see there are more differences between the two models than just their black vs. rose gold PVD coating. Both models feature the same open-worked dial construction with four black lightning bolt-like shapes that connect the upper hour markers and the lower hour markers. The mentioned electric pulse shape connects the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock markers horizontally. It’s a clever construction that also places the Hamilton logo and the Ventura logo strategically on the construction of the dial.
The rose gold model features rose gold colored hour and minute hands that are filled with Super-LumiNova and rose gold colored seconds hand. On top of that, the hour markers also have a hint of rose gold color and Super-LumiNova filled endings. The black model will feature black hour and minute hands, and a red seconds hand. As you can see the black version we received for this review had steel markers. But that will change to black for the regular production model, creating a really stealthy appearance. Through the open-worked dial, you can see the automatic Hamilton caliber H-10-S in action. Hamilton made sure that the movement has a nice Côtes de Genève decoration finish for the necessary visual impact. The movement is also used for a string of other Hamilton watches including other Ventura models. The movement is based on the ETA C07.111. It has 25 jewels, operates at 21,600vph, and features an impressive 80-hour power reserve. Both watches feature a display case back, making sure you can check out the movement in action. It’s fun to see the contrast of the triangular case and the round movement. It creates a fun view and makes you realize once more this is not your ordinary shaped watch. The backside of the H-10-s movement is decorated with perlage and has a customized, open-worked rotor. So with the facts and figures out of the way, it’s time to experience the skeletonized Ventura models on the wrist. The first thing that stands out is how comfortably the Ventura sits on your wrist. The case has a curved silhouette that truly hugs the wrist. And once you have it on your wrist, there is no denying the remarkable shape. A Ventura wears completely different than your normal shaped watch. I was impressed by how easy it is to wear despite its possibly daunting size dimensions. The triangular shape is definitely something to get used to though. Obviously because it’s a different basic shape for a watch. But because that shape is different, reading the time is also different. As fellow Fratello team member Andreas explained, it does take a short time of habituation to get comfortable with the deformed dial. But once you have worn the watch for some time, you won’t even notice the difference when simply reading the time. Wearing the watch also gives you a better idea of all the different details that make this a special watch. For instance, the curved sapphire spectacularly because follows the shape of the case. And the shape of the crown perfectly fits the design of the case. It’s both perfect in its dimensions as in its design. Or the really comfortable rubber straps that come with a pin buckle and balance the watch perfectly on your wrist.
After wearing both Skeleton models, I do have a preference for the rose gold model. And the reason is simple. Both of the watches do justice to what the Ventura is and what it can be. The stealthy black model is the more futuristic of the two and a great possible step into the future of the Hamilton Ventura. But as someone who has been to Graceland and visited Elvis Presley’s last resting place, I simply like the rose gold version a bit better.

Hamilton American Classic Boulton M

The 2023 Boulton Quartz is a watch from Hamilton’s American Classic collection. Indiana Jones can be called an American classic too. The two pair up in the fifth and final adventure movie starring the whipping archeologist, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It’s a movie that takes place in 1969 with, for the first time, “Indy” wearing a watch. And that battery-powered watch plays a golden, vintage mechanical timepiece with such ease, it deserves an Oscar. Let’s take a closer look at this method-acting newcomer.

The big question for many a quartz watch is: how do I come across as a mechanical timepiece? By just displaying the hours and minutes hands, it forgoes the ticking central seconds hand that immediately reveals the insides of the watch — please, can we leave the rare deadbeat seconds out of this? But what do you do as a Hamilton American Classic Boulton M when the watch you’re “playing” has a very distinct small seconds sub-dial? You can’t just skip that feature. It would completely alter the look, and with that, credibility would go flying out the window. A good thing about small seconds is that they’re small (duh!) and, therefore, less conspicuous than central seconds. And that’s how the Hamilton Boulton Quartz manages to pull off a great performance on the silver screen. But how does it act in real life?
After close examination and some time on the wrist, I concluded that the €775 Hamilton American Classic Boulton M (H13431553) acts as a serious alternative for a range of square and rectangular watches that star in the upper price echelons. The Boulton first stepped onto the scene in 1941 in a slightly smaller case with a hand-wound movement inside. The new Boulton Quartz is a tiny bit more modern in size. Its case measures 27 × 31.6mm (excluding the lugs), 7.8mm thick, and 41.5mm from lug tip to tip. It’s a steel case that looks like it’s made of yellow gold because of the colored PVD. The shape of the case is rectangular, but the edges are softened, giving the Boulton a svelte vintage look. It’s just like Harrison Ford playing Indy, don’t you think?
Inside the case beats something you might not want to know about, but it is the ETA quartz caliber 980.163. There’s nothing to write about apart from it being a 15-jewel movement. There’s nothing to see either as the movement hides behind a closed case back. Would the watch have been cooler if it had housed a solar-powered quartz movement? From an aesthetic perspective, no, but from a technological and evolutionary perspective, yes. The time has come for Swatch Group and ETA to start developing next-generation quartz movements that use the power of light — Hamilton Boulton Quartz and the Power of Light kind of sounds like an Indiana Jones type of flick.
There are a couple of Boulton Small Second Quartz watches in the Hamilton collection already, but the Indiana Jones watch is different. The standard models have Roman numerals, for instance, and that gives them a much more formal look. The classic Roman numerals seem to clash with the rounded edges of the Boulton, whereas the Arabic numerals on Indy’s watch appear very much congruent with the shape of the case. Also, the warm golden color of the case with the raised numerals and hands in the same shade on a silvery white dial creates a warm and comforting retro feeling. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this timepiece a sports watch, but the shapes, colors, and style of numerals do give it an informal look. Let me put it this way: the regular Boulton Small Second Quartz looks like it belongs in an office, and the special movie version needs to be out and about. How do you write about “wrist feel” when you can’t even usually tell that the watch is on your wrist? The size, shape, and weight of the watch make it an easy-to-wear timepiece that will sit well on almost any wrist. And yes, you will forget you even put the Hamilton American Classic Boulton M Boulton on if not for the watch’s handsome looks. You don’t have to wear it with khaki and a floppy hat to look good. Furthermore, you’re not wearing a prop. The Boulton Quartz that Indy dons in the movie wears like a proper watch. And it’s one that will match almost any outfit. As I found out while wearing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, a rectangular, classically styled watch both adapts to and uplifts what you’re wearing. That even goes for a jeans-and-sneakers-based outfit. Yes, the strap measures an elegant 18mm wide between the lugs, and because of the faux-alligator print, it looks a tad traditional. Indeed, a tad too traditional, obvious, and too stiff for my liking. But by quickly and easily changing the strap with the quick-release pins, you can style the Boulton exactly to your taste without any serious effort. Why not go for a strap that matches your favorite belt, shoes, or whip perfectly? But whatever you do, don’t pick a strap with contrasting stitching. I really don’t want to act like the style police or anything, but I just see too many straps with contrasting stitching. These creations overshadow the look of a subtle, classic, and sophisticated watch. There’s a time and a place for everything, and that includes straps with contrasting stitching. End of stitching rant. Buying a vintage watch from the 1940s is not for everyone. It takes commitment and serious amounts of time to gain enough knowledge to spot something good. And after managing to find something you like in the right condition and for the right price, you need to do it right by wearing it with great care. As I said, vintage is not for everyone. But if you want vintage looks while insisting on modern build quality and the carefree wear that comes with it, something retro can be a very interesting alternative. The Hamilton Boulton Quartz, with its golden glow, attractive price, and classic looks, could be the perfect watch for someone who loves the style of the 1940s. The style minus the hassle that comes with finding and wearing Hamilton American Classic Boulton M an 80-year-old timepiece, that is. The method-acting Boulton Quartz will have you steal the scene in the theater that is your life — did I overact a bit here? The Hamilton Boulton Quartz could also very well be the starting point. It could be the very beginning of a great watch adventure into the wonderful world of real vintage timepieces. Just like you’ll want to become a globetrotting, daredevilish archeologist after watching Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, you’ll want to explore the world of watches even further after strapping on Indy’s Hamilton Boulton Quartz. Well done, Hamilton.

Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition

With its long and illustrious history that stretches back over 130 years, it’s hard to choose just one line that represents Hamilton. From the railroad watches that helped build the American West to ever-futuristic watches like the Ventura that graced the wrists of both Elvis and the Men in Black, there are plenty of icons to choose from, but it’s hard to argue against the Khaki line of field watches. Hamilton is now announcing the newest addition to the Khaki line: the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition, an all-terrain adventure watch available in two sizes and three colorways and ready for any adventure.
The Khaki line can trace its roots back to the trenches of World War I. After securing a contract with the U.S. military in 1914, Hamilton shifted its focus from pocket watches to wristwatches, producing field watches like the appropriately named Officer’s Trench Watch. Over a century later, the classic design cues of the military field watch remain — large, legible numbers, along with luminous hands and indices. Used by countless thousands of soldiers over the decades, Hamilton issued field watches to soldiers during both the Vietnam and Korean wars, the watches often returning home to be used as rugged and reliable companions.
Over the years, the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition line has become synonymous with field watches. And the brand has plenty to choose from. With more than 60 options to choose from in the Khaki family, there’s a field watch for every style and wrist size. The Khaki Field Expedition retains all the hallmarks of the Khaki line, including large, Arabic markers and a distinct vintage military aesthetic. With the Field Expedition, Hamilton adds a functional and trail-ready compass bezel for analog navigation. This is a Khaki built for the outdoors, for nights beside the campfire and endless singletrack along mountain paths. With the Field Expedition, Hamilton gives you the choice of either a 37mm or 41mm stainless steel case. Both provide 100m of water resistance, screw-down crowns, and a slim case height of 10.45 or 11.5mm, respectively. The case is fully brushed — perfect for an adventure-ready watch — with the standout feature being its new compass bezel.
If you’ve never used a compass bezel before, it’s surprisingly easy to do. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, your first step is to keep the dial level and point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Next, set the South marker to the mid-point between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock marker. Now you’ll have a rough indication of direction (swap south and north you’re in the southern hemisphere). While you should certainly have a proper compass or GPS while out deep in the field, two is one, and one is none, as the saying goes, so it’s always best to be prepared. In addition to the two case sizes, the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition is available in three dial colors: black, white, and blue. Each colorway features oversized Arabic numerals and no date, keeping the dial clean and symmetrical. Super-LumiNova on the hour markers and hands provides both nighttime legibility and a touch of warmth and vintage charm. The Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition is powered by the H-10 a Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition utomatic movement that features 80 hours of power reserve and a Nivachron balance spring. The Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition is available on your choice of brown or green leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp. However, with the 20mm lug width, it’s quick and easy to customize the Field Expedition to your tastes.

Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton Automatic

Hamilton is no stranger to openworked watches, spreading the style across several collections with models like the Ventura Skeleton Limited Edition, Khaki Field Skeleton Auto and Jazzmaster Viewmatic Automatic Skeleton. The Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton simplifies the name and is the brand’s latest with a multi-level dial forming the iconic “spiky H” logo over a decorated Swiss automatic. Although there are many standouts in its portfolio, this one seems to be the most purpose-built and well-thought skeletonized design yet. It’s classy, refined and very eye-catching, and is one of the best overall offers in its price range. It even earned a spot in our Buying Guide of 8 Skeleton Watches. Let’s take a closer look.
Hamilton has an illustrious history and was well-known as an American brand with deep military roots before becoming a Swiss subsidiary of Swatch Group. Named after Andrew Hamilton, the original owner of the first Lancaster, Pennsylvania factory, the brand’s American reign spanned between 1892 and 1969 and left a lasting impression that’s still relevant today. The Khaki Field Mechanical line is among its most popular with designs going back to mid-century military watches. Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton is anything but a one-trick pony, however, with a host of edgy designs and a huge presence in cinema. Those two elements collide in the Ventura collection, an unorthodox line made famous by Elvis Presley in 1961’s Blue Hawaii. The futuristic, triangular design returned in the Men in Black films and has been a brand icon for over 60 years. The aforementioned Ventura Skeleton Limited Edition even landed on the wrist of Iron Man himself as Robert Downey Jr. wore it in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. After 86 years in over 500 films and its own annual Behind the Camera Awards in Los Angeles, Hamilton created the Jazzmaster Regulator Cinema as a tribute.
Skeleton watches are a dime a dozen these days with just about every major brand producing them. They can be a tough nut to crack, however, with legibility issues (hands often blend in with background mechanics) and aesthetic challenges. Anyone can remove a dial and show the movement underneath, but uniquely blending dial and mechanical elements with balance and refinement is quite a task. If you drive a Bentley to the coast for weekend excursions on your yacht, heavyweights like Breguet, Piaget and Roger Dubuis have you more than covered. For the rest of us, Hamilton has designed a stunning openworked piece that’s the culmination of its vast experience with skeletonization, all for a price that competes more with the latest iPhone, not your car.
The stainless steel case of the Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton is a contemporary 40mm in diameter with polished sides and a thin polished bezel. Viewed directly from the front, the mid-section of the case is just a hair wider than the bezel and the lugs create an additional step where they meet the case sides. These are all subtle design elements but demonstrate high attention to detail. The lugs are the only brushed parts of the case and create a cool two-tone effect from the side, although the bottom of the lugs is polished.
The sapphire exhibition caseback displays the remainder of the decorated automatic. A sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating protects the dial and is especially adept at minimizing reflections (even with a partially black dial underneath). The signed crown is what I consider to be the perfect size for a 40mm piece. Slightly oversized and easy to manipulate, and just a great match aesthetically. It doesn’t screw-down and the case is water-resistant to 50 metres.
Although certainly a skeletonized piece, there are still some interesting dial elements in the Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton that provide an edgy vibe. Comprised of two matte black layers (with a white dial variant), the outer level consists of a perimeter seconds track with applied, lume-filled indices every hour. A horizontal section forms the central H portion of the brand’s “spiky H” logo, while a lower level forms the two vertical crosses. These crosses connect to a second ring just inside the seconds track with Arabic numerals every five minutes (useful to track seconds as well).
It all combines into a cool depiction of Hamilton’s logo with plenty of negative space to allow the openworked movement to shine. The sword-style hour and minute hands are nickeled with Super-LumiNova inserts, and the narrow seconds hand has a nice arrowhead counterweight. The balance wheel is clearly visible at 12 o’clock with a partial tease of the escapement, while the barrel and exposed mainspring provide a surrogate power reserve indicator at 5 o’clock. The mainplate is decorated with Côtes de Genève with just a hint of perlage at 10 o’clock. The melding of these movement and dial elements is sophisticated and edgy, and a real aesthetic winner.

Hamilton Lady Hamilton Necklace

The Lady Hamilton Necklace is a stunning fusion of a watch and a piece of jewelry, showcasing the exquisite art deco aesthetic with its sleek lines and contrasting colors. Drawing inspiration from the original 1950’s Lady Hamilton Vintage, which was influenced by the art deco era, this necklace embodies timeless charm infused with bold avant-garde flair.

The art deco design movement, which emerged in the post-World War I era, celebrated the decorative aspect of art and brought a sense of ambitious optimism and exuberance to various fields including architecture, interior design, jewelry, and watchmaking. Hamilton watches of the 1930s reflected the linear harmony that defined the art deco period, serving as a muse for the Lady Hamilton Necklace and other horological creations.
Featuring a 15mm x 19mm rectangular case adorned with intricate antique-style decor, the watch pendant of the Lady Hamilton Necklace is the epitome of art deco style. Its sunray or mother-of-pearl dial adds to its sophistication, and it can be worn as part of a necklace or as a timepiece paired with a delicate chain bracelet. The Lady Hamilton Necklace offers three captivating versions to suit your style and personal preference: stainless steel, yellow gold, or rose gold PVD.

Enhancing its art deco appeal, each Lady Hamilton Necklace comes with an adjustable chain and a fringed tassel pendant in forest green, midnight blue, or red burgundy, showcasing the distinctive elements and color palette of the era. The set elements are beautifully packaged in special packaging inspired by the iconic geometric patterns of the art deco period.
Crafted with fine craftsmanship and boasting a striking appearance, the Lady Hamilton Necklace pays homage to Hamilton’s art deco heritage in a modernized way. Whether you’re sipping a cocktail in a fringed dress or strolling down Beachfront Avenue, wearing the Lady Hamilton around your neck or wrist adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your ensemble.