Timepieces

[NYCfixie]

I have been on a Tudor theme lately...1926 Opaline/Blue 41mm...picked up today but forgot to set time/date before I took the pic.

looks even better on a strap. selita (not in-house) movement so thin and less expensive to service.

IMG_5467.jpg

[holliscx]

Does anything compete with the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical watch?

I don't think I can drop $600 on a timepiece but a field watch is the only aesthetic I can work with. I want the watch to say ship me to Vietnam.

I used to have a Victorinox Swiss Army field watch that I'm pretty sure I bought at REI. It was great. At the time I'm sure I didn't pay much north of $100. If I could buy that same watch today I would.

I've looked at Seiko, Timex, Victorinox plus a couple of others (the Canadian brand Marathon) but nothing has come close to the Hamilton.

As much as I study the Hamiltons it's not really black dial vs white dial but gunmetal vs silver rim. I think I would lean black with gunmetal although the white dial on its own sure is handsome.

I realize there's a whole sector of the internet that gives me the creeps which is arm shots of people wearing their watches. There is no shortage of hairy arms with a lame af timepiece.

[NYCfixie]

Does anything compete with the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical watch?

I don't think I can drop $600 on a timepiece but a field watch is the only aesthetic I can work with. I want the watch to say ship me to Vietnam.

I used to have a Victorinox Swiss Army field watch that I'm pretty sure I bought at REI. It was great. At the time I'm sure I didn't pay much north of $100. If I could buy that same watch today I would.

I've looked at Seiko, Timex, Victorinox plus a couple of others (the Canadian brand Marathon) but nothing has come close to the Hamilton.

As much as I study the Hamiltons it's not really black dial vs white dial but gunmetal vs silver rim. I think I would lean black with gunmetal although the white dial on its own sure is handsome.

I realize there's a whole sector of the internet that gives me the creeps which is arm shots of people wearing their watches. There is no shortage of hairy arms with a lame af timepiece.

IMHO, no.

This is the one I have (though technically it is an Auto).
KHAKI FIELD DAY DATE AUTO Automatic | 42mm | H70535061
*While I do not have hairy arms, I decided to post a stock pic so as to not creep you out.

[holliscx]

IMHO, no.

This is the one I have (though technically it is an Auto).
KHAKI FIELD DAY DATE AUTO Automatic | 42mm | H70535061
*While I do not have hairy arms, I decided to post a stock pic so as to not creep you out.

* no joke thank you. arm pics really bug me out. I don't know what it is I think it's the smartphone wide angle plus the phone camera but all I see is jungle arm hair with usu an obnoxious watch

I measured my wrist yesterday and it was 17cm. My gut says I would be fine with the 38mm but I'd like to see it on my wrist

I like your camo band

What's the difference between automatic and mechanical?

Not long ago the Hamilton khaki field was around $200. What could justify a 200% price jump? Don't quote me but I believe in 2016 the watch was ballpark $200

Why are the camo straps not on Hamilton's website? I love your strap and there's also a beige desertish camo strap but I believe your strap is 20mm whereas the Khaki Field jives with their 22mm strap *I believe*

[holliscx]

Here's a quartz Hammy which would look great with the desert camo strap if it fits but this watch is 38mm so I doubt the strap from the 41 or 42 would fit

https://www.chrono24.com/hamilton/--...id32605487.htm

I could work with a brown aesthetic though ...

[NYCfixie]

I measured my wrist yesterday and it was 17cm. My gut says I would be fine with the 38mm but I'd like to see it on my wrist
What's the difference between automatic and mechanical?
Not long ago the Hamilton khaki field was around $200. What could justify a 200% price jump? Don't quote me but I believe in 2016 the watch was ballpark $200
Why are the camo straps not on Hamilton's website? I love your strap and there's also a beige desertish camo strap but I believe your strap is 20mm whereas the Khaki Field jives with their 22mm strap *I believe*

My wrist is 7.75" or about 196mm (larger than average) and I wear the 42mm version. I think the 38mm will be a good size for you.

Automatic = automatic or self-winding. Mechanical = one must always wind the watch to give it power.

I have been wearing and collecting watches for 30+ years and the prices always go up. Many manufacturers exponentially increased prices during the pandemic and they are never coming back down. As an example, JLC increased prices 40% in less than 1 year.

Don't buy Hamilton (or any other manufacturers) OEM strap as they are all overpriced (unless you really want their logo on the buckle). Many great places to get high quality straps:
https://www.bandrbands.com/
https://www.blusharkstraps.com/
https://www.bradystraps.com/
https://www.cincystrapco.com/
https://www.combat-straps.com/
https://www.crownandbuckle.com/
https://delugs.com/
https://www.geckota.com/
http://haveston.com/
https://www.holbensfinewatchbands.com/
https://www.horusstraps.com/
https://www.mksnatostraps.com/
https://www.moosestrap.com/
https://ndcstraps.com/
https://www.strapcode.com/
https://strapsco.com/
https://erikasoriginals.com/
https://thestraptailor.com/
https://www.thewatchsteward.com/
https://unclestraps.com/
https://wristcandywatchclub.com/
https://www.zuludiver.com/

Here's a quartz Hammy which would look great with the desert camo strap if it fits but this watch is 38mm so I doubt the strap from the 41 or 42 would fit

https://www.chrono24.com/hamilton/--...id32605487.htm

I could work with a brown aesthetic though ...

Check the specifications carefully because most, but not all, current within the past few years Hamilton Khaki Field watches use 20mm straps whether the case is 38mm, 40mm, or 42mm.

Here is the 20mm Camo strap from my watch (check that it includes the buckle before purchasing because often they do not):
https://www.hollandwatchgroup.com/ha...90-705-123.htm

And here is he desert camo version:
https://www.hollandwatchgroup.com/ha...90-705-122.htm

[j44ke]

Above Hamilton thread moved to "Timepieces" thread to preserve watchband info in more central location - thanks.

[72gmc]

Above Hamilton thread moved to "Timepieces" thread to preserve watchband info in more central location - thanks.

Bless you sir. More than once I’ve referenced the watch band info.

[dgaddis]

Does anything compete with the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical watch?

I don't think I can drop $600 on a timepiece but a field watch is the only aesthetic I can work with. I want the watch to say ship me to Vietnam.

I used to have a Victorinox Swiss Army field watch that I'm pretty sure I bought at REI. It was great. At the time I'm sure I didn't pay much north of $100. If I could buy that same watch today I would.

I've looked at Seiko, Timex, Victorinox plus a couple of others (the Canadian brand Marathon) but nothing has come close to the Hamilton.

As much as I study the Hamiltons it's not really black dial vs white dial but gunmetal vs silver rim. I think I would lean black with gunmetal although the white dial on its own sure is handsome.

I realize there's a whole sector of the internet that gives me the creeps which is arm shots of people wearing their watches. There is no shortage of hairy arms with a lame af timepiece.

Is automatic a requirement? If not, check out the Promaster Land line from Citizen, specifically their JDM options. I’ve got the PMD56-3952 and I’d pick it over my Khaki Auto any time. It’s titanium, with a great hardness coating, super legible dial, anti-reflective coating inside the crystal (which the Khakis don’t have), screw down crown (which the Khakis don’t have), 200m water resistance (which the Khakis don’t have, and they have a bit of a reputation for water getting in), and a perpetual calendar (which the khaki doesn’t have), and a great bracelet with a great quick adjust clasp (which the khaki doesn’t have). There’s four similar models in various colorways, and they’re under $500 shipped from Japan. Sakura has them all listed here :: https://www.sakurawatches.com/watche...rice&order=ASC

[ides1056]

That was fun. Nice watches.

[holliscx]

Is automatic a requirement? If not, check out the Promaster Land line from Citizen, specifically their JDM options. I’ve got the PMD56-3952 and I’d pick it over my Khaki Auto any time. It’s titanium, with a great hardness coating, super legible dial, anti-reflective coating inside the crystal (which the Khakis don’t have), screw down crown (which the Khakis don’t have), 200m water resistance (which the Khakis don’t have, and they have a bit of a reputation for water getting in), and a perpetual calendar (which the khaki doesn’t have), and a great bracelet with a great quick adjust clasp (which the khaki doesn’t have). There’s four similar models in various colorways, and they’re under $500 shipped from Japan. Sakura has them all listed here :: https://www.sakurawatches.com/watche...rice&order=ASC

I think watches with metal bands are heinous. When you said bracelet that's immediately what my mind went to. It would look great with your hs letter jacket with leather arms that's all I will say!

[dgaddis]

I think watches with metal bands are heinous. When you said bracelet that's immediately what my mind went to. It would look great with your hs letter jacket with leather arms that's all I will say!

Metal band = bracelet

And bracelets (on watches), when done properly, are the best! Thinner and more comfortable, more durable, no worries about them getting wet, etc.

Also, you can always swap the bracelet out for a strap of your choosing. The Citizens I linked to all have 20mm lug widths, so plenty of strap options to choose from.

[j44ke]

There's a nice affordable Citizen called the Garrison that is water resistant to 100atm and runs on Eco-Drive solar. The band is ugly, but a quick switch solves that.

[GeneK]

Metal band = bracelet

And bracelets (on watches), when done properly, are the best! Thinner and more comfortable, more durable, no worries about them getting wet, etc.

Also, you can always swap the bracelet out for a strap of your choosing. The Citizens I linked to all have 20mm lug widths, so plenty of strap options to choose from.

Agreed. Straps can be elegant, but
—will need periodic replacement
—not great in hot summer/humid conditions which accelerate their demise
—on higher end watches replacement with an oem strap will run into $$$
Bracelets basically last forever.

[dgaddis]

There's a nice affordable Citizen called the Garrison that is water resistant to 100atm and runs on Eco-Drive solar. The band is ugly, but a quick switch solves that.

I've had that watch, wouldn't buy it again. It's good for the money, but, it's an 18mm lug width (which is small), and it has a mineral crystal. I scratched mine without knowing what I scratched it on, then bought the titanium Citizen instead. For what it cost I'd just get a G-Shock instead.



I've had the titanium one for almost 5 years now, still love it. Many watches have come and gone in that time, but it's a forever keeper. Or at least until it dies at some point.

[j44ke]

I scratch everything, including supposedly unscratchable stuff. I like the fancy watches, but I buy the least expensive divers model as close to 300m as I can get. Right now that's an old Citizen divers watch I've had for 11 years. I don't think they make that model any longer.

[bbattle]

The Hamilton Khaki is on a lot of those "10 watches you must own" lists but there are lots and lots of field watches to choose from.

Glycine Combat Sub is also very popular. Seiko 5 field watch, Timex Expedition for the budget minded. Bulova has a nice looking Hack field watch for $300:

7AB65ED8-FE60-4848-89BC-7AAEB94A076D.jpg

Laco has a ton of Pilot/Navy/Field watches to choose from around $400 and up: https://www.laco-watches.com/en/watches

And one I'm really liking is the Tudor Ranger.

[jmgorman]

And because we also do the small-shop, handmade thing here, I want to mention Cameron Weiss's pretty standard issue field watch.


Priced above the Hamilton, he's building watches out of Nashville.

[dgaddis]

And because we also do the small-shop, handmade thing here, I want to mention Cameron Weiss's pretty standard issue field watch.

Priced above the Hamilton, he's building watches out of Nashville.

He does an automatic version as well.

[bbattle]

San Martin is a Chinese company best known for making homages but the quality is good and the prices are great. Their website is a bear to navigate but they also sell them on eBay and other sites. Loads of options including not having their logo on the dial.

I have a bronze San Martin pilot watch with the B dial. It's a mechanical but they also offer automatic and quartz. It's well made and excellent value for the price. The leather strap is good quality.

https://sanmartinwatches.com/shop/