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Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38mm Unisex Watch Black
Ref. H69401930
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Khaki Field draws directly from the military-issue watches Hamilton supplied to American forces through the mid-twentieth century, and this 38mm version keeps faith with that brief: legibility first, nothing superfluous. The Arabic numerals are upright and unambiguous, the railway track around the chapter ring gives the seconds somewhere useful to land, and the old radium tint on the Super-LumiNova hands reads warm against the black dial rather than clinical — a small choice that puts distance between this and a generic field watch. At 8.3mm thick it sits flat under a sleeve, and the green NATO with its brown leather loops is the correct strap for the case — not styled to look military but drawn from the same tradition. The ETA F06.105 includes an end-of-life warning that steps the seconds hand to four-second intervals when the battery is fading, which means you will know before the watch stops rather than after.
- Reference
- H69401930
- Brand
- Hamilton
- Collection
- Khaki Field
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 8.3mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- ETA F06.
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Green
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46mm
Learn more about Hamilton
Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892, and its early business was the railroad. American rail accidents caused by unsynchronised timekeeping had forced the industry to adopt strict standards, and Hamilton built pocket watches accurate enough to meet them — earning the description the watch of railroad accuracy.
Two things then defined it. The first was war: Hamilton supplied over a million watches to American forces in the Second World War, suspending civilian production entirely, and its marine chronometers were fitted across the US Navy.
The second was electricity. The Ventura of 1957 was the first battery-powered electric wristwatch, and its asymmetric shield-shaped case, designed by Richard Arbib, looked like nothing before it. Elvis Presley wore one in Blue Hawaii.
Hamilton's cinematic presence is unusually deep — over five hundred films — and includes the watches designed for 2001: A Space Odyssey with Stanley Kubrick, and appearances in Interstellar and Tenet.
American manufacturing ended in 1969 as the quartz crisis approached. The brand was acquired by the Swiss and is now part of the Swatch Group, based in Biel, where it occupies a distinctive position: American design heritage, Swiss production, and ETA movements with long power reserves at accessible prices. The Khaki Field, descended from the wartime issue watches, is its best-known line.
- 1892
- Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- 1918
- Supplies the first US airmail flights.
- 1957
- The Ventura is the first electric wristwatch.
- 1968
- Designs the watches for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- 1974
- Becomes Swiss-owned; now part of the Swatch Group.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Hamilton Khaki Field range (50), Back in Stock (3,988), Stainless Steel Watches (2,814), Sports Watches (700) and Field Watches (53).
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 38mm suits most wrists
- 8.3mm is unusually slim for a 38mm case
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Hamilton's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Hamilton Khaki Field alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | H69401930 | YA126402 | 96B440 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £375 | £419 | £349 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Fabric strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 46mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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