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Hamilton Khaki Field 38mm Mens Watch
Ref. H69439931
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Khaki Field's roots go back to the watches Hamilton supplied to American military personnel in the 1960s, and this reference holds closer to that original than most contemporary field watches dare. The 38mm diameter keeps it honest to the era it is drawing from — large enough to read quickly, small enough to wear under a sleeve — and at 9.5mm it sits flat against the wrist in a way that heavier tool watches rarely manage. The H-50 movement inside is hand-wound, which matters more than it might first appear. Eighty hours of reserve means a watch set down on Friday evening is still running Monday morning, and the ritual of winding it connects the owner to the watch in a way an automatic does not quite replicate. The matte case finish and military-style dial with triangular markers are period-correct without feeling costumed; the green NATO with brown leather accents reads as practical rather than decorative, and it is easy to swap should the mood change.
- Reference
- H69439931
- Brand
- Hamilton
- Collection
- Khaki Field
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 9.5mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Manual
- Calibre
- H-50
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47mm
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
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 4 collections
This watch appears in the Hamilton Khaki Field range (50), Stainless Steel Watches (2,814), Sports Watches (700) and Field Watches (53).
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What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 38mm suits most wrists
- 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 | H69439931 | SRPB43J1 | 35003M40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £545 | £350 | £830 |
| Case size | 38mm | 40mm | 35mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Strap | Fabric strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 80 hours | 41 hours | — |
| This watch |
|
|
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?
No. It is hand-wound, so it needs winding every day or two but never a battery.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 80 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What 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 47mm, 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 men's, though at 38mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £545, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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