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Hamilton Khaki Field 42mm Mens Watch
Ref. H69529933
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The original brief came from US military procurement: a watch that could be read fast, in poor light, without catching a reflection. Hamilton supplied field watches to American service personnel through the 1960s, and this 42mm reference draws a straight line back to those pieces — same no-date layout, same dual-scale dial carrying both 12-hour and 24-hour markings, same matte finish that kills glare before it starts. At 9.9mm thin with lugs that curve downward toward the wrist, it sits lower than the diameter suggests and disappears under a cuff without protest. The bead-blasted case reads as matte steel under direct light and almost charcoal in shadow, which suits the dial — white Arabic numerals and syringe hands against black, legibility prioritised over decoration. The Super-LumiNova charge on the hands and indices carries a deliberate vintage tint rather than pure white, a small concession to character over strict function. The green NATO strap, leather-reinforced at the keepers, adjusts by feel in seconds and distributes weight evenly across the wrist. The H-50 inside is Hamilton's own calibre, built on ETA's 2801-2 platform but wound down to 21,600vph to extend the power reserve to 80 hours — enough to set it on a Friday evening and pick it up unwound on Monday. The Nivachron balance spring handles magnetic fields that would trouble a conventional hairspring, which matters on a watch still being bought for practical use.
- Reference
- H69529933
- Brand
- Hamilton
- Collection
- Khaki Field
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 9.9mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Manual
- Calibre
- ETA 2801
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Green
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 50mm
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
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 (52), Back in Stock (4,868), Stainless Steel Watches (3,133), Sports Watches (800) and Field Watches (67).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 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
Also seen with this model (8)
Other versions of this model, not necessarily this exact watch.
- Chris Evans · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · The Avengers · Source
- John Krasinski · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · Jack Ryan · Source
- Ben Affleck · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · Pearl Harbor · Source
- Hilary Swank · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · Amelia · Source
- James Marsden · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · Sonic the Hedgehog · Source
- Anson Mount · Hamilton Khaki Field ref. H70695735 · Worn on screen · The Virtuoso · Source
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · The Dark Knight Rises · Source
- Josh Hartnett · Hamilton Khaki Field · Worn on screen · Pearl Harbor · Source
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?
22mm. 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 50mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ 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.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £640, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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