The Updated Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic

The Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic is one of Hamilton’s more popular models. No wonder, as its distinct styling and comprehensive feature set provide a lot of bang for your buck. Today, we get a new version of this field watch, with the military vibes dialed back a notch. Let’s have a closer look!

The new Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic is available with black, blue, or green dials. The watch costs €825 / £715 / US$845 on the familiar steel bracelet or €745 / £640 / US$795 on a leather strap. Unlike some brands, Hamilton doesn’t limit specific dials to specific strap options, so you are free to pick your configuration. Please take note, you know who you are…

Hamilton’s military heritage

Okay, so the new Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic sheds its military vibes. At least, that’s what the press materials tell us. However, to understand what the watch is moving away from, we first need to know where it came from.

Hamilton, founded as Adams & Perry Clocks in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1874, has a strong military heritage. The then-American brand supplied US troops with watches during both world wars. In fact, production of civilian watches halted altogether during WWII to maximize the company’s military production capacity.

The original Khaki Field King Auto

When the Second World War ended, the company rebooted its production of civilian timepieces. Of course, Hamilton would also keep a strong presence in milspec watches, once more providing the US Armed Forces with watches during the Vietnam War, but a renewed focus on civilian watches remained. Today’s release celebrates those more peaceful offerings by essentially demilitarizing the existing Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic.

What’s new about the new Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic?

How about I keep it as simple as possible? Design-wise, the new Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic mainly differs from the existing one in a single key element — the removal of the 24-hour scale. While this scale isn’t as strongly associated with military timekeeping on our side of the pond, it is still a bit of a statement from Hamilton. The press materials celebrate the move as a shift towards a sporty everyday watch for everyone.

Under the hood, the watch maintains its original specs. This is still a 40mm stainless steel timepiece with a sub-12mm profile. Inside still ticks the automatic caliber H-40, Hamilton’s version of the Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80. You still get a display case back and a sapphire crystal. Interestingly, the new version also sees water resistance upped from 50 meters to 100. The case received a 0.7mm increase in thickness to allow this.

The dial, however, differs significantly from the original Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic. Gone is the crowded layout with multiple rings in different finishes. And, as mentioned, that 24-hour scale is no longer there. The result is a much cleaner, simpler, and more versatile dial.

Initial impressions of the Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic

I am all for dialing down the celebration of war mongering in luxury products. Frankly, though, I never really associated the Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic with the military as much as the brand’s regular field watches. The more cynically inclined among you might also note that cleaning up the Khaki King’s dial yielded a Type A dial, also of military origin. Regardless, I think we should judge today’s release on its merits, not its backstory.

I feel that this version looks less assertive and a bit friendlier. I can see how it has indeed become more versatile and better suited to everyday wearing. I like how much more legible it has become, too. The one downside is that you now notice the day window cutting off the 11 and 1 numerals much more. It always did, but it is much more noticeable with the dial cleaned up.

Still, I suspect this watch will do well for Hamilton once more. Overall, the package is appealing both aesthetically and in terms of features. If you prefer a slightly cleaner dial layout, this is a very easy recommendation.

What do you think of the new Hamilton Khaki Field King Day-Date Automatic? Let us know in the comments section below!

Watch specifications