My tier list for watches: tomaswatchreviews.com

I love how slim it is, how accurate, the legibility, how smooth and comfortable the winding is, and how good it looks with any strap. It is overpriced now, after those recent price increases. I wear it a lot.

Proud owner of a rolex sub date, rolex explorer 2, rolex datejust, cartier tank automatic XL and a white dial hamilton khaki field mechanical. I wear the hamilton pretty much everyday now. It's just a watch you can wear and not worry about. It's so good!

I bought the black model about a month ago to replace my chunky Seiko 5. The 5 was great but a bit thick. The Khaki is thin, great size for me, accurate, legible (no problem with reflections), tons of personality, sits beautifully, especially with an elastic marine nationale. Love a manual wind too. It’s a gem

Hi Tomas and thanks for the video. I believe your disappointment in the lume is somewhat wrong. What is Hamilton's heritage? Field watches worn by soldiers. As a veteran who served in the army I have to tell you that bright lume on a watch is like having a target on your back at night time. So by definition and keeping up with what the watch is really what is supposed to be, it does not bother me that lume is toned down. I realise that this is a consumer watch now but field watches are never supposed to have bright lume. I do not know whether this was the original reasoning as to why Hamilton toned down the lume but I see the point overall. Now as to the sharp edges. I own some vintage field watches dating all the way back to WWII all mechanical of course. Edges are sharp on those as well. For approx $500 you get a Swiss made watch with heritage and a tried ETA movement. If I really had to suggest something that would have been including a screw down crown just for the sake of not trusting the 50m water resistance (I live on an island and always go swimming with my watches) although that is a rarity on a manual winding watch.

100% agree, brave video mate.

Thanks for the review! Oddly enough the edges on my Aqua Terra are sharp too. Never noticed personally! Weird.

Very interesting. First time I've seen the sharp edges test with the face of fingernail. I just did this with my beater Tudor Ranger. The edges of the lugs did the same to my thumbnail. Speedy 3861 is the same..

Fantastic reviews.

Everything you said is spot on. If you were dissatisfied with this model, you were spared the disappointment that the Anti Reflective coating offers on the black dial. Great job

Hello!…I enjoyed your video. I recently got the same Hamilton, but with black dial. I really, really love it. I didn’t notice the sharp edges of the case, but that never bothers me. The Lume however, yes, it is week…which I was also a bit disappointed about. But it turns out that field watches are not typically lumed very bright. I would be 100 times more disappointed if if wasn’t available as a hand-wound movement. I love that! What is my most disappointed by?….the size. I wish it were 36-37mm instead of 38. I will be reviewing mine shortly on my channel….thanks

Yeah. I like the Hamilton's design a lot but I couldn't quite pull the trigger on this one. I think the one thing that I find encouraging is that more microbrands are getting into this space and doing these types of field watches with quartz and mechanical movements, that sweet spot of 36-38mm case size, and respectable water resistance. I went for the microbrand, paid less, and I'm really happy and have never wished that I had the Hamilton. I also have a Seiko SBCA001, which has amazing lume, compact size, a basic bracelet, and a Hardlex crystal. But it was cheap! Sadly long discontinued but I wish Seiko would develop a successor for it. I got the microbrand field watch because I really don't have to worry about it.

Yep. And great to finally see a review being honest about this. It's an iconic design, but it shouldn't cost a penny more than a Bulova Hack, which has as much heritage and is executed at the same level as the Hamilton.

Ja I have my hamilton for 4 years now not the version with the 80 hrs of power reserve ( wish i had that one )and I can remember the day I got it I also had this buyers remorse feeling , but the more I wore my watch the more I started to enjoy it yes I knew the water resistance was not for everyday use but I still wore it everyday and it's a low-key watch and that what I love about it , yes it's iconic but what is a field watch?... it's a watch that doesn't stand out , that can literally take beating (like mine has) ... I love it when you said never meet your heroes... but also buy what you love and enjoy it ... don't buy it cause it's trending.... I've read and seen so many reviews on the hamilton and everyone has the same issue or "I wish it had" .... no watch in the world is perfect but it will be perfect for next person or the other ... watch collecting should be enjoyed and have fun with it ... if there was one perfect watch why buy another why start a collection in the first place 🤔 but there isn't and that's why I enjoy watch collecting no matter what you buy and how disappointed you are you bought something that you really wanted just to wear and say it's not for me so what 😂 it's the experience that you going have when you wear it regardless. ... enjoy the hobby wear the fuck out of your watches ... tomas wear your hamilton for a month straight just one month , one watch and if you still wanna sell it , sell it ... and what's so funny I'm wearing my hamilton everytime you upload a video 🎉

Agreed with your sentiments. I recently bought a china replica field watch with AR sapphire crystal, superluminova, screw down crown,100 mtrs wr for under $60. Though its quartz movt. I think this is still good value for your money.

Good, honest review. You'll probably laugh but I just bought a Bertucci A2T solid titanium case field watch ( a micro brand ? ) last month. Being real new to field watches I thought it would be a decent starter. I really like it, worn every day for almost a month. I've had my eye on that Hamilton , like you, I thought it seemed to be field watch perfection. I've got second thoughts now. Price and quality seem to be an issue.

Have to agree, just returned from dealer and couldn’t put my finger on why I didn’t want it right then and there, It didn’t feel like it was worth $800 CDN. I guess my search continues. 🙏

I agree with you 100% Hamilton way too over price for that quality. You done reviews on way better but cheaper with better specks than that. There’s better field watches coming out better than hamilton I think like them DD12 series do a review on them please.

It's known as the Hamilton field watch but it was actually designed by Benrus. They licensed Hamilton to make them for the government contract.

I chose the 42mm and the sharp edges don’t bother my wrist. Even though it’s a field watch due to the iconic nature and history..I don’t treat it like a beater watch.

I fully agree with you. Long time Hamilton Khaki was my dream watch, but reading the specs always instantly cooled my feelings. Then I bought a sterile dial, needle hands Baltany (what a stupid name) just to scratch my itch. Was so nice and so affordable, that I had to buy another one with cathedral hands. Plenty of bicolor lume all night, especially on those substancial, fatty hands. Since then this is my daily donkey. I adjusted it myself to have cca. +3s to +5s per day (Seiko NH35, no ghost date). The case should be a bit thinner for my taste, but all other details are more than good. Is with screw down crown, sapphire crystal, 38mm. Excellent. But let's be honest, your Hamilton looks more refined, more fancy. Don't be sad, it's cool. What about accuracy? 🙋

I don't like the way the lugs look on Hamiltons. They're too straight and stick out too far. It looks weird and ruins the flowing lines. It's literally the reason I can't buy what would otherwise be my ultimate field watch.

Maybe it is not so much "don't meet your heroes", but now you have better ideas of how to choose your heroes for the future. I appreciate your review and feel your disappointment. The internet hype train can be powerful sometimes and gets people to overlook a lot of shortcomings. I went through something similar with the Seiko SKX - in many ways, it is a great watch but I was disappointed for a variety of reasons. Also on a related note, so many KZfaqrs praise the Casio F-91W and then bad mouth the backlight as terrible and show underexposed videos/photos of the light to exaggerate how "bad" it is. But I have discovered in the middle of the night, it is the perfect amount of light to see the time without blowing out my retinas (I think you mentioned this in another review). All that to say, it's hard not to get caught up.

I don’t own this watch. I cant do 50m water resistance. But I think people focus too much on specs. There’s an intangible thing with watches. The design of them. The case shape of this watch is one of the most beautiful of any watch I’ve ever seen, at any price. It’s just perfect. That doesn’t show in the specs, but it counts for a whole lot in my opinion. Does the beautiful case, thinness, and heritage make up for the high price, bad lume, and bad water resistance? I guess it depends on who you ask. But it is seriously a beautiful watch.

I had one for a few weeks too and sold it, I too was very disappointed with the watch.

Military watches and loom don't go well together. You can kill your whole battalion with your watch. That's also why the case is not shiny.

Your observations although valid, seem to miss that the watch, even in its modern iterations, is meant to reflect the original aesthetic and functionality of those original field watches. It’s also a fully mech hand wind at around 450. One doesn’t buy a Hamilton for the bells and whistles, they buy for the heritage, simplicity, and hand wind experience.

It makes no sense for a military watch to shine at night.

Hi, any winding issues? The movement breaks, so i ve heard! Plus can t regulate the movement! Thanks

where is that shark mesh from?

Of course it needs a non reflective sapphire crystal and protective ramps around the crown

I think your complain about the sharp edges is fair, but why complain for the WR and lume because you can easily research it before you buy it?

my only complaint is the 50m wr.... to me, i want it to be something i travel with, i go in the pool etc i never have to take it off

The Hamilton Field is so overhyped. I don't really get it. I went to the store because there was discounts and had the idea to maybe buy it. But when I had it on my wrist I compared it with the San Martin I was using: "what? This is doble the price and the finishing is worse and the specs are far worse (excluding the movement). So I left it in the store baffled of all the hype. So I share your experience, thanks for the video.

Hi Tomas, the answer to your points is the Lorus Lumibright. 100m, fully (and strongly) lumed dial. Better finished case and about £30 Sterling.

Sadly but there is a lot of true.. Sharp edges meh.. But lume! it was my disapointment too. Khaki automatic day date black dial.

I totally agree with you. I love Longines watches yet most of their watches even watches that cost over 5k dollar has only 30 meters of water resistant which makes me kinda hate the brand for that. Because I don't want to buy expensive watch with lazy water resistant or a lazy Lume. Seiko charge a lot of money these days for watches that comes with mineral glass crystal. Its embarrassing when cheap watches from china can have sapphire. I will never buy a watch from a lazy and greedy company.

Not to mention the water resistance is a joke, would love a screw down crown

1) how often do you ‘need’ strong lume? Be honest. 2) 5 bar water resistance is more than you’ll ever need unless you want to go diving. 3) any cheap Chinese-made micro brand watch can have good specs. To compensate for lack of heritage. They often also have a poor movement, rough finishing, and bad quality control. 4) the Hamilton is tough, stylish, legible, has decades of proven history, a brand name, and a very accurate, well made movement. However, you do have a point about the sharp edges - that is unacceptable. I’ve had four Khaki’s in the past and none of them had sharp edges. You got a bad one it seems.

Try vaer watches

Try new Seiko fields in 36mm. They are reasonable... around or under $300. Oh, and that white is terrible on that Hami. You should have pick the classic black. My reason not to pick one are the lugs.

So dramatic! I am sorry it did not live up to your expectations. But like you said, it is still a great watch.

I just get a tandorio, is 20ATM, sapphire crystal, automatic, and looks exactly like a kakhi, and was only 48 dollars

Thanks i yust want too buy it and loom on 38 is something ultra light and in the middle of the night i always luck wats o clock and for 570€ you can buy wery good Eta 2892-A2 i hawe diver and its Super lumimova VG9 its crazy bright at knight and super good at day time its not bad its super good and its +2 sec dayli and i haw it from 2017 and its like newe 560€. Also ceramic bezel its realy nice watch . And im surching aomthing 38-39mm light and on strap.For max. 750€

Swiss watches with compact size and great power reserve 1. Certina ds action diver 38mm 2. Tissot prx 35mm 3. Hamilton khaki field 38mm I would collect all 3 but have decided I will just get one rolex explorer 124270.. if only its easier to get a rolex but that is part of the fun..

Totally agree Tomos. You should review more expensive watches so we know the truth about them.

What bothers me the most about this watch is the finishing. The bead blasting is one of the worst looking i have ever seen. Usually it's a fine matt finish, this looks very rough. Very similar to a brass case that's been bead blasted and plated afterwards. And for whatever reason the case back is completely different and does not match the watch at all. Look up some 90s hamiltons and they were so much nicer looking, seems like when they became swiss made the quality went down.

Hamilton is known for their field watches...but it's still just a flat dial with everything just printed on...I'm surprised your expectations were so high. It's a $200 watch that they charge $500 for just because it's made in Switzerland...far from God tier.

I have got this Hamilton and love it … just about every review of the khaki mechanical out there says the lume is rubbish .. if you didn’t know that then you didn’t do your research properly …

Guess you’re just paying for the brand now. At $1kAUD it’s pretty introductory priced. My only gripe with it is that it doesn’t have a screw down.

Well, Swiss made watch for less than $500 street price isn't going to get you much. Swatch has positioned this brand similar to Tissot, but on the outdoors lifestyle set. It's a mechanical (non-auto) with a 50 meter water resistance rating. The Khaki automatic version is 100 meters and would probably get you some less sharper edges, but probably similar garbage lume. On a side note, are you sure you got a real one? They do sell fake Hamiltons that come with box and papers and really look like the real thing.

The mere fact that Hamilton offer the watch in a horrendous 42 mm size should tell you that it is a joke product even to them. Even the 38 looks noticeably too large on you and nothing "military". I love post war military watches but I never considered the overhyped Hamilton. Thanks for the refreshing review.

Wow, I'm a machinist , the edges are not sharp they are square.which is harder to do than a bevel.

Brother, you are correct. These unexpected details are really annoying. There is the illumination reflection.

get a escapement time only 50 dollars and is exactly like the hammy

Also, this watch is not a field watch. It is NOT made to any government military specification. It has NO fixed lug bars, no sterile dial, horrible lume, a ridiculously reflective, non ar coated domed sapphire crystal, and no water resistance. It is nothing more than a poorly made visual homage to the original US government designed mil spec general issue watches. Today’s Hamilton is NOT Hamilton. It’s just swatch masquerading as Hamilton. The real Hamilton went out of business decades ago. If you want a real field watch, you need to track one of the real ones down on the collector’s market.

Well, Tomas, you live and you learn. From now on, maybe you'll look at things from a different perspective, and understand that first impressions are not always right, and that things like heritage, glamour and hype have zero significance in reality. I've learned that lesson long time ago. Btw, I admit, the watch looks fairly good. I like its simple, but efficient design. Tho, since it's just a piece of absolutely useless mechanical trash, that means it has the same value as a shiny bracelet with a watch looking pendant... which is less than zero, in my eyes. I wouldn't touch it with a wooden pole, let alone wear it. ;p Oh, and that red strap definitely doesn't suit to a classic dial, field/military style watch, but whatever makes you happy...

Please tell us how you really feel haha

Hamilton's field watches are overpriced for what they are. I have a Boderry Voyager field watch with titanium case, screwdown crown, 100 meter water resistant, sapphire crystal, and an automatic with a Seiko movement with hacking second hand for under $90.

For me...Hamilton are dress watch, with military heritage & affiliation. If I want a real field watch with all the toughness, durability, accuracy & good functionality....I would buy Garmin or G-shock just like most modern army wear arround the world.

Seems a perfectly good watch. Clearly you been spoiled by aliexpress. I guess if you were to give it extra month you would be ok with it, lume is irrelevant anyway.

Correction. This is not a Hamilton field watch. It’s Hamilton’s homage of a US government design for a 70s era field watch. The design was NOT created by Hamilton

just get a baltany

My $220 Citizen Garrison watch is better than the Hamilton Field watch. No need to spend the excess $$ on Hamilton. They are obviously cutting corners on their make.

Jesus, file the edges and get over it.

I never thought “two problems” would take so damn long to rant about, without saying anything. With a lot of sighing. And as much as I like Nico, calling anything God Tier is so lame.

do you think swatch group cares? the designed the moonwatch like a piece of garbage and is a great business success, even the ali clones are better at a much lower cost