👉 What do you think of the Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic? And does the lack of AR coating on the crystal bother you? 💖 Let me know in the comments! 🔔 If you liked the video please subscribe to my channel for future reviews www.youtube.com/@mosproblems?sub_confirmation=1 #HamiltonKhakiField #Automatic #WatchCommunity #FieldWatch
For half my life i wore a tiny watch that was 7mm thick, quartz, no screw down crown, no AR coating no micro adjustment on the clasp and only splash proof and i never ever had a problem, i loved the bloody watch. Now i have 35 watches and non of them satisfy me, and all this since I started watching youtube reviews. I think its time to unplug…
Hey man, absolutely understand and feel this comment. The deeper we get into this hobby, the more picky we become. However, this should never hold us back from liking watches for what they mean to us personally. And who cares for the specs when you and your watch went through thick and thin together?
I totally agree with you. The watch thing has been blown out of all proportion. This is all about marketing, "storytelling", used car salesmen gimmicks and not reality.
@@axisdriftguitarworks1384 iv had it with all of them. I bought a 35mm digital prx, i ordered it from the factory before it was even available from dealers and it was 330 pounds, not an earth shattering amount but you should see the abuse, bloody hell. I love the bloody thing, i always wanted a swiss digital watch with a nice bracelet and sapphire. I absolutely love it, it goes swimming, it does everything. From the abuse it gets online ud think its a former concentration camp guard.
I've had the 38 for some years and the reflective nature of the crystal has never bothered me at all. In fact I think the dial with all that detail is a legibility work of genius. As a work-time beater watch, well it can't be beat. I wear it exclusively on a number of different NATOs and get that change-up every time. Each to their own.
The NATO-compatibility of the watch with its 20mm lugs is seriously cool, I was super impressed when I tried it on some straps how stunning it looked on basically all of them.
@@BassJournal Not so at all for me. I have a Seamaster 300Mc with superb internal and external AR on the crystal. So good is it that you can hardly tell there is a crystal there at all. Lack of AR on the Hamilton makes the sapphire crystal a feature, not a bug
I got my Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic in 38 mm nearly two years ago. I absolutely love it. All of the things you don't like are important to you and I respect that. But they don't bother me. On the other hand, I'm totally irrational about accuracy and my watch gets COSC specs out of the box, after a break in period of a couple of months.
I have 5 Hamiltons and while the lack of AR coating is noticeable it’s never been an issue (except the few times I attempted to photograph them😂). And while noticeable it’s not a dealbreaker by any means, nor was it on my Rolex’s. I have many watches with and without AR but it has never been a reason to not purchase or wear them. Second, I actually enjoy a larger crown and don’t find them out of proportion for a field watch, but I also have fat fingers so a larger crown is nice. Also, this is a field watch with 100m water resistance, not having a screw down crown is not unusual. If it was a dive watch it would be worth mentioning but is completely unnecessary for a field watch. Third, The dial is a bit cluttered but purposefully so and is the reason I like a field watch, keep it mind that your looking at 3 functional dials. I personally don’t prefer the date and some don’t include it, like my Titanium Khaki. They offer version with no date, date, and day/date and even have different placements on the dial for the date window. With so many other choices in the Hamilton line you just chose the wrong watch. As far as the bracelet goes, I think they do the job. Are they great? No, but they are a lot better than most in that price category, overall I prefer a strap as most do with a field watch. And finally in the end you compare it to your Black Bay 58 at more than 3 times the price which is not a comparable watch either in price category or type/style. To compare a $600 watch to a $3,000 watch and say it’s cutting corners is a bit disingenuous. Okay, rant over.
Hey, first off thanks for your great comment and review! Please don’t get me wrong, I do think it really is a superb watch especially for the price. It’s just that the AR coating would have been the icing on the cake and I did not get why they would not check this box as well if the rest is so on point. Also I would personally as a customer be willing to pay 50$ or more for it, so that‘s why I felt they were cutting corners. The other things I mentioned are just minor flaws I felt that were missing in other reviews. I‘m always trying to provide additional value with my videos and I felt that this perspective I‘m having was not covered yet, so please don‘t take it personal :)
@@mowatches I agree, it would be a very nice addition across their whole line of watches and as long as they have been in business you would think that they would have been able to figure out a way to do it economically. I just hate to see you pass on what I believe is a great watch. My main two work/beater watches are the Hamilton Khaki and the Tudor FXD, I can’t seem to get into G-shocks
Yes lack of AR is an issue on a domed crystal on a black dial. I have the 40mm Khaki King Auto that exhibits similar issue. I’ve simply accepted as a characteristic of the watch.
Yeah, I think it can be perfectly fine as soon as you get used to it. Especially being outdoors the problem was less obvious than inside the house with less light. Other than that also the Khaki King is a beautiful watch!
Puhh, i am very thankful for your review, the info about the reflective crystal is SO important for me. My Grand Seiko sky flake also have a domed crystal, but its coated and dial is all visible, i was about to buy the Hamilton until i saw this review, again thank you 🙂
Absolutely agree with you! Because it is such a cool timepiece otherwise, the reflective crystal (domed sapphire + lack of AR coating) is such a mismatch in my opinion.
I just want to note that this watch is meant to be an everyday watch, field watch that happens to cross multiple styles. However adding an AR (Anti-Reflective Coating) to the watch would lower the resistance of the glass to scratches as the coating isn't as hard a sapphire (Obviously).
I agree, but they could also put the coating layer on the inner part of the crystal, which would help already a little. And I have some watches for 200 bucks with AR coating that has been extremely scratch resistant so far
Love mine. I've taken my 42mm from the tundra to the desert. The polished bezel shows scratches ...scratches that you totally remember the adventure that made them.
That‘s how they are ment to be worn, telling your personal story :) so cool how you went with it on your adventures! Definitely a watch that can do it all!
I have the older 36mm Khaki automatic. I will never part ways with it except when I die, and will be passed to my family. Thanks again for another great watch review!
I quite like the domed crystal it gives the watch a little pop if that makes sense. I have this in the collection and love it, never had a watch go with as many straps. My biggest issue is only 2 micro adjusts on the clasp so I can't wear it on bracelet:(
Generally I also think that the domed crystal fits the watch quite well and underlines its rather dressy character as opposed to the classic field watch style. But for me the combination of the domed crystal and the lack of AR coating just makes it so much more reflective than all of my other watches, which is a real bummer. Regarding the bracelet, I made a similar observation and had to wear it pretty loose on the wrist - but the NATO compatibility definitely makes up for this flaw.
Also wish the bracelet had more microadjustment holes. I had to sell my bracelet because I couldn't get it it to fit right. Otherwise a great watch and looks beautiful on a good leather strap.
@SL-xy5pn seen a hack online and bascially you remove the end part of the bracelet that fits in the clasp and connects to the micro adjust. You simply remove this and connect the bracelet link directly onto the clasp micro adjust secure and unseen and given more adjustment. The only thing 1 link the hole needs drilling out slightly to fit. I agree 💯 though it should have 3 or 4 holes the clasp is big enough !!
For me, the lack of AR coating was also a deal breaker and ultimately the reason why I sold my Khaki Field King. That being said, I think that watch reviewers tend to review a watch based on the price bracket that a watch is in. With higher prices, you can expect better quality. There is just no way that a relatively cheap watch does not have to make consessions somewhere. For the price, these Hamiltons are still a great buy and excellent value for money. But if one of the negatives is a personal dealbreaker, then that ofcourse does not matter.
I absolutely agree with you here. Moreover I totally get why people do not concentrate on the crystal when reviewing the watch, bc it is so amazing considering it's price point. But also that's exactly the reason why I think it is such a pity they did not invest these few extra dollars for the AR coating in the first place - as a customer I would also be willing to pay more for it.
Eventhough it is a bummer that you didn’t like it, I’m kinda glad you made the same experiences - because I already felt bad and thought my expectations were too high 😅
I purchased the new 38mm hamilton murph interstellar and was incredibly disappointed at this exact same issue. The website stated that there was AR coating on the crystal so I thought , perfect. However, after wearing the watch in different lighting the AR coating is basically negligible. Such a shame , beautiful watch but I ended up selling it.
For me too. The super AR crystals make the crystal effectively disappear but the Hamilton renders that glorious sapphire a serious feature of the watch.
That was the reason I sold my Khaki King & Seiko Presage. But Khaki Autos are still very handsome and you can't beat its quality and sturdiness at that price point..
Finally! someone who shares the same opinion as me! Mineral crystal gets a lot of hate bur it allows a clear view of the dial in any angle. I recently bought the seiko alpinist laurel deep lake blue and returned it the next day due to the reflections and glare! What good a watch is if you can’t see the dial.
Hey, thank you so much for the comment, absolutely appreciate it and happy to hear that you see it the same way. What especially annoys me it that on the production side its just a few bucks more, so I cannot understand why the manufacturers build such amazing time pieces and then to cut the cost on the last mile, does not make sense to me.
@@mowatches you are right. I think this is a case of manufacturers scumming to the demands of the customers. Everyone is asking for sapphire due to its scratch resistance properties but they forget that sapphire is highly reflective. Brands here have multiple options when it comes to AR coating: 1) do nothing! apply no AR coating, which is what Rolex used to do up until recently and treat the reflections as an attention grabbing feature! 2) Apply AR coating on the inside only. That’s because the AR coating on the outside can get scratched. This is the case with your watch but AR coating on one side will not solve the glare problem 3) Apply AR coating on both sides. Which kinda beats the purpose of Sapphire, but most high end brands go for option 3 because, well, costumers want to see the dial too!
Yeah, this is my issue as well. I went to look at one yesterday and I was wearing my Sinn 556, LOL. I just could not see the dial! If they just added the AR, I would have bought one!
I can imagine that the contrast to the double coated Sinn must be huge! Anyway, even though it is twice the price of the Hamilton, I think the 556 is an amazing alternative. Do you wear it on a leather strap or bracelet?
@@mowatches So, I found the Uncle Seiko "president" bracelet for the 556 and it's very nice, and tapers down to 16mm like my BB58. This works well with the Sinn 556i. Beyond that I wear it on a nice black and white sailcloth strap from Artem. Very nice combo!
Sound like an amazing combo, thanks for sharing! definitely will check it out at some point :) already have been looking into the 556 for quite some time!
Dont think its cutting corners with the ar coating, its just an aesthetic detail they chose to go with. I would actually have to see it in person to sse if it bothered me. Looking at a watch through lenses is not the same as looking at a watch with the naked eye.
Totally agree with you, it is crucial to see it with the naked eye and make your own opinion. I for myself did not see it on the videos but when I got it it just did not made sense to me how reflective the crystal looked 😅
I'm just leaving a comment because you seem to be putting a lot into your channel and the content is high quality so I know that UA-cam will favor you more With more "interaction".
Baltany makes Hamilton homages with a screw down crown with AR coating for about 26% of the price. It's a shame that Swatch Group treats Hamilton like an entry level stepchild. At this price point especially with what micro brands are doing AR coating and screw down crowns should be mandatory.
Hey, I appreciate your comment and am glad you think the same! The watch is super beautiful, so the crystal just is a huge bummer that does not make sense at all.
In the opinion the lack of an AR coating on the dial actually helps the overall look of the watch. While i makes it slightly harder to read, it also allows the light to play on the crystal and give it a nice shine. I dont find it difficult at all to read either. Because of how easily legible the dial is, the reduced legibility of the dial just lowers it down to being about average in bright light, and highly legible in normal light. I also disagree about the bracelet. Because while i agree about the clasp being chunky, and downright painful when typing, it’s definitely not a delicate bracelet at all.
Hey Randy, thanks for your detailed feedback and opinion, I think you definitely have a point here and this really helps keeping the discussion going. The domed crystal absolutely makes the dial pop! As for the bracelet I felt that it was quite light and thin compared to my other watches.
@@mowatches lol I’m always down to talk about watches. Ultimately for the dial i think it depends on personal preference. I know this seems a little backwards but i tend to not like watches that have an AR coated crystal. When i had the Hamilton intra-matic auto chrono i thought the crystal always looks a bit dull since the light didn’t play on it very much. It definitely did help with legibility though. For the bracelet, yeah it’s more delicate than some sports watch bracelets but i think it’s about on par with other everyday watches. In terms of watches most people know about i think it’s about on par with the Omega Seamaster aqua terra.
still have the older version of this watch with the eta 2824-2 movement. (i personally prefer a higher beat rate movement to a longer power reserve movement like the current version) the reflection on the crystal does’t bother me much and i will keep mine for life.
It is not subjective, it is fact. Even with their new 38mm Titanium, they still would Not put an inner AR coating at all (but the Murph has it). Common sense 'Hamilton' would dictate, you listen to the customers- Better Lume, AR coating & maybe a Screw down crown. It is Field Watch...for the outdoors!
Absolutely agree with you, they should definitely invest that money to make the most out of these already incredibly cool watches. Though I can also understand that some may not be bothered too much by the missing coating.
Happy to see that you thought the same. The watch looks so stunning and then the reflective crystal is a huge downer that does not match the overall quality of the watch at all. Thanks for the comment!
Yes, you're totally right. The sapphire crystal is so reflective it's annoying, and the clasp is too thick. Dead on. Still love it but I've tried to look into the aftermarket for solutions to both.
Appreciate the honest review. The crystal has always been a deal breaker for me. I'm not usually fussy about crystals but the hamilton is like 40% mirror. Every real photo online shows the camera in the reflection. I stay clear of hamilton for that reason. Too bad, great watches otherwise. My Damasko crystal is nearly invisible the ar is so strong. Oris Aquis is another great watch with a terrible reflective crystal. Maybe I am fussy after all.
Hey, thanks for your comment and happy to see that you feel the same. You are right it is a shame, because otherwise the watches really are amazing. Did not know this about the Aquis, too bad really. I really dont get why the watch makers try to save a few bucks here for watches beyond 500$
I got mine for about two months.. selling it as well. I like the watch, but i dont find nothing special in it to keep it in my collection. 21000vph bothered me. I want something more smooth above 28000vph.
Happy to hear that you think the same! It really is an amazing watch but for me it also just did not click. Do you have something in mind already in order to replace it?
I actually like the reflective crystal. It makes it different and sets it apart from the herd. It also give me more confidence in its robustness and practicality as an everyday rugged field watch. Also just love that big old oversized pull-out crown. It's just there begging to be grabbed to give an extra wind whenever you like and simplicity itself for time/date adjust. The only problem is the prices have just taken a massive 30% hike and it's now almost $900 or £700 here in the UK!
I see and can totally understand your arguments as well. The prices are incredibly high now, but on pages like chrono24 you can usually still make a pretty good deal from some ADs in different countries when you watch the market a little beforehand.
Is adding an aftermarket flat crystal with AR, or perhaps coating the stock domed Crystal with AR, possible? I know, it’s a hassle, but it’s otherwise a beautiful watch.
when it comes to the dial visibility, I totally agree with you I own the 38mm version of the khaki field automatic and I think it's a big letdown since I can't even enjoy the dial to the fullest, I would prefer a flat crystal or some reflective coating.
I haven't been bothered by the lack of AR coating--I'm willing to just rotate my wrist a little more, I guess. I wear the watch all the time and generally like it a lot, but I agree that the chunky clasp is a problem. It really irritates me when I'm typing at work and my wrist is resting on the desk. I don't have to take off the other watch I wear to the office, but this one I do. Also, the lume is absurdly ineffective.
Hey, thank you so much for your valuable insights! The lume is another good point to mention. Glad to hear though that you are generally happy with it :)
Love this watch. I wish it had anti reflective coating, but the thing that bothers the most is the lack of screw down crown. It’s a tool watch should be able to take a swim with it. Super disappointing. If it had that I’d get it in a heartbeat.
Ive owned two 42mm on a strap. Ive never been a fan of this on the bracelet. I sold the second one so i could buy the murph 42mm. Generally Hamilton are one of my favourite brands.
really good question, for sure it would look amazing. There was a guy on youtube showing how its done and the results looked amazing, should be easy for you to find his video. also, at least here in germany, there are a few small companies that offer swapping the crystal as a service (costs were around 100$).
A watch is an accessory, a piece of jewellery if you will, something you wear for looks. Yes, I want them to reflect light, because I like my jewelry shiny. If you want functionality buy a fucking smart watch mate
I understand your argument but definitely disagree personally. In my opinion, if you want the swag and shininess, the watch case can be reflective as hell with polished aluminium etc, but when you cannot see the dial it just looks cheap, because it is cheap.
I’ve looked at ones in a shop , and when I think about - yes it is more reflective - but I don’t think overly so . Some of the alternatives mentioned - I haven’t heard of
I struggle with finding an alternative at a similar price point. There are nice field watches around but most of them are not an as decent package as the khaki field auto. The watches I mentioned were only meant as a reference for the reflectiveness of the crystal :)
I got a nice Glycine combat sub, direct from glycine (discontinued so on offer) and it's the most accurate auto watch I have ever come across . Gains 3 seconds a week@@mowatches
Hey there, sorry for the late reply. I did a lot of research and got an Rolex Explorer I in the end. Even though both watches play in completely different leagues and also have quite different dial styles, they have a very similar form factor, which I absolutely fell in love with wearing the Hamilton, which is why I then decided for the Explorer in the end. I am currently working on a comparison video between the two of them, maybe this could be interesting for you.
Here is the problem; not the khaki field but the khaki field king(!) is considered to be one of the best watches at its price point due to its versatility and multiple complications as it has a day date complication instead of only a date like this normal field. The king also has a white tipped second hand making the watch way more versatile and therefor also more suitable in dressed up occasions.
This AR coating seems to be a big deal for most people, are there after market options to fix this? ( not that you should have to with a watch at this price)
I found a local jeweler in Germany who offered to swap the crystal and the total service would have been 100€. Also there is a guy on youtube showcasing how he changed the crystal himself, but I was not confident enough to do it 😅
Happy to hear that it helped! I saw this strap first on another video from Bark & Jack and then found it at a dealer in Germany - here it was called "Nato Nylon Model Luxor green 20 mm", but you can also find it on alibaba and other online stores, as it seems to be a product from China that is resold / rebranded differently in every country. If you cannot it find in yours let me know and then I will try to help. :)
I feel lucky you made this video and I ended up looking at it since the Hamilton Khaki Field was on my buylist. Before spending 900 $ cdn. I willthink twice.
Hey man, glad to hear that! And I absolutely agree, the power reserve really is a killer feature. For me it is amazing that you can just leave your watch at home for a weekend getaway and still have it running on Monday.
The guy that bought the Camel says”hey this Camel is terrible. It doesn’t do any of the things you said he did”. The seller replies “shhh! If you keep saying that you’ll never sell the camel”.
Greetings, nice review. I want to ask this clearly. Is the only purpose of the AR coating for readability? Or does it protect sapphire glass from scratches? If Safire provides extra protection, this is an important issue. Otherwise, readability is not a problem for me.
Hey Yakup, thanks for your comment. The AR coating does not provide any additional protection but is solely for better readability. Some brands even apply an additional layer of it on the outside of the crystal (standard is to have it on the inside) which is by far not as scratch resistant as the crystal itself. So for you then this should not be any downside. Hope this helped.
Best movement you can buy for the money. I wore Seiko watches for years and will never go back after I can go weeks with this watch without resetting the time.
Thats a tough one. I‘ve been looking into the Sinn 556i, which is more price and no field watch, but has a similar overall appearance when it comes to the case and dimensions. Maybe you could also check out some other field watches.
thanks man, appreciate it. I just use a Canon EOS R, so definitely nothing special. What I can recommend is having the right light and also filming in Log and then using LUTs for enhanced flexibility in colour grading.
I’m rocking a Casio Duro, Batman on a Stainless Bracelet from Long Island Watch. It’s not perfect, the watch is huge, the bracelet doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s decent, but overall it’s a damn good watch. It’s rocking a Miyota 2115 quartz movement with a three year power reserve, lol, and I can do my own maintenance, battery swap, some silicone grease applied to the gaskets and it’s good to go through an apocalypse. The Casio Duro is a beast, and fills the role I’d use a Hamilton Khaki for, for $110. 🤙🏼
I had this watch for less than a day because of that AR problem. I went back to shop to change it Hamilton Murph 38 and that was a good decision. I love the Murph 38. I just need to know if the videos’s stainless steel strap will fit to my Murph 38? Or do you guys know a stainless strap for Murph 38? Thanks
I have the 42mm version. Love the watch and its probably my most worn from a collection of twenty watches. Lack of AR is not a problem to me but I just wish it had a screw crown. 100 metres of water resistance is enough for most adventures but I can never really trust a push-pull crown and find myself checking its pushed in. Other than that, its a good GADA watch.
Hey there, thanks for your comment! It is the perfect everyday beater that you usually should be able to take on any adventure. A screw down crown would be the icing on the cake here, I definitely agree.
At first it did bother me but as i wear it day in and day out, i have come to appreciat wit because i can accidently bumped it and it’s still scratch free. In addition, just twist your wrist a bit and you cna see the time 😊
Good review, the no AR coating is 100% a deal breaker for me, it would really annoy me big time, I love the watch and was thinking of buying but after now knowing that I simply cannot buy it, end of story, such a shame coz it’s a brilliant watch.
I absolutely agree with you and am happy that the video helped. I was in the same place, pulled the trigger and then felt almost gaslighted because nobody really talked about this on UA-cam.
Just when I after months decided to buy this watch! Have never thought of AR coating before, and when I think about I have it on all my watches. Will be a deal breaker. Alright, back to scare one.
glad to hear the video helped. I also pulled the trigger and did not know about this and how severely it affected the looks of the dial as compared to my other watches.
Hey great vid! great production quality too! I just made a video about the lack of AR on this watch as well it's an absolute bummer because the dial is quite beautiful
Hey there, thank you so much for the feedback - especially coming from somebody with such a cool watch channel it really means a lot to me! Checked out your video and I will definitely follow the upcoming content :)
Mo some advice: once you are able to afford Pateks, APs, Rolexes, BlancPan like me you will learn that all watches have good and bad qualities! Doing a deep dive on a Hamilton is commendable but also so extra it’s cute. The real question is, have you made a video for the sake of a video?!
Hey, thanks for the comment :) I made the video because I got a completely unrealistic impression of the watch through the other videos out there, because I felt nobody was stressing these flaws enough. Certainly some UA-camrs will make videos just for the sake of uploading stuff but with this video I felt it was providing a significant benefit trying to point out what nobody criticized about this well made but also overhyped watch.
Thanks for the video. I have the 42mm on leather and am contemplating selling it. I thought I would want to wear it all the time, but I don’t. I’ve just got a much cheaper seiko SRPG27. It’s not perfect either but find the dial less cluttered. The bracelet isn’t good but I’ll try it on a few natos and it could become my new daily
No it is fairly easy to remove the bracelet and change it for leather or nato straps. You can see the watch on some nato straps in the middle of the video roughly. I would recommend getting it on a metal bracelet and buying the other straps separately from the after market. Hope this helps!
Ima take a guess and say the people that turn down the watch because of the lack of AR coating is vecause theyve already experienced how it could be With good AR coating. But like for me, as a first time watch buyer, wouldn't notice it at all, and it never bothered me
Hey, thanks for your comment. I definitely agree that it might sound like nitpicking, but for the current price of the watch, AR coating is absolutely no premium feature in my opinion. There are many watches out there for half or a quarter of the price that have AR coating. However, there are many disciplines in which this watch does make an amazing job for its price, no questions asked, which is why it is so hard for me to understand why there is a lack of AR coating in the first place, if the rest is such an outstanding package.
Owned the 42mm version since 2015, I can tell you not once have I ever had issues reading the time. What a strange complaint, and even stranger reason to get rid of it.
Thanks for the feedback! I guess it just comes down to personal preference. There are quite a few people here in the comment section that feel the same way. But of course I can get why it might not bother some people. Glad to hear that you are happy with the watch!
You found more flaws than I did… I think the bracelet is extremely nice for the price… Quite possibly the most comfortable in my entire collection of over 70 watches. Yes, they are coding is nonexistent and disappointing, but I don’t find it as big as a flaw as the lack of lume. Even for a field watch, I find it one of the biggest drawbacks of the watch. I think the crown is the proper size for a field watch. And the clasp I also find great for a field watch… To refine these two things would just make it more of a dress watch.
Hey John, thank you so much for sharing your valuable perspective and experience. Those are some very sharp observations and I think the fact that the watch wears the most comfortable from all of your collection is absolutely astonishing. The amazing comfort is something I totally forgot to meantion in the video. Hope to see you around here again someday :)
Paid $380 for mine on sale at Jomashop 3 years ago. I have beat the crap out of this watch and still +4 a day !! Also the strapco rubber straps make this a monster !! The ones that fit Rolex !! The white one is my favorite.
I bought a 38mm on a bracelet last year. At the £410 I paid I'm happy with it although the clasp is a little mismatched. Earlier this year however, Hamilton increased the RRP to around £700 and at that price I feel it's a bit much for what you get.
Wow, that‘s a really good deal from todays perspective - when I got it, it was also almost 800€. But still a really cool watch, especially the slim 38mm version :)
I have this watch and admittedly I am guilty too of moaning about the crystal, so I had the crystal replaced (exact same crystal bit with inner AR coating, then available from Crystal Times). Although the glare became noticably less strong, it was still clearly present. But here's the thing: I own three other black-dial watches, each with AR coating on both sides. The crystal basically disppears on them. But when I glance at my Hamilton, I immediately notice how interesting or even 'premium' the watch looks, precisely because of the glare. I now can see the charm of glary crystals (although, as said, it's not completely fair since I swapped out the crystal, but still). Having said all this, I don't wear the Hamilton that often anymore; that field-watch spot has been filled by the Longines Spirit. If I didn't own that one, though, I'd probably still be wearing the heck out of the Hamilton. At the end of the day it's a damn fine watch.
Wow, thank you for your amazing insights and super valuable observations! It definitely is a cool watch and the fact that the reflective nature of the crystal boosts the “dressiness” of the watch has been discussed here also by other enthusiasts. A good point that I did not take into account. Hope to see you around again some time :)
I can understand the host problem with it. Reflective nature of it really hinder its function. Its a field watch, sometime you want just to see it at a glimpse. Let say when you ride a bike or car.
Hey man, actually I did not have it on my radar so far. But it looks quite stunning with the triangles on the dial, almost giving me some seamaster aqua terra vibes :)
Ah yeah, just checked it, how cool is that?! It is actually one of my most favorite movies. Also I saw that the khaki murph was as well in the movie - nice move hamilton 🔥
i love the domed crystal but not the reflective nature of it, it does affect the viewing experience of the dial but not the time. But hey, I can playfully reflect light onto some kid in mcdonalds just to annoy them😂
good question, there are many options! I am thinking of getting a longines spirit, or also IWC has cool field watches, like the portofino or the pilots watch. Also the seiko alpinist is a cool choice!
Honestly, what irks me about this watch is that the day cutout bumps the 15-second mark out of place. It’s even worse on the 42mm. Very little needed to be done to correct this (frankly, they should have just omitted the 15 from the 42mm), and idk why Hamilton did nothing about it.
I‘m presenting the personal reasons why I am parting ways with the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto. Yet it remains a really cool watch for the price and if the things I mentioned in the video do not bother you, I would even recommend it, yes!
@@mowatches oh! Actually I am learning english. At first when I saw your title, I understood that you have some disappointing part about this whatch or something lol thank you for your comment :)
Someone should just make a non reflective solution for post purchase. If the watch company can’t get it right, why lose out on a great watch because of that? Imagine a cream of polish you can put as an anti glare layer? I mean is it so hard to make? If you read this and do, I want cash in form of royalties lol
👉 What do you think of the Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic? And does the lack of AR coating on the crystal bother you? 💖 Let me know in the comments!
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#HamiltonKhakiField #Automatic #WatchCommunity #FieldWatch
@@mowatches hello. The crystal is domed and no AR. But it s OK. The best field watch forme for sure is the new German hannart field watch.
For half my life i wore a tiny watch that was 7mm thick, quartz, no screw down crown, no AR coating no micro adjustment on the clasp and only splash proof and i never ever had a problem, i loved the bloody watch. Now i have 35 watches and non of them satisfy me, and all this since I started watching youtube reviews. I think its time to unplug…
Hey man, absolutely understand and feel this comment. The deeper we get into this hobby, the more picky we become. However, this should never hold us back from liking watches for what they mean to us personally. And who cares for the specs when you and your watch went through thick and thin together?
Must reviews are just ads. I feel for this trick also 😂😂
I totally agree with you. The watch thing has been blown out of all proportion. This is all about marketing, "storytelling", used car salesmen gimmicks and not reality.
@@axisdriftguitarworks1384 iv had it with all of them. I bought a 35mm digital prx, i ordered it from the factory before it was even available from dealers and it was 330 pounds, not an earth shattering amount but you should see the abuse, bloody hell. I love the bloody thing, i always wanted a swiss digital watch with a nice bracelet and sapphire. I absolutely love it, it goes swimming, it does everything. From the abuse it gets online ud think its a former concentration camp guard.
I had the same. A long time ago I bought a timex . I loved it but now I have a lot of watches and I'm still unhappy.
I've had the 38 for some years and the reflective nature of the crystal has never bothered me at all. In fact I think the dial with all that detail is a legibility work of genius. As a work-time beater watch, well it can't be beat. I wear it exclusively on a number of different NATOs and get that change-up every time. Each to their own.
The NATO-compatibility of the watch with its 20mm lugs is seriously cool, I was super impressed when I tried it on some straps how stunning it looked on basically all of them.
I completely agree! I think its one of the best every-day watches on the market!
Personally disagree I returned this watch due to lack of AR
After using a watch with ar coated crystal you can never go back. Khakis crystal is terrible
@@BassJournal Not so at all for me. I have a Seamaster 300Mc with superb internal and external AR on the crystal. So good is it that you can hardly tell there is a crystal there at all. Lack of AR on the Hamilton makes the sapphire crystal a feature, not a bug
I got my Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic in 38 mm nearly two years ago. I absolutely love it. All of the things you don't like are important to you and I respect that. But they don't bother me. On the other hand, I'm totally irrational about accuracy and my watch gets COSC specs out of the box, after a break in period of a couple of months.
That accuracy is pretty impressive and I'm happy to hear that you are enjoying it :)
I have 5 Hamiltons and while the lack of AR coating is noticeable it’s never been an issue (except the few times I attempted to photograph them😂). And while noticeable it’s not a dealbreaker by any means, nor was it on my Rolex’s. I have many watches with and without AR but it has never been a reason to not purchase or wear them.
Second, I actually enjoy a larger crown and don’t find them out of proportion for a field watch, but I also have fat fingers so a larger crown is nice. Also, this is a field watch with 100m water resistance, not having a screw down crown is not unusual. If it was a dive watch it would be worth mentioning but is completely unnecessary for a field watch.
Third, The dial is a bit cluttered but purposefully so and is the reason I like a field watch, keep it mind that your looking at 3 functional dials. I personally don’t prefer the date and some don’t include it, like my Titanium Khaki. They offer version with no date, date, and day/date and even have different placements on the dial for the date window. With so many other choices in the Hamilton line you just chose the wrong watch.
As far as the bracelet goes, I think they do the job. Are they great? No, but they are a lot better than most in that price category, overall I prefer a strap as most do with a field watch.
And finally in the end you compare it to your Black Bay 58 at more than 3 times the price which is not a comparable watch either in price category or type/style. To compare a $600 watch to a $3,000 watch and say it’s cutting corners is a bit disingenuous.
Okay, rant over.
Hey, first off thanks for your great comment and review! Please don’t get me wrong, I do think it really is a superb watch especially for the price. It’s just that the AR coating would have been the icing on the cake and I did not get why they would not check this box as well if the rest is so on point. Also I would personally as a customer be willing to pay 50$ or more for it, so that‘s why I felt they were cutting corners. The other things I mentioned are just minor flaws I felt that were missing in other reviews. I‘m always trying to provide additional value with my videos and I felt that this perspective I‘m having was not covered yet, so please don‘t take it personal :)
@@mowatches I agree, it would be a very nice addition across their whole line of watches and as long as they have been in business you would think that they would have been able to figure out a way to do it economically. I just hate to see you pass on what I believe is a great watch. My main two work/beater watches are the Hamilton Khaki and the Tudor FXD, I can’t seem to get into G-shocks
Good points well made.
@@whiskey6350Tudor FXD as a beater? bloody hell, what’s your watch for best, a Patek Phillippe 😂
@@TeddyBoy7796 Bro, you FR? Patek is what I use as a daily beater…
i like that where isn't a coating, coatings arrnt as hard as the sapphire and can scratch, and i like the reflections, looks great!
Sweet! I can definitely see your point. Thanks for the comment ☺️
Coating has to be on the iside
Yes lack of AR is an issue on a domed crystal on a black dial. I have the 40mm Khaki King Auto that exhibits similar issue. I’ve simply accepted as a characteristic of the watch.
Yeah, I think it can be perfectly fine as soon as you get used to it. Especially being outdoors the problem was less obvious than inside the house with less light. Other than that also the Khaki King is a beautiful watch!
Murph 38mm FTW
I've had the Hamilton khaki automatic for six years. It has exceeded my expectations. It is typically on my wrist 24 to 20 hours a day
Thanks for the comment and glad to hear that 🔥
Puhh, i am very thankful for your review, the info about the reflective crystal is SO important for me. My Grand Seiko sky flake also have a domed crystal, but its coated and dial is all visible, i was about to buy the Hamilton until i saw this review, again thank you 🙂
So glad to hear that! I absolutely appreciate the feedback and am happy to hear that the video helped you :)
Have you saw it at a dealer ?
I can see your point. I think it’s still a lovely watch but does deserve some AR coating and screw-down crown to be a proper field watch.
Absolutely agree with you! Because it is such a cool timepiece otherwise, the reflective crystal (domed sapphire + lack of AR coating) is such a mismatch in my opinion.
I just want to note that this watch is meant to be an everyday watch, field watch that happens to cross multiple styles. However adding an AR (Anti-Reflective Coating) to the watch would lower the resistance of the glass to scratches as the coating isn't as hard a sapphire (Obviously).
I agree, but they could also put the coating layer on the inner part of the crystal, which would help already a little. And I have some watches for 200 bucks with AR coating that has been extremely scratch resistant so far
@@mowatches that's good idea I didn't realise that would be able to work. thanks for the reply :)
@@GARR0Nprobably 95 percent of watches with AR coating is on the underside.
Love mine. I've taken my 42mm from the tundra to the desert. The polished bezel shows scratches ...scratches that you totally remember the adventure that made them.
That‘s how they are ment to be worn, telling your personal story :) so cool how you went with it on your adventures! Definitely a watch that can do it all!
I have the older 36mm Khaki automatic. I will never part ways with it except when I die, and will be passed to my family. Thanks again for another great watch review!
Again, thanks for your comment :) 36mm on this one sounds amazing, really reminds me of the explorer.
I quite like the domed crystal it gives the watch a little pop if that makes sense. I have this in the collection and love it, never had a watch go with as many straps. My biggest issue is only 2 micro adjusts on the clasp so I can't wear it on bracelet:(
Generally I also think that the domed crystal fits the watch quite well and underlines its rather dressy character as opposed to the classic field watch style. But for me the combination of the domed crystal and the lack of AR coating just makes it so much more reflective than all of my other watches, which is a real bummer. Regarding the bracelet, I made a similar observation and had to wear it pretty loose on the wrist - but the NATO compatibility definitely makes up for this flaw.
@@mowatches your right about the natos suits anything 🙂
Also wish the bracelet had more microadjustment holes. I had to sell my bracelet because I couldn't get it it to fit right. Otherwise a great watch and looks beautiful on a good leather strap.
@SL-xy5pn seen a hack online and bascially you remove the end part of the bracelet that fits in the clasp and connects to the micro adjust. You simply remove this and connect the bracelet link directly onto the clasp micro adjust secure and unseen and given more adjustment. The only thing 1 link the hole needs drilling out slightly to fit. I agree 💯 though it should have 3 or 4 holes the clasp is big enough !!
Interesting! The dome shape crystal is actually the most beautiful part of this watch!
I agree that it looks amazing, but without the AR coating it adds to the reflectiveness. Nevertheless it is an amazing watch! Thanks for your comment
For me, the lack of AR coating was also a deal breaker and ultimately the reason why I sold my Khaki Field King. That being said, I think that watch reviewers tend to review a watch based on the price bracket that a watch is in. With higher prices, you can expect better quality. There is just no way that a relatively cheap watch does not have to make consessions somewhere. For the price, these Hamiltons are still a great buy and excellent value for money. But if one of the negatives is a personal dealbreaker, then that ofcourse does not matter.
I absolutely agree with you here. Moreover I totally get why people do not concentrate on the crystal when reviewing the watch, bc it is so amazing considering it's price point. But also that's exactly the reason why I think it is such a pity they did not invest these few extra dollars for the AR coating in the first place - as a customer I would also be willing to pay more for it.
Sold within a week as well. Non screwdown, poor lume and reflective glass were the main reasons
Eventhough it is a bummer that you didn’t like it, I’m kinda glad you made the same experiences - because I already felt bad and thought my expectations were too high 😅
@@mowatches Not at all, for the price and a field watch that is really not acceptable and small things that can be done
Just ordered this watch. Also purchased a replacement AR Crystal for 45 bucks.
Cool, keep me posted how the replacement worked 😎
I purchased the new 38mm hamilton murph interstellar and was incredibly disappointed at this exact same issue. The website stated that there was AR coating on the crystal so I thought , perfect. However, after wearing the watch in different lighting the AR coating is basically negligible. Such a shame , beautiful watch but I ended up selling it.
What a pity! It just doesn’t make sense to me why they would leave out the AR coating on their models..
For me the reflective crystal glass is what makes this watch look great.
Hey, thanks for sharing, that’s a really interesting perspective! It definitely makes the watch more “shiny” in a way
For me too. The super AR crystals make the crystal effectively disappear but the Hamilton renders that glorious sapphire a serious feature of the watch.
That was the reason I sold my Khaki King & Seiko Presage. But Khaki Autos are still very handsome and you can't beat its quality and sturdiness at that price point..
Happy to hear that you think the same, and absolutely agree - the quality for the price is unparalleled.
I've the 42mm Khaki field. It makes me feel wonderful. I love it. That's all a watch needs to do, other than keep time.
Totally agree and happy to hear that you feel this way! Thanks for the comment and keep on enjoying this amazing watch!
Finally! someone who shares the same opinion as me! Mineral crystal gets a lot of hate bur it allows a clear view of the dial in any angle. I recently bought the seiko alpinist laurel deep lake blue and returned it the next day due to the reflections and glare! What good a watch is if you can’t see the dial.
Hey, thank you so much for the comment, absolutely appreciate it and happy to hear that you see it the same way. What especially annoys me it that on the production side its just a few bucks more, so I cannot understand why the manufacturers build such amazing time pieces and then to cut the cost on the last mile, does not make sense to me.
@@mowatches you are right. I think this is a case of manufacturers scumming to the demands of the customers. Everyone is asking for sapphire due to its scratch resistance properties but they forget that sapphire is highly reflective. Brands here have multiple options when it comes to AR coating: 1) do nothing! apply no AR coating, which is what Rolex used to do up until recently and treat the reflections as an attention grabbing feature! 2) Apply AR coating on the inside only. That’s because the AR coating on the outside can get scratched. This is the case with your watch but AR coating on one side will not solve the glare problem 3) Apply AR coating on both sides. Which kinda beats the purpose of Sapphire, but most high end brands go for option 3 because, well, costumers want to see the dial too!
Yeah, this is my issue as well. I went to look at one yesterday and I was wearing my Sinn 556, LOL. I just could not see the dial! If they just added the AR, I would have bought one!
I can imagine that the contrast to the double coated Sinn must be huge! Anyway, even though it is twice the price of the Hamilton, I think the 556 is an amazing alternative. Do you wear it on a leather strap or bracelet?
@@mowatches So, I found the Uncle Seiko "president" bracelet for the 556 and it's very nice, and tapers down to 16mm like my BB58. This works well with the Sinn 556i. Beyond that I wear it on a nice black and white sailcloth strap from Artem. Very nice combo!
Sound like an amazing combo, thanks for sharing! definitely will check it out at some point :) already have been looking into the 556 for quite some time!
What is AR?
Dont think its cutting corners with the ar coating, its just an aesthetic detail they chose to go with. I would actually have to see it in person to sse if it bothered me. Looking at a watch through lenses is not the same as looking at a watch with the naked eye.
Totally agree with you, it is crucial to see it with the naked eye and make your own opinion. I for myself did not see it on the videos but when I got it it just did not made sense to me how reflective the crystal looked 😅
I'm just leaving a comment because you seem to be putting a lot into your channel and the content is high quality so I know that UA-cam will favor you more With more "interaction".
Thank you so much :) I really appreciate that!
Baltany makes Hamilton homages with a screw down crown with AR coating for about 26% of the price. It's a shame that Swatch Group treats Hamilton like an entry level stepchild. At this price point especially with what micro brands are doing AR coating and screw down crowns should be mandatory.
Amazing, thanks for the comment, I will definitely check it out.
I have the same thought about the cristal. It's almost likeva mirror that prevents you to appreciate the beautiful dial.
Hey, I appreciate your comment and am glad you think the same! The watch is super beautiful, so the crystal just is a huge bummer that does not make sense at all.
I bought this today and u have some valid points but as a whole an awesome well made watch for the price.
agree with you and happy that you like the watch. tranks for the comment!
In the opinion the lack of an AR coating on the dial actually helps the overall look of the watch. While i makes it slightly harder to read, it also allows the light to play on the crystal and give it a nice shine.
I dont find it difficult at all to read either. Because of how easily legible the dial is, the reduced legibility of the dial just lowers it down to being about average in bright light, and highly legible in normal light.
I also disagree about the bracelet. Because while i agree about the clasp being chunky, and downright painful when typing, it’s definitely not a delicate bracelet at all.
Hey Randy, thanks for your detailed feedback and opinion, I think you definitely have a point here and this really helps keeping the discussion going. The domed crystal absolutely makes the dial pop! As for the bracelet I felt that it was quite light and thin compared to my other watches.
@@mowatches lol I’m always down to talk about watches. Ultimately for the dial i think it depends on personal preference. I know this seems a little backwards but i tend to not like watches that have an AR coated crystal. When i had the Hamilton intra-matic auto chrono i thought the crystal always looks a bit dull since the light didn’t play on it very much. It definitely did help with legibility though.
For the bracelet, yeah it’s more delicate than some sports watch bracelets but i think it’s about on par with other everyday watches. In terms of watches most people know about i think it’s about on par with the Omega Seamaster aqua terra.
still have the older version of this watch with the eta 2824-2 movement. (i personally prefer a higher beat rate movement to a longer power reserve movement like the current version) the reflection on the crystal does’t bother me much and i will keep mine for life.
Happy to hear that! Enjoy it to the fullest, this one is definitely meant to be worn.
It is not subjective, it is fact. Even with their new 38mm Titanium, they still would Not put an inner AR coating at all (but the Murph has it).
Common sense 'Hamilton' would dictate, you listen to the customers- Better Lume, AR coating & maybe a Screw down crown. It is Field Watch...for the outdoors!
Absolutely agree with you, they should definitely invest that money to make the most out of these already incredibly cool watches. Though I can also understand that some may not be bothered too much by the missing coating.
The lack of AR was a deal breaker for me as well when I held the watch in hand. Such a disappointment
Happy to see that you thought the same. The watch looks so stunning and then the reflective crystal is a huge downer that does not match the overall quality of the watch at all. Thanks for the comment!
Yes, you're totally right. The sapphire crystal is so reflective it's annoying, and the clasp is too thick. Dead on. Still love it but I've tried to look into the aftermarket for solutions to both.
Appreciate your comment and agree absolutely 100%!
Why'd you leave yt ?
Rolex do not have AR coating and are difficult to get on a waiting list, what’s his beef with Hamilton not having it at this price.
Thanks for the comment! Though my 200€ Sternglas has double AR coating and it can‘t be such a big cost factor.
Thank you for the great review. Anti-reflection is a big deal for me and almost spent a huge sum on Hamilton's titanium auto field watch.
Hey, thank you for the comment! Absolutely appreciate it and I am happy that it helped you!
How precise is the movement? How many seconds a day is it off?
It averages around +/- 7 seconds but could go as far as +/- 20.
The reflection is rarely a problem for me, and when it is a little tilt of the wrist usually solves the issue. Love my 38.
Thanks for the feedback and glad to hear that! It really is a cool watch, especially the 38mm :)
Appreciate the honest review. The crystal has always been a deal breaker for me. I'm not usually fussy about crystals but the hamilton is like 40% mirror. Every real photo online shows the camera in the reflection. I stay clear of hamilton for that reason. Too bad, great watches otherwise.
My Damasko crystal is nearly invisible the ar is so strong. Oris Aquis is another great watch with a terrible reflective crystal.
Maybe I am fussy after all.
Hey, thanks for your comment and happy to see that you feel the same. You are right it is a shame, because otherwise the watches really are amazing. Did not know this about the Aquis, too bad really. I really dont get why the watch makers try to save a few bucks here for watches beyond 500$
I got mine for about two months.. selling it as well. I like the watch, but i dont find nothing special in it to keep it in my collection. 21000vph bothered me. I want something more smooth above 28000vph.
Happy to hear that you think the same! It really is an amazing watch but for me it also just did not click. Do you have something in mind already in order to replace it?
I actually like the reflective crystal. It makes it different and sets it apart from the herd. It also give me more confidence in its robustness and practicality as an everyday rugged field watch. Also just love that big old oversized pull-out crown. It's just there begging to be grabbed to give an extra wind whenever you like and simplicity itself for time/date adjust. The only problem is the prices have just taken a massive 30% hike and it's now almost $900 or £700 here in the UK!
I see and can totally understand your arguments as well. The prices are incredibly high now, but on pages like chrono24 you can usually still make a pretty good deal from some ADs in different countries when you watch the market a little beforehand.
Where is the best place to buy it in the UK?
@@megaman2016 I bought mine from H. Samuel jewelers. I wanted to try it on and just be in the zone so went for the full physical experience.
Same here. I was about to pull the trigger for this beauty but after trying it at the local dealer, the reflections made me to quit buying it.
Thanks for the comment, happy to see that you think the same way! Such a shame, it is a really cool watch otherwise
Is adding an aftermarket flat crystal with AR, or perhaps coating the stock domed Crystal with AR, possible? I know, it’s a hassle, but it’s otherwise a beautiful watch.
People did it and I think its an amazing idea. I also thought about it but did but want to risk it
I don’t know if I can trust the guy who has the eye of Sauron behind him during watch view.
Sure thing as I was just about to destroy the ring once and for all.
when it comes to the dial visibility, I totally agree with you I own the 38mm version of the khaki field automatic and I think it's a big letdown since I can't even enjoy the dial to the fullest, I would prefer a flat crystal or some reflective coating.
Both could be a nice solution, you‘re absolutely right! Or maybe even both, I bet it would look amazing!
@@mowatches I agree
I haven't been bothered by the lack of AR coating--I'm willing to just rotate my wrist a little more, I guess. I wear the watch all the time and generally like it a lot, but I agree that the chunky clasp is a problem. It really irritates me when I'm typing at work and my wrist is resting on the desk. I don't have to take off the other watch I wear to the office, but this one I do. Also, the lume is absurdly ineffective.
Hey, thank you so much for your valuable insights! The lume is another good point to mention. Glad to hear though that you are generally happy with it :)
Thanks for your honest opinion and review yeah, the lack of decent anti-reflective coating is a dealbreaker.
thanks for your comment! appreciate it and happy to hear that you think the same. otherwise it’s a really cool watch!
Love this watch. I wish it had anti reflective coating, but the thing that bothers the most is the lack of screw down crown. It’s a tool watch should be able to take a swim with it. Super disappointing. If it had that I’d get it in a heartbeat.
Good observation and absolutely agree! Especially cuz its quite big, they could have made it screw down at least. Thanks for the comment!
Ive owned two 42mm on a strap. Ive never been a fan of this on the bracelet. I sold the second one so i could buy the murph 42mm. Generally Hamilton are one of my favourite brands.
Murph is also a great one! And I really like the proportions of the 42mm, good choice!
Hi, anyone tried switching to different crystal?? There are plenty of variations of glasses, I wonder how it would look with flat sapphire with AR..
really good question, for sure it would look amazing. There was a guy on youtube showing how its done and the results looked amazing, should be easy for you to find his video. also, at least here in germany, there are a few small companies that offer swapping the crystal as a service (costs were around 100$).
Yep. I had one and got rid of it due to the lack of AR. It’s a real shame
Yes, just a pity, otherwise it’s a great watch imho
A watch is an accessory, a piece of jewellery if you will, something you wear for looks. Yes, I want them to reflect light, because I like my jewelry shiny. If you want functionality buy a fucking smart watch mate
I understand your argument but definitely disagree personally. In my opinion, if you want the swag and shininess, the watch case can be reflective as hell with polished aluminium etc, but when you cannot see the dial it just looks cheap, because it is cheap.
I’ve looked at ones in a shop , and when I think about - yes it is more reflective - but I don’t think overly so . Some of the alternatives mentioned - I haven’t heard of
I struggle with finding an alternative at a similar price point. There are nice field watches around but most of them are not an as decent package as the khaki field auto. The watches I mentioned were only meant as a reference for the reflectiveness of the crystal :)
I got a nice Glycine combat sub, direct from glycine (discontinued so on offer) and it's the most accurate auto watch I have ever come across . Gains 3 seconds a week@@mowatches
Which field watch did you buy? I mean did you replace this hamilton by another one? If so, which?
Thanks!
Hey there, sorry for the late reply. I did a lot of research and got an Rolex Explorer I in the end. Even though both watches play in completely different leagues and also have quite different dial styles, they have a very similar form factor, which I absolutely fell in love with wearing the Hamilton, which is why I then decided for the Explorer in the end. I am currently working on a comparison video between the two of them, maybe this could be interesting for you.
The reflective nature of this sapphire is one of the main reasons I bought this piece. It looks great, no regrets.
Happy to hear that!
Here is the problem; not the khaki field but the khaki field king(!) is considered to be one of the best watches at its price point due to its versatility and multiple complications as it has a day date complication instead of only a date like this normal field. The king also has a white tipped second hand making the watch way more versatile and therefor also more suitable in dressed up occasions.
Thanks for the hint :) really appreciate the comment. I will take a look at the king for sure.
This AR coating seems to be a big deal for most people, are there after market options to fix this? ( not that you should have to with a watch at this price)
I found a local jeweler in Germany who offered to swap the crystal and the total service would have been 100€. Also there is a guy on youtube showcasing how he changed the crystal himself, but I was not confident enough to do it 😅
Thank you for this very informative video. By the way, what is the strap at 1:55?
Happy to hear that it helped! I saw this strap first on another video from Bark & Jack and then found it at a dealer in Germany - here it was called "Nato Nylon Model Luxor green 20 mm", but you can also find it on alibaba and other online stores, as it seems to be a product from China that is resold / rebranded differently in every country. If you cannot it find in yours let me know and then I will try to help. :)
I feel lucky you made this video and I ended up looking at it since the Hamilton Khaki Field was on my buylist. Before spending 900 $ cdn. I willthink twice.
Thanks for the feedback and glad to hear that it was helpful!
i love my 38mm so much, the 80 hour power reserve is so underrated in my opinion!
Hey man, glad to hear that! And I absolutely agree, the power reserve really is a killer feature. For me it is amazing that you can just leave your watch at home for a weekend getaway and still have it running on Monday.
Agree with you on the crystal, that’s my main complaint with the watch. Legibility is awful in certain scenarios. Otherwise I like the watch a lot
Glad to hear you think the same. It really is a cool piece, hopefully Hamilton will fix this in the upcoming generations.
The guy that bought the Camel says”hey this Camel is terrible. It doesn’t do any of the things you said he did”. The seller replies “shhh! If you keep saying that you’ll never sell the camel”.
Interesting metaphor!
Greetings, nice review. I want to ask this clearly. Is the only purpose of the AR coating for readability? Or does it protect sapphire glass from scratches?
If Safire provides extra protection, this is an important issue. Otherwise, readability is not a problem for me.
Hey Yakup, thanks for your comment. The AR coating does not provide any additional protection but is solely for better readability. Some brands even apply an additional layer of it on the outside of the crystal (standard is to have it on the inside) which is by far not as scratch resistant as the crystal itself. So for you then this should not be any downside. Hope this helped.
@@mowatches Hello, I bought the watch and it's okay not to have AR coating, the watch is amazing 👍
@@YakupCoskun024 congrats, happy to hear that!
Best movement you can buy for the money. I wore Seiko watches for years and will never go back after I can go weeks with this watch without resetting the time.
True that, and with the open case back it is just beautifully featured! Value for money is absolutely unbeatable :)
I love your nitpicking. Can you review the an ORIS Big Crown ProPilot?
Thanks :) I‘ll put it on the list!
What is a good alternative to this ?
Price point but same style, don't think I would like the shine either.
Thats a tough one. I‘ve been looking into the Sinn 556i, which is more price and no field watch, but has a similar overall appearance when it comes to the case and dimensions. Maybe you could also check out some other field watches.
Nice camera for 502 subscribers and nice production value!!! What cam are you using?
thanks man, appreciate it. I just use a Canon EOS R, so definitely nothing special. What I can recommend is having the right light and also filming in Log and then using LUTs for enhanced flexibility in colour grading.
I’m rocking a Casio Duro, Batman on a Stainless Bracelet from Long Island Watch. It’s not perfect, the watch is huge, the bracelet doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s decent, but overall it’s a damn good watch. It’s rocking a Miyota 2115 quartz movement with a three year power reserve, lol, and I can do my own maintenance, battery swap, some silicone grease applied to the gaskets and it’s good to go through an apocalypse. The Casio Duro is a beast, and fills the role I’d use a Hamilton Khaki for, for $110. 🤙🏼
Love that. Really cool that you maintain it yourself. Appreciate your comment.
I had this watch for less than a day because of that AR problem. I went back to shop to change it Hamilton Murph 38 and that was a good decision. I love the Murph 38. I just need to know if the videos’s stainless steel strap will fit to my Murph 38? Or do you guys know a stainless strap for Murph 38? Thanks
Unfortunately I have never held the Murph in my hands, but from pictures it looks stunning and it also sounds like it is an amazing alternative!
I have the 42mm version. Love the watch and its probably my most worn from a collection of twenty watches. Lack of AR is not a problem to me but I just wish it had a screw crown. 100 metres of water resistance is enough for most adventures but I can never really trust a push-pull crown and find myself checking its pushed in. Other than that, its a good GADA watch.
Hey there, thanks for your comment! It is the perfect everyday beater that you usually should be able to take on any adventure. A screw down crown would be the icing on the cake here, I definitely agree.
At first it did bother me but as i wear it day in and day out, i have come to appreciat wit because i can accidently bumped it and it’s still scratch free.
In addition, just twist your wrist a bit and you cna see the time 😊
Glad to hear that! Some people also like the shininess of it.
Good review, the no AR coating is 100% a deal breaker for me, it would really annoy me big time, I love the watch and was thinking of buying but after now knowing that I simply cannot buy it, end of story, such a shame coz it’s a brilliant watch.
I absolutely agree with you and am happy that the video helped. I was in the same place, pulled the trigger and then felt almost gaslighted because nobody really talked about this on UA-cam.
I have one and it’s not that bad, much less annoying than sunburst dials.
Love this watch, guess it's all personal taste the things that may bother you don't bother me at all given the overall quality of this great watch.
Hey, totally get why, it really is a cool piece! I guess when it comes down to some things it is just super subjective..
Just when I after months decided to buy this watch! Have never thought of AR coating before, and when I think about I have it on all my watches. Will be a deal breaker. Alright, back to scare one.
glad to hear the video helped. I also pulled the trigger and did not know about this and how severely it affected the looks of the dial as compared to my other watches.
Hey great vid! great production quality too! I just made a video about the lack of AR on this watch as well it's an absolute bummer because the dial is quite beautiful
Hey there, thank you so much for the feedback - especially coming from somebody with such a cool watch channel it really means a lot to me! Checked out your video and I will definitely follow the upcoming content :)
@@mowatches ❤️
Mo some advice: once you are able to afford Pateks, APs, Rolexes, BlancPan like me you will learn that all watches have good and bad qualities! Doing a deep dive on a Hamilton is commendable but also so extra it’s cute. The real question is, have you made a video for the sake of a video?!
Hey, thanks for the comment :) I made the video because I got a completely unrealistic impression of the watch through the other videos out there, because I felt nobody was stressing these flaws enough. Certainly some UA-camrs will make videos just for the sake of uploading stuff but with this video I felt it was providing a significant benefit trying to point out what nobody criticized about this well made but also overhyped watch.
Thanks for the video. I have the 42mm on leather and am contemplating selling it. I thought I would want to wear it all the time, but I don’t. I’ve just got a much cheaper seiko SRPG27. It’s not perfect either but find the dial less cluttered. The bracelet isn’t good but I’ll try it on a few natos and it could become my new daily
Thanks for the feedback and sharing your experience! Trying out some natos is definitely a good ans fun idea :)
If i want to buy this watch is it better to go for the bracelet? can we change the bracelet for a strap? or is it impossible to remove?
No it is fairly easy to remove the bracelet and change it for leather or nato straps. You can see the watch on some nato straps in the middle of the video roughly. I would recommend getting it on a metal bracelet and buying the other straps separately from the after market. Hope this helps!
@@mowatches thanks for your answer!
Ima take a guess and say the people that turn down the watch because of the lack of AR coating is vecause theyve already experienced how it could be With good AR coating.
But like for me, as a first time watch buyer, wouldn't notice it at all, and it never bothered me
Hey, thanks for your comment. I definitely agree that it might sound like nitpicking, but for the current price of the watch, AR coating is absolutely no premium feature in my opinion. There are many watches out there for half or a quarter of the price that have AR coating. However, there are many disciplines in which this watch does make an amazing job for its price, no questions asked, which is why it is so hard for me to understand why there is a lack of AR coating in the first place, if the rest is such an outstanding package.
Owned the 42mm version since 2015, I can tell you not once have I ever had issues reading the time. What a strange complaint, and even stranger reason to get rid of it.
Thanks for the feedback! I guess it just comes down to personal preference. There are quite a few people here in the comment section that feel the same way. But of course I can get why it might not bother some people. Glad to hear that you are happy with the watch!
I went to 3 diferent shops to test the watch, and yes, it's like a mirror in all of them. I'm forcing to buy It but I can't for that reason.
@TitoVicVGC Glad to hear that I am not the only one being annoyed by this.
You found more flaws than I did… I think the bracelet is extremely nice for the price… Quite possibly the most comfortable in my entire collection of over 70 watches. Yes, they are coding is nonexistent and disappointing, but I don’t find it as big as a flaw as the lack of lume. Even for a field watch, I find it one of the biggest drawbacks of the watch. I think the crown is the proper size for a field watch. And the clasp I also find great for a field watch… To refine these two things would just make it more of a dress watch.
Hey John, thank you so much for sharing your valuable perspective and experience. Those are some very sharp observations and I think the fact that the watch wears the most comfortable from all of your collection is absolutely astonishing. The amazing comfort is something I totally forgot to meantion in the video. Hope to see you around here again someday :)
Paid $380 for mine on sale at Jomashop 3 years ago. I have beat the crap out of this watch and still +4 a day !! Also the strapco rubber straps make this a monster !! The ones that fit Rolex !! The white one is my favorite.
wow, that‘s really accurate! It’s a strap monster indeed and the white one also looks astonishing!
I bought a 38mm on a bracelet last year. At the £410 I paid I'm happy with it although the clasp is a little mismatched. Earlier this year however, Hamilton increased the RRP to around £700 and at that price I feel it's a bit much for what you get.
Wow, that‘s a really good deal from todays perspective - when I got it, it was also almost 800€. But still a really cool watch, especially the slim 38mm version :)
I have this watch and admittedly I am guilty too of moaning about the crystal, so I had the crystal replaced (exact same crystal bit with inner AR coating, then available from Crystal Times). Although the glare became noticably less strong, it was still clearly present.
But here's the thing: I own three other black-dial watches, each with AR coating on both sides. The crystal basically disppears on them. But when I glance at my Hamilton, I immediately notice how interesting or even 'premium' the watch looks, precisely because of the glare. I now can see the charm of glary crystals (although, as said, it's not completely fair since I swapped out the crystal, but still).
Having said all this, I don't wear the Hamilton that often anymore; that field-watch spot has been filled by the Longines Spirit. If I didn't own that one, though, I'd probably still be wearing the heck out of the Hamilton. At the end of the day it's a damn fine watch.
Wow, thank you for your amazing insights and super valuable observations! It definitely is a cool watch and the fact that the reflective nature of the crystal boosts the “dressiness” of the watch has been discussed here also by other enthusiasts. A good point that I did not take into account. Hope to see you around again some time :)
I can understand the host problem with it. Reflective nature of it really hinder its function. Its a field watch, sometime you want just to see it at a glimpse. Let say when you ride a bike or car.
Absolutely, I really appreciate your comment!
Lack of ARC is better IMO... Only real problem is the massive price hike...
Thanks for your comment :) True, prices went up like crazy!
Cool video dude, have you considered the seiko baby alpinist as an alternative to it?
Hey man, actually I did not have it on my radar so far. But it looks quite stunning with the triangles on the dial, almost giving me some seamaster aqua terra vibes :)
how about the instellar ones? cooper one.
Sorry, could you rephrase the question? I‘m afraid I did not get it 😅
@@mowatches interstellar, a film starring matthew mconaughey. he wore an iconic hamilton khaki daydate pilot watch.
Ah yeah, just checked it, how cool is that?! It is actually one of my most favorite movies. Also I saw that the khaki murph was as well in the movie - nice move hamilton 🔥
i love the domed crystal but not the reflective nature of it, it does affect the viewing experience of the dial but not the time. But hey, I can playfully reflect light onto some kid in mcdonalds just to annoy them😂
You‘re like James Bond with his gadget watches 😎
get a baltany only 130, and have antireflecting, black mini date, and screw down crown, and is 100mts
Nice, I‘ll check that one out for sure! Thanks for the comment :)
Lack of AR coating is the only reason I haven’t bought one
I can relate. Hopefully they will fix the crystal with the next update.
alternative?
good question, there are many options! I am thinking of getting a longines spirit, or also IWC has cool field watches, like the portofino or the pilots watch. Also the seiko alpinist is a cool choice!
Of course, they’re going to cut some corners at that price range. Maybe they should offer amother version at a higher price
I definitely would be in for that :)
Honestly, what irks me about this watch is that the day cutout bumps the 15-second mark out of place. It’s even worse on the 42mm. Very little needed to be done to correct this (frankly, they should have just omitted the 15 from the 42mm), and idk why Hamilton did nothing about it.
good question and I did not know that this was even worse for the bigger version of it. Thanks for the comment!
Good point! 🤔
Thanks for the feedback :)
Would be cheap and easy to replace the crystal.
Thats true!
Does that 'selling' mean that you recommend here?
I‘m presenting the personal reasons why I am parting ways with the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto. Yet it remains a really cool watch for the price and if the things I mentioned in the video do not bother you, I would even recommend it, yes!
@@mowatches oh! Actually I am learning english. At first when I saw your title, I understood that you have some disappointing part about this whatch or something lol thank you for your comment :)
So my question was about grammar and real meaning, usage about the word 'sell'.
and I love Hamilton khaki field 38mm too! I'm buying soon :)
I got the watch. Opened the box and saw all the reflections in the crystal. I screens smashed it with a hammer and threw it away.
Absolutely reasonable reaction. I almost sued Hamilton when I opened my box. Love your comment!
😂😂😂 your reflection made you so mad?
@@elim7228 just kidding but yes, I did not expect that at all, which led me to making this video to prevent others from having the same surprise :D
Someone should just make a non reflective solution for post purchase. If the watch company can’t get it right, why lose out on a great watch because of that? Imagine a cream of polish you can put as an anti glare layer? I mean is it so hard to make? If you read this and do, I want cash in form of royalties lol
Genius idea 🔥
swap the crystal for one with AR?
Also a good solution!