Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38 mm Steel White Dial

The field watch is probably the most honest design in watchmaking: a dial you read in an instant, an unadorned case and nothing superfluous. The Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz H69401110 takes that idea to its most comfortable everyday form: a 38 mm steel case just 8.3 mm tall, a white dial, sapphire crystal, a Swiss quartz movement and a steel bracelet you can swap without tools. It is the Khaki Field for anyone who wants to put it on and forget about it.

Where does the Khaki Field come from?

From the field watches Hamilton supplied to the US armed forces during the twentieth century, and the brand presents it as a return to that military heritage. Those watches were designed for soldiers who needed to read the time at a glance, in mud, rain or darkness: large numerals, strong contrast, luminescence and a tough case. The Khaki Field keeps that visual grammar with modern materials: sapphire instead of plastic, stainless steel, and Super-LumiNova in place of the radium paint of the past.

Why a white dial on a field watch?

Because in daylight there is no more legible combination. Most Khaki Fields have black dials, inherited from service watches; white reverses the logic and reads like a printed page: dark Arabic numerals on a light background, the contrast used on instrument panels and road signs. According to specialist databases, the dial is matte white with Arabic numerals and syringe hands; the matte finish also avoids the glare a glossy dial throws back in bright sun. At night, the Super-LumiNova that Hamilton lists on the official page takes over.

The result is a watch that is less military and more versatile than its darker siblings: it works with an Oxford shirt, a knitted jumper and weekend clothes without losing its character.

How does it wear at 38 mm and 8.3 mm?

In proportion and, above all, flat. Hamilton lists 38 mm in diameter, 46 mm lug to lug and 8.3 mm in thickness, a very restrained figure for a sports watch. For context against other watches in the collection we stock: the 38 mm Khaki Field Murph, an automatic, measures 11.1 mm tall, almost three millimetres more. That difference is what lets this quartz slip under a shirt cuff without you noticing. At 46 mm lug to lug it suits wrists from around 15 cm as a guide, and the bracelet is made in sizes from 15 to 24 cm.

Best tried on: you will find it at both our Murcia boutiques, on Avenida Constitución, 4 and Gran Vía Escultor Salzillo, 15.

What do you gain with quartz over a mechanical Khaki Field?

Accuracy, slimness and convenience. Hamilton quotes an annual variation of around one minute for the Swiss F06.105 quartz calibre; a good automatic can drift that much in a week or two. There is no winding and no resetting after a few days in a drawer, and with no rotor the case can be much lower. It is the same calibre Hamilton fits in the 40 mm Jazzmaster Quartz, a quartz with a solid reputation in the range.

What it lacks is the mechanical heartbeat, which is why the hand-wound Khaki Field Mechanical exists. If watching a movement at work appeals to you, ask us about it; if you want a watch that always keeps time and asks for nothing, this is yours. When the battery needs changing, our own watchmaker, approved and certified by Hamilton, does it in an official workshop and checks the gaskets.

What is the Easy Click bracelet system?

It is Hamilton's system for fitting and removing the bracelet without tools: a small push-piece on the bar at each end releases it from the lugs, so you can swap to a strap in seconds without scratching the case. The lug width is 20 mm, a standard size with a wide choice of original Hamilton straps, from leather to military-style fabric, which is where a field watch changes personality. The steel bracelet, reference H6050000331, closes with a folding clasp.

Sapphire crystal and 5 bar: what can it handle day to day?

The synthetic sapphire crystal is highly scratch-resistant, far more so than the mineral glass found on many watches in this segment, and keeps the dial clear even after years of daily wear. Water resistance is 5 bar (50 m): enough for rain, splashes, hand-washing or an occasional dip at the surface, but not for diving or showering with it every day, because hot water and steam punish the gaskets. If you want a Hamilton for the water, the 100 m Khaki Navy Scuba is the house alternative.

How many years of warranty does it have?

Four years of total cover. Hamilton's international warranty is 2 years; its Spanish website also shows "3 years of warranty", but that third year is Spain's legal guarantee of conformity, not Hamilton's. The 3-year Spanish legal guarantee takes precedence over the brand's 2 years, and Pedro Luis Olivares Jeweller adds 1 more year as an official Hamilton service centre: 4 years in total. The warranty covers manufacturing defects; it does not cover knocks, normal wear or work done outside the official service network.

Technical specifications

Frequently asked questions

Can I swim with it?

For an occasional dip at the surface, yes; for regular swimming or diving, it is not the right watch. At 5 bar it is designed for rain, splashes and hand-washing.

What wrist size is it for?

As a guide, wrists of around 15 to 19 cm. Its 46 mm lug to lug and 8.3 mm height make it very comfortable even on slim wrists.

Can I swap the bracelet for a strap?

Yes, and without tools: the Easy Click system releases the bracelet with a push-piece. With 20 mm between the lugs there are plenty of original Hamilton straps available; ask us in the boutique.

Can the bracelet be sized to my wrist?

Yes: it is adjusted by removing or adding links, and we size it for you in the boutique at the time of purchase.

How often does the battery need changing?

Every few years, depending on use. We recommend having it done in an official workshop so the gaskets are checked; in our boutiques it is done by our Hamilton-certified watchmaker.

Is it a men's or a women's watch?

Both. At 38 mm with such a flat case it is a very versatile size; if you are after something smaller, there is also a 33 mm Khaki Field Quartz.

Thirty-eight millimetres, eight tall and a dial that reads like a headline: the Khaki Field for anyone who wants a proper field watch that asks for nothing in return.