Just a couple weeks ago, Hamilton held a launch event in Zermatt, Switzerland, where they announced the release of a new Khaki Field. It’s called the Khaki Field Expedition, and we’ve been lucky enough to get our hands on one thanks to Gem Bijou located in Toronto.
Keep reading to find out just what sets the Expedition apart from the rest of the Khaki Field lineup, and whether this timepiece will be able to live up to the quality and value for money that Hamilton is so renowned for.
What’s New?
The Expedition has brought a few new features to the Khaki Field family that are worth noting first.
The most obvious new feature of the Khaki Field Expedition is the compass complication, which can be seen on the bi-directional bezel. To use this function, all you need to do is point the hour hand in the direction of the sun, and then rotate the bezel so that the South marker is in between 12 O’clock and the position of the hour hand. From here, you’ll be able to see where South is, thereby allowing you to find North and so on. (If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you will need to find North using the same method as above).
Is this function going to be useful to most people in an everyday setting? Probably not. However, the Khaki Field Expedition is exactly what it says on the tin- an expedition watch. If you go out exploring, wild camping, or backpacking, this function could literally save your life.
The other big piece of news is that the new Khaki Field Expedition has a screw-down crown. The lack of a screw-down crown has long been one of the most common criticisms of the regular Khaki Field, so the fact that Hamilton has addressed this with the Expedition makes it all the more appealing. And thanks to the screw-down crown, the Expedition has a respectable water resistance of 100 meters, which you can now actually trust.
Expedition Design
As for the design, it’s very reminiscent of the rest of the Khaki Field lineup. You’re getting big, bold Arabic numerals, fairly chunky hands, and minimal branding. However, the new bezel does give the Expedition a much sportier look than the rest of the Khaki Field lineup, giving it much more versatility than other options like Khaki Field Mechanical.
You could easily dress this piece up or down, and it wouldn’t look out of place anywhere. But, at the end of the day, this is a field watch, and it really starts to come into its own when you take it into the wilderness because that fashion quickly blends into life-saving functionality.
H-10 Movement
The Kahki Field Expeiditon uses Hamilton’s H-10 movement, which boasts some impressive stats like a power reserve of 80 hours and an accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per day. Beyond these solid stats, the H-10 movement is nice to look at through the open case back, we’re not talking haute horlogerie here but it’s satisfying to observe nonetheless.
Unfortunately, you won’t receive a date function with this movement, but at the same time this retains the clean look of the dial. At this price range, accuracy is much more important than extra features like a date function.
Sizes and Colorways
The Expedition comes in three different colorways: a black dial, a white dial, and a blue dial. You’ll also get the choice of a green or tan leather strap, or a metal bracelet.
The one that picked our fancy is the 37mm variant, with a black dial on a metal bracelet. And on the wrist, it feels absolutely perfect. The case size is just big enough for most wrists, and at just 11.45mm in thickness, it feels slim and understated, too. The reason for this slim design all comes back to that excellent movement, which is extremely lightweight and small, allowing Hamilton to use a thinner case to house everything.
However, if you do have a larger wrist, Hamilton offers the 41mm case option. It’s ultimately great to see such customizability with the Kahki Field Expedition, as you’ll truly be able to pick the watch that fits your wrist and style.
Price
You can grab the Khaki Field Expedition for around $965 USD/$1330 CA. For what you’re getting, this is an incredibly good price. You’d be stretched to find a more accurate movement, better all-round build quality, and higher functionality from other brands at this price point. So, if you’re after value for money, this isn’t a bad choice to go for at all.
However, unless you’re going out exploring or camping frequently, you might be tempted to save a few hundred dollars by opting for the regular Khaki Field.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the Expedition really lives up to its Kahki Field heritage. It looks great, it’s reasonably priced, the build quality is solid and the movement is accurate. Factor in the unique compass functionality and the sheer customizability, and you can see why the Khaki Field Expedition deserves so much praise.
For more information and specs visit the official Hamilton Watches website here.
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