New Kid on The Block – The Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Chrono in 44mm
The new kid on the Hamilton block is a badass, of course, we’re talking about the new Hamilton Khaki Auto Chrono. It gets the win-win formula applied to the khaki mechanical field, the same shape steel case, large crown, matt black dial, large Arabic hour markers, and lume-filled hands in Faustina, and to all that it adds a green leather bund strap, which gives it an even tougher look, is definitely not for boys.
It’s easy to like the latest benjamin from the khaki family, after all, it is contemporary thanks to the H21 automatic movement but at the same time classic in appearance, moving away from the other two Chronos models in the collection with a more modern and furtive design.
But let’s go to the differences in relation to the other two khaki auto Chrono, starting with the 44 mm stainless steel case with sandblast finish, which grows now 2 mm, slimmer lugs in the khaki mechanical field style, and almost everything else the same, sapphire glass, crown at three o’clock flanked by two pusher buttons that control the chronograph function, 100 meters of water resistance and a stainless steel case back with a special engraving instead of the open-through case back of the two other variants.
It is on the dial that the differences are accentuated, now appearing less congested and easier to read, perhaps due to the 44 mm case size. Starting with the 60 minutes scale with inverted triangles hour markers, instead of the minute scale with 4 ticks per second and the old central 24-hour scale. Arabic hour markers in a more classical font, a small seconds at 9 o’clock instead of the day-date window at 3 o’clock and consequent inversion of the brand logo on the dial, keeping the 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, and central syringe hands.
Inside there’s nothing new, it comes with the same Caliber H-21 automatic movement based on the ETA 7750 operating at a high frequency of 28,800 Vph and offering up to 60 hours of power reserve.
The new Chrono despite having grown in size did not grow in price, being available from CHF 1,695.
Our Opinion
As we’ve already said, the new khaki Chrono is easy to like, it packs almost all of our favorite ingredients, a military look, a clean dial without day-date windows, Faustina as needed, a solid case back, and a bund strap that gives it a certain charm.
What we didn’t like, the 44 mm diameter of the case, besides seeming exaggerated to us, combined with the so often spoken of long lug-to-lug distances, puts it within reach of a small audience with wide wrists. Remember for example that the Sinn 356, which we like a lot, with a very similar appearance is offered in 38.5 mm for a similar price.
Just as we have recently seen Hamilton launch some models from the khaki collection in a larger version in size 42mm, we also hope to soon see the new khaki auto Chrono in a reduced version of 38 / 40 mm.
Read more at https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/
General Specifications:
Brand: Hamilton
Model: Khaki Field Auto Chrono
Reference: H71706830
Dial: Black
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 44 mm diameter
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Water Resistance: 100 Meters
Strap: Green leather bund strap
Caliber: H-21
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, small seconds, chronograph
Frequency: 28,800 Vph
Jewels: 25
Power Reserve: 60
Price: CHF 1,695
Availability: Now