Hands-On: Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium

February 06, 2023

Theres much to say about the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium, now available in a gray and yellow colorway. You get an awful lot of watch in the physical sense with a polarizing design that leaves plenty of room for debate. And theres the more glamorous side of the watch that represents its character and image. If you think this striking Hamilton creation is merely a nec plus ultra tool watch, youre wrong. This striking diving instrument is also an XXL movie star. And just like a Hollywood superstar, this most exuberant Khaki Navy creation is larger than life.The Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium is not for the fainthearted. Nor is it for those who want to sneak through life unnoticed. When you look into the history of this boldly shaped timepiece, you will find that this watch performs very well on the silver screen due to its wild look and phenomenal capabilities. A steel version of this titanium dive watch that can survive a full kilometer underwater had a role in the 2010 sci-fi action movie Predators and the 2011 superhero film Green Lantern. Matt Damon, who played astronaut Mark Watney in the award-winning movie The Martian, wore it while trying to survive the Red Planet. Dwayne Johnson managed to make the XXL Hamilton look like a delicate dress watch in the action-comedy Central Intelligence. And for Christopher Nolans film Tenet, a one-of-a-kind titanium Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO was made.The chunky Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto TitaniumYes, the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO is a Hollywood veteran. But this version with a gray dial, yellow hands, and equally yellow rubber strap (ref. H78505330, $1,845 / US$1,745) is a fresh and fruity newcomer. With its naturally colored and brushed titanium case and brightly colored accents and strap, its the lightest version of the Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium so far, both figuratively and literally. And when considering this titanium watchs physical lightness, please remember that it still weighs a hefty 129 grams. Its light for its size. Lets leave it at that. So, how does it wear? Well, my 18.5cm (7.25″) wrist is too small or not shaped correctly to wear this watch comfortably. The case measures 46mm wide, 15.7mm thick, and 55mm from lug to lug with a 24/22mm rubber strap. All in all, it s just too much for my wrist. To be fair, though, I also struggle with the watch s design.The instrumental side of the brightly colored BeLOWZEROLets look at numbers that leave no room for opinions or debate. The Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium is water resistant to 100 bar/1,000 meters (hundreds of meters deeper than divers have been without a vehicle) and features a helium escape valve. It also has a convex sapphire crystal with an antireflective coating that ensures the large gray dial with oversized Arabic numerals and the large, sword-like hands with yellow lume are super legible. Theres also a functional unidirectional diving bezel with a detailed 15-minute scale and 60-minute marker. The screw-down crown has an embossed Hamilton logo, and a set of crown guards protects it. And what do the four hex screws at the corners of the watch do? Nothing functional, Im afraid. The screws are there to make the watch look rugged and tough. It works, but its not exactly to my taste. The screws dont help protect the automatic ETA C07.611-based H-10 caliber inside. That s a 25-jewel movement with a 3Hz beat rate, 80-hour power reserve, and a Nivachron balance spring.Too big for me in every waySince I have no lofty ambitions to travel to Mars or the bottom of the ocean, the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium serves no functional purpose for me. And since Im not as big as Dwayne Johnson either, the watch also doesnt work as a personal style statement. If I have it on my wrist, people might wonder where the watch is going with such a puny human in tow. Although the watch is a pass for me, you cant accuse the Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium of being boring. This most definitely is not a dime-a-dozen kind of watch.Its neither small nor retro in style, and it unapologetically celebrates its oversized proportions, bold design, and radiant color/character. And that deserves applause - just like what movie stars enjoy so much. Maybe this yellow-tinged BeLOWZERO is not an award-winning creation, but Im sure it will entertain a specific crowd.Watch specifications Brand Hamilton Model Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto TitaniumReference H78505330Dial Matte gray with white oversized Arabic numerals, yellow Super-LumiNova on the handsCase Material Titanium with screw-down crown and helium escape valveCase Dimensions 46mm (diameter) 55mm (lug-to-lug) 15.7mm (thickness)Crystal Sapphire with antireflective coatingCase Back Titanium with engraving of a diving helmet, affixed with screws Movement Hamilton H-10 (ETA C07.611 base): automatic with manual winding and hacking, 21,600vph frequency, 80-hour power reserve, 25 jewels, Nivachron balance springWater Resistance 100 bar (1,000 meters)Strap Yellow rubber (24/22mm) with H-shaped buckleFunctions Time (hours, minutes, seconds) and 60-minute dive bezelPrice $1,845 / US$1,745