New: An Icy-Cool Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm

April 07, 2015

This watch might not be for field-watch purists. But for those who are more open-minded and dont mind chill frivolities, this icy-cool Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm might be just the watch theyre looking for. It will involve a bit of traveling, though, because this frosty-dial watch is only available in Zermatt. You will have to head to one of Switzerlands most famous and beautiful ski towns, which is also worth a visit in summer. That s because of the famous, characteristic mountain just outside town, the Matterhorn. When you buy the watch in the Alps for CHF 595, you get a second reward and souvenir - an engraving of the most photogenic of mountains on the back of the case.Hamilton is funkifying its line of field watches. Not too long ago, my colleague Thomas went hands-on with two 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical models, one with a cool white dial and the other with a fashionable denim-blue one. As you know, the Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm is an extremely popular hand-wound field watch loved by fans of the genre, newcomers to the world of watches, and seasoned fans who respect the no-nonsense, value-for-money watch. Looking at a Khaki Field with a black dial is like cleansing your palate. The Zermatt-exclusive version with an icy-cold dial, however, is a bit more frivolous.The icy-cool Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive EditionLets start with the dial. Hamilton decided to outfit this Zermatt exclusive with a dial mimicking the stuff you see on the mountain outside the town - ice and snow. It does so very well and has a little bit of texture. The rest is what you expect from a utilitarian field watch. It shows large luminous Arabic numerals, hour markers, and lumed blackened hands. The additional 13C24-hour track is still part of the package and sits in the middle of the dial.On the case back, a stylized depiction of the Matterhorn in all its geometrical glory shows you this is no ordinary Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm. It might not be a limited edition with unique numbers on the case back, but it is a geographically limited watch. Thats just as much a sign of exclusivity in my book.The watchs specs are not about exclusivity but, rather, inclusivity. The 38mm case has a 9.5mm thickness, which fits most wrists. Sure, the 47mm lug-to-lug is on the long side, but it s not a deal-breaker for most people once they try it on. The curved lugs do give the watch a certain elegance. And its that elegance that goes so well with the frosted dial.On the wrist and in the caseThe Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive Edition comes on a NATO-style strap with luxurious leather details. Its dark blue with a white stripe, and as a bonus, you get a fully dark blue NATO-style strap. Inside the 50m-water-resistant case, there are no surprises either. The movement on duty is the caliber H-50, a Hamilton-exclusive variant of the hand-winding ETA C07.701 with an 80-hour power reserve. The laser-regulated balance doesnt allow your watchmaker to regulate it, but the 3Hz movement probably wont need that since its a proper workhorse.Other features that need a brief mention are the screw-in case back and the slightly domed sapphire crystal above the icy dial. The watch also comes with a push-pull crown, allowing manual winding in the neutral position.What do you think? Is the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive Edition cool enough for you to plan a trip to Switzerland? Let me know in the comments below.Watch specifications Brand Hamilton Model Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive EditionReference H89459940Dial Textured ice blue with special texture, transferred Arabic numerals and indexes with Super-LumiNova, black hands with Super-LumiNovaCase Material Bead-blasted stainless steelCase Dimensions 38mm (diameter) 9.5mm thickness 47mm (lug-to-lug)Crystal SapphireCase Back Stainless steel with engraving of the Matterhorn, screw-in Movement Hamilton H-50: base Powermatic 80 (upgraded ETA 2801), manual winding with hacking, 21,600vph frequency, 80-hour power reserve, Nivachron hairpsringWater Resistance 50 metersStrap Blue and white striped NATO-style nylon (20mm width) and second dark blue NATO-style strap Functions Time only (hours, minutes, seconds)Price CHF 595 Special Note(s) Exclusive to the Hamilton Zermatt boutique