To begin this article, let me ask you a simple question. Can having an abundance of the good stuff lead to overconsumption? Let’s be a little more specific. I love the Hamilton Khaki Field collection. One of the most loved and respected series in the watch world. I love several models, including the white dial Khaki Field Murph, the black dial version of the bronze Khaki Field Mechanical, and the black dial Khaki Field Auto on the bracelet. And these are just three of the six or seven versions that pique my interest. Another one joins that list with the arrival of the new Hamilton x Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition. But how does it rank compared to its peers? Let’s find out.
This new titanium version of the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is not the first Khaki Field model made of this metal. The brand has released several Khaki Field Titanium Auto models over the past few years. In August 2023, the brand updated its collection with some of its latest titanium models. I like this, but not as much as Khaki Fields above. But the announcement of this limited edition Khaki Field Titanium piqued my interest, no doubt because of its design. The participation of New York-based clothing brand Engineered Garments is also attracting attention. The result is a watch that feels very familiar, but with some surprising details.
The story of the Hamilton x Engineered Garments collaboration
I love the signature style of brand founder Daiki Suzuki, so I’m very excited about Engineered Garments’ involvement. Inspired by workwear and military style clothing, these are clothes that are right up my alley. I have a jacket from the brand’s last collection that collaborated with Uniqlo and I love it. Engineered Garments collaborates with many brands, so it’s no surprise to see this collaboration with Hamilton. But I quickly became interested in how it affected design.
As soon as I received the watch, I was happy to see that there was no co-branding on the dial or any other wild branding elements that needed to be integrated. As a fan of Engineered Garments, I should have known the brand wouldn’t make such a mistake, and I’m glad to see it confirmed with the new Khaki Field Titanium. However, there are certainly some visual tricks that came out of the collaboration with Suzuki. More on that later.
Hamilton x Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Details
But first let’s look at some basic details. The watch features a 36mm brushed titanium case that measures 43.2mm lug to lug and 12.4mm thick. Although it is a modest case, it is relatively thick considering the diameter and lug to lug. Thankfully, the exterior is lightweight titanium, so the watch never feels overly heavy. In addition, its thickness further enhances its substance as a tool watch.
However, there is no doubt that the shape would have been a little more elegant if shaved a few millimeters off. Anyway, this watch comes with a very comfortable titanium Oyster style bracelet with a titanium folding clasp that makes the watch an absolute pleasure to wear. As expected, the color is a little darker than titanium or stainless steel, giving it a slightly special feel.
And that special feeling is carried over to the dial as well. Although it looks simple at first glance, the black dial is actually intricately detailed. It has a very light texture combined with a very subtle sunburst pattern. You’ll need a magnifying glass to see it well, but it’s deep. Bright white luminous numerals adorn the hourly dial, with a 60-minute scale located on the outside of the numerals. The ring that secures the 60-minute scale has a concentric grain pattern that is almost invisible when the watch is worn. However, it is clear that the center of the dial and the texture are different. Additionally, every 5 minutes a small luminous dot lights up green and displays large Arabic numerals for the hour.
Khaki field with minimal waste
Suzuki’s idea was to eliminate all unnecessary fuzz from the dial, and it worked. He removed the 13- to 24-hour scale on the dial of most Khaki Field models. The three hands are finished in black and filled with crisp white luminescence. This creates a nice “floating” visual effect, which I really like. It also brings a bit of stealth to the dial, which has a classic style but a modern finish. The combination of hands, dial, and titanium exterior is fun. It takes the classic khaki field and adds a welcome contemporary design feature.
Inside the case is Hamilton’s trusted H-10 caliber. This ETA 2824-based movement is the brand’s go-to for the Khaki Field series of automatic models. It operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, has 25 jewels and offers a power reserve of 80 hours. Part of the movement is visible through a semicircular viewing window in the case back. The display is a cutout based on the movement’s rotor and can be placed directly in front of a small window. Even if it’s not there, you can still see some of the internal workings of the caliber. The other half of the caseback features a special engraving indicating the watch’s limited edition status and total production of 1,999 pieces.
Wearing new khaki field titanium
As you can see, the differences between the regular model and this limited edition model are big, but subtle. It still looks very similar to the classic Hamilton Khaki Field Watch. That’s also the impression you get immediately when you put the watch on your wrist. However, if you compare it to the regular models in the collection, you will notice that everything is slightly toned down. As soon as I put the watch on my wrist, I thoroughly enjoyed the cleverness with which Suzuki and Hamilton created this dial.
The result is a watch that only fools you if you understand what’s going on. If not, it’s a perfectly balanced and well executed Khaki Field model. However, you will notice that the watch you are wearing is different. That’s also because it’s made of titanium. The lightweight material contrasts nicely with the classic design look. Add in the discreet 36mm size and you have the perfect everyday wear that fits snugly on wrists of various sizes. It can be easily worn by both men and women, making it more versatile.
Fine quality of carefully crafted khaki field titanium
When operating the watch, everything feels very solid. The push-pull crown on the right side of the case is easy to use. Provides exactly the right amount of resistance to set the time accurately. To do this, you need to pay attention to stealth hands. The tip of the black minute hand partially covers the white minute marker and appears above the index. Some people may not like this, but I love this little trick. Especially since reading the time is never a problem.
The clasp also features a similar high quality feel. Not the best in the business, but very reasonable considering the amount. The lightweight clasp snaps closed securely and is easy to open thanks to the two buttons on the side. The look is simple, with a brushed finish and brand name on the clasp. It fits well with the practical nature of this watch.
So how is the new Hamilton x Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition different from the regular Khaki Field model?As I said at the beginning, there are so many options. For die-hard Khaki Field fans looking for a vintage-inspired version of the popular Field watch, this new watch probably won’t be your first choice. In that case, a regular hand-wound stainless steel or bronze model with a NATO strap would be better.
Final thoughts on Hamilton x Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium
But if you want a modern, slightly smaller version of the popular Khaki Field made from lightweight titanium, don’t sleep on this limited edition. It has all the charm that the Khaki Field series is known for, but with some welcome updates and clever design tricks that I really like. This new limited edition has become one of my favorite models in the series. Although the hype for the limited edition has subsided, we expect all 1,999 pieces to sell out quickly for €1,225.
Given the popularity of Engineered Garments and the great work of the brands they collaborate with, we have no doubt these will disappear from stores. For me, this Hamilton x Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium is one of the best collaborations of the year, and the biggest surprise overall. Kudos to both brands for coming up with a great watch that shows that smart design choices can still lead to the amazing Hamilton Khaki Field. That’s a comforting thought as the collection grows. Returning to the question at the beginning of this article, this watch shows that richness is certainly not excessive when it comes to khaki fields.
What do you think of the new Hamilton x Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition? Let us know in the comments section.
