Hands-On With The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto Wristwatch
Perhaps it has something to do with the universality of stainless steel dive watches, but whenever I see one for the first time, I can always picture it on my wrist immediately. There’s something about the form-fitting lines of a purpose-made dive watch that naturally transports it to my wrist within my imagination. The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba is no different.
It all comes down to points of reference. I enjoyed writing about the MB&F Bulldog, but I had no concept of the wearing experience. However, the proportional scale of the Khaki Navy Scuba Auto allows it to adapt to any possible situation.
Dive cred for under 700 Euros
The stainless steel bracelet has quite a bit more character than one might expect to find on such a strict budget. With raised, trapezoid center links, it stands out among the crowd. As nice as it is, a subtle taper would not have gone amiss. The steel bracelet has a Swiss-style fold-over clasp, but the sub-€700 price tag limits the possibility of a quick-adjust extension clasp. That’s the kind of feature you’d be likely to find in the more expensive Pelagos by Tudor or Aquis by Oris.
The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba is a purpose-made tool. It would be well-suited as an unobtrusive backup on a recreational dive. The olive-green dial certainly has a military specification look, with a black section to indicate the first fifteen on the minute-scale bezel. The forces theme continues to the 24-hour scale on the inner sector of the dial alongside the broad hour markers. You may as well go full Petty Officer and declare the time as, “SIR, TWENTY-TWO HUNDRED HOURS, SIR”.
Khaki green vibes
The all-brushed crown guards form a tight line against the screw-down crown for that reassuring waterproof seal. Similarly, the solid steel case-back locks in the H-10 movement. The 4Hz mechanism is a derivative of the ETA 2824-2 with a healthy 80-hour power reserve. The €695 price is the striking blow that puts the Hamilton into contention with the numerous dive watches on offer. Coming from a revered Swiss brand, with US roots, this well-made, well-priced watch is a real contender for customers’ cash.
Date windows at 4:30 are typically a distraction for me, but the placement between the 24-hour scale disguises the offset position without compromising the proud hour markers.
The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto is delivered on the bracelet or, for slightly less, on the NATO strap. A crucial bit of buying advice is to always opt for the bracelet version as a package. You can always purchase the less expensive strap unit separately. You can find out more about the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto on the Hamilton site here.
