Hands-On With The Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition
To start this article, let me ask a quick question: can an abundance of something good lead to overkill? Let me be a bit more specific. I love the Hamilton Khaki Field collection. It’s one of the watch world’s most loved and respected series. I adore multiple models, like the white-dial Khaki Field Murph, the black-dial version of the Khaki Field Mechanical in bronze, and the black-dial Khaki Field Auto on the bracelet. And these are just three out of six or seven versions that tickle my fancy. With the introduction of the new Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition, another one joins that list. But how does it rank among its peers? Let’s find out.
This new titanium version of the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is certainly not the first Khaki Field model in this metal. The brand has released several Khaki Field Titanium Auto models over the past few years. In August 2023, the brand updated the collection with some of the latest titanium models, which I like but don’t love as much as the Khaki Fields mentioned above. But the announcement of this limited-edition Khaki Field Titanium most definitely piqued my interest because of its design. Add the involvement of New York-based clothing brand Engineered Garments, and I’m all ears. The result is a watch that feels very familiar but has several surprising details.
The story of the Hamilton × Engineered Garments collaboration
I’m all ears when Engineered Garments is involved because I like brand founder Daiki Suzuki’s signature style. Inspired by workwear and military-style clothing, it’s right up my alley. I have a jacket from the brand’s last collection done in collaboration with Uniqlo, and I love it. Engineered Garments collaborates with many brands, so seeing this joint effort with Hamilton is not surprising. However, I was immediately intrigued by how it would affect the design.
Immediately upon receiving the watch, I was happy to find out there was no co-branding on the dial or any other wild brand elements that needed to be integrated. As a fan of Engineered Garments, I should have known that the brand would not make that mistake, but it’s nice to see that confirmed with the new Khaki Field Titanium. However, there are indeed some visual tricks that resulted from working with Suzuki, which I’ll explain in detail.
The details of the Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium
But let’s first go over some basic details. The watch has a 36mm brushed titanium case with a 43.2mm lug-to-lug and a 12.4mm thickness. While it is a modest case, it is relatively thick considering its diameter and lug-to-lug. Thankfully, because the exterior is lightweight titanium, the watch never feels top-heavy. On top of that, the thickness actually gives it a little bit more substance as a tool watch.
Undeniably, though, shaving off a couple of millimeters would have been nice for a slightly more elegant shape. Anyway, the watch comes on a super comfortable titanium Oyster-style bracelet with a titanium folding clasp that makes wearing the watch an absolute joy. As you would expect from titanium, the hue is slightly darker than that of stainless steel, making it feel a bit special.
And that special feeling continues on the dial. Though rather simple at a glance, in actuality, the black dial is intricate and nicely detailed. It has a very light texture combined with a very subtle sunburst pattern. You need a loupe to see it properly, but it has some depth. Bright white luminous numerals grace the dial for every hour, and a 60-minute scale sits outside of the numerals. The ring that holds the 60-minute scale features concentric graining that you can barely see while wearing the watch. That said, it is clear that the texture is different from the dial’s center. In addition, a small luminous dot at every five-minute mark lights up green with the large Arabic numerals for the hours.
A stripped-down Khaki Field
Suzuki’s idea was to eliminate all the unnecessary fuzz from the dial, which worked out well. He got rid of the 13–24h scale we find on the dials of most Khaki Field models. The three hands are executed in black and filled with crisp white lume. This creates a nice “floating” visual effect that I enjoy. It also brings a slightly stealthy appeal to the classically styled but modernly executed dial. I enjoy the combination of the hands and dial with the titanium exterior. It gives the classic Khaki Field some welcome contemporary design traits.
Inside the case, Hamilton uses its trusted H-10 caliber. This ETA 2824-based movement is the brand’s go-to for the automatic models in the Khaki Field series. It operates at 21,600vph, has 25 jewels, and offers 80 hours of power reserve. The movement is partly visible through the semicircular display window of the case back. The display is a cutout based on the rotor of the movement, which you can place right in front of the little window. If it’s not there, you can see part of the caliber’s inner workings. The other half of the case back has a special engraving that indicates the limited-edition status of the watch and a total production number of 1,999 pieces.
Wearing the new Khaki Field Titanium
As you will understand, the differences between the regular models and this limited edition are substantial yet subtle. It still seems very much like a classic Hamilton Khaki Field watch. Once you put the watch on your wrist, that’s also the immediate impression that you get. But then you realize that everything is slightly toned down compared to the collection’s regular models. Soon after putting the watch on my wrist, I thoroughly enjoyed the cleverness with which Suzuki and Hamilton created this dial.
The result is a watch that plays tricks on you but only if you realize what’s going on. It’s a perfectly balanced and nicely executed Khaki Field model if you don’t. But you will know that you are wearing a different watch, which is also thanks to its titanium execution. The lightweight material contrasts nicely with the classic design’s looks. Add the modest 36mm size, and you get a perfect daily wearer that feels right at home on wrists of various sizes. It can also easily be worn by men and women alike, upping the versatility factor.
The quality feel of the well-made Khaki Field Titanium
When it comes to operating the watch, it all feels very solid. The push/pull crown on the right side of the case is easy to use. It offers exactly the right amount of resistance to set the time precisely. To do that, you have to pay attention because of the stealthy hands. The tip of the black minute hand will show itself on the indexes by covering a part of the white minute marker. Some people will not like this, but I love this little trick, especially since reading the time is never an issue.
The same quality feel also characterizes the clasp. While it is not the best in the business, for the money, it is very reasonable. The lightweight clasp closes with a firm click and is easy to open thanks to the two buttons on the sides. The visual execution is straightforward, with the brushed finish and the brand name on the clasp. It fits the utilitarian character of the watch nicely.
So, how does the new Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition compare to the regular Khaki Field models? As I already said in the beginning, there are so many variants to choose from. For die-hard Khaki Field fans who are looking for a vintage-inspired version of the popular field watch, this new watch will probably not be the first pick. In that case, the regular manual-winding stainless steel or bronze models on a NATO strap are probably better.
Final thoughts on the Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium
But if you want a modern and slightly smaller version of the popular Khaki Field in lightweight titanium, don’t sleep on this limited edition. It has all the charm that characterizes the Khaki Field series but brings welcome updates and clever design tricks to the table that I enjoyed. It makes this new limited edition one of my favorite models in the series. Even though the hype around limited editions has cooled down, I expect all 1,999 pieces to sell out rapidly at €1,225.
With the popularity of Engineered Garments and the awesome job the collaborating brands did, I’m sure these will fly off the shelves. For me, this Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium is one of this year’s best collaborative efforts and overall biggest surprises. Kudos to both brands for coming up with a magnificent watch that shows that clever design choices can still lead to a surprising Hamilton Khaki Field. That is a comforting thought as the collection expands. Going back to the opening question of this article, this watch shows that abundance certainly does not equal overkill when it comes to the Khaki Field.
What are your thoughts on the new Hamilton × Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition? Let us know in the comments section.
