After buying my first Rolex, I realized why so many collectors keep a “beater watch” — something rugged, affordable, and stress-free to wear without worrying about scratches or theft. With some leftover budget and a goal in mind, I started hunting for my second mechanical watch.

The Search for a Beater Watch

My criteria were simple:

• Swiss-made
• Rugged and reliable
• Affordable
• Something different from the Rolex

That path led straight to Hamilton — the brand known for American military heritage and Swiss craftsmanship. Since Hamilton has no physical retailers here in New Zealand, the hunt was even more fun. I eventually tracked down the olive green Khaki Field Mechanical Date (ref. H69439363) online, and it happened to be the last one available at a discounted retail price.

When it arrived, the unboxing was straightforward: black Hamilton packaging, warranty papers, and the watch wrapped in full protective plastic. No frills — just a proper field watch experience.

A Bit About the Watch

Hamilton’s roots go back to 1892 in the U.S., originally producing pocket watches for railroad accuracy, then military timepieces during WWII. Today, under the Swatch Group, they blend that history with accessible Swiss watchmaking — perfectly shown in their Khaki Field line.

The H69439363 model was released in late 2021 and sits in the entry-level mechanical lineup.

Why a Field Watch?

It’s the exact opposite of a Rolex — intentionally.
No polish, no bling, no flash.

Just a rugged, matte-finished tool watch with military personality. Something you can throw on for daily walks, casual days, or rougher environments without overthinking it.

Specs at a Glance

• Case: 38mm stainless steel, full matte sandblasted finish
• Thickness: 9.5mm
• Lug-to-lug: ~47mm
• Lug width: 20mm
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Movement: H-50 manual wind
  • ±7 seconds/day
  • 80-hour power reserve
  • Hacking seconds
• Dial: Olive green, Arabic numerals, lollipop seconds, date at 3
• Lume: Super-LumiNova
• Strap: Green canvas strap with riveted holes
• Water Resistance: 50m
• Case back: Matte stainless steel, screw-down

It’s simple, functional, and very much in line with military field watch history.

Straps & Fit

One thing buyers should know:
On smaller wrists (mine is 6.25”), the stock strap runs large — even on the tightest hole.

Instead of punching an extra hole, I switched to NATO straps in green and silver. They transformed the look instantly, made the fit perfect, and matched the military styling even better. Thankfully, the lug holes make strap changes super easy.

Winding the manual H-50 movement is satisfying, with a crisp clicking feel. Once fully wound, it easily lasts over three days.

Final Thoughts

After spending time with it, I now understand why field watches like the Khaki are so beloved. They’re lightweight, vintage-styled, reliable, and genuinely fun to wear. The lume is great, the 80-hour power reserve is incredibly practical, and the rugged look suits daily use perfectly.

The drawbacks?

• 50m water resistance feels low for a military-inspired watch.
• The stock strap is too large for smaller wrists.

But overall, this Hamilton has been one of my most satisfying purchases after the Rolex — a true “go anywhere, do anything” watch that doesn’t need babying.