Hands-On With The 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” Limited Edition
Hamilton might be known for its presence in Hollywood, but the once-American, now-Swiss brand is also active in video games. It started with the Khaki Field Titanium Automatic in Far Cry 6 and, later, the American Classic Boulton in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Now, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 marks the third collaboration. In the game, the 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” limited edition is on the wrist of operator Axel Vermaak, who you might also know from Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. Gamers can experience the watch in the game and wear the identical model on their wrists. I tried the watch without playing the video game.
To give you an idea of how clever the marketing folks over at Hamilton are, here are some numbers regarding Call of Duty. It’s a record-breaking franchise, surpassing 500 million units sold by late 2024. In fact, it holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s best-selling first-person shooter series. Last year, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the biggest launch in the history of the franchise, setting records for player numbers and hours played during its opening weekend. Understandably, then, Black Ops 7, which will debut on November 14th of this year, will most certainly do very well, and the 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic ref. H70475930 is going along for the ride.
Hands-on with the 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7”
One of Hamilton’s most important watches of recent years is the Khaki Field Murph. The watch became a fan-favorite after it played a pivotal part in the 2014 blockbuster Interstellar. Then, in 2019, the Murph was released to the public in a 42mm version. While that was too big for some, luckily, three years later, the Murph 38mm debuted. The 38mm Khaki Field Automatic “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” is a limited-edition “gamer.” Though it shares a lot with its Hollywood counterpart, it also differs in details.
In Black Ops 7, this 38mm Khaki Field Automatic is worn by operator Axel Vermaak. Though he’s fully kitted up, the watch doesn’t look too small on his wrist.
It doesn’t look too small on mine either. I believe the 38mm diameter is perfect for a field watch. Historically speaking, it is within ballpark figures. Plus, a field watch should never stand out but, rather, blend in. Therefore, a 38mm case with an 11.5mm profile and a 47mm length is just perfect. The relatively wide 20mm lug spacing also gives it the presence you need because you can either camouflage or make the watch pop by changing to another strap. Most field watches are “strap monsters,” and this latest Hamilton is no exception. But first, look at the strap it comes on.
Khaki green strap for the Khaki
The steel Swiss-made Khaki Field Automatic “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” comes on a durable NATO-style strap in khaki green. Though not stylistically original, it is thematically correct. It also wears well, but it does need some break-in time, which is nothing new.
Other features are the sober, instrumental black dial with a minute scale featuring numerals for every five minutes, as well as syringe hands with white Super-LumiNova that ensure readability in low-light conditions. So, there are no cathedral-style hands or beige lume here. Sources tell me Axel Vermaak doesn’t like retro and is allergic to “fauxtina.”
You can’t expect me to write hundreds of words about how it feels to wear a 38mm steel field watch, now, can you? It’s a perfect daily wearer that will be like a Labrador on the wrist. It has a 100m water resistance rating and an oversized push-pull crown at 3 o’clock for easy operation. The round steel case features curvy lugs and a polished bezel, which provides a nice contrast to the brushed case. It’s a trusty timekeeping companion that looks good in almost every setting. You can keep the watch casual with the NATO-style strap or dress it up with something in leather when you need to.
Another trusty feature is the H-10 automatic caliber hiding behind the steel case back. The Swatch Group’s ETA 2824-2 evolution is a 25-jewel movement with a 3Hz frequency and an 80-hour power reserve. Quite often, people using watches with this caliber report accuracy within ±5 seconds per day.
A run of 5,000
The 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” ref. H70475930 is a limited edition of 5,000 watches. While that may not seem like a particularly small number, it is when you think of the millions who will be seeing the watch in the video game. This special edition shows an engraving of the Black Ops 7 icon on the case back and comes in exclusive packaging in the style of the video game. The price is €925.
Allow me a couple of questions. First, would you wear this watch while playing the latest Call of Duty game, while enjoying the great outdoors, or both? Also, would the collaboration with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 stand in the way of you purchasing a perfectly fine black-dialed field watch? Please let me know in the comments section.
