Hamilton Puts The Khaki Collection In Its Natural Habitat In The “Step Outside” Campaign
I do not embark on nearly as many adventures as I would love to. As much as I like to tell myself it’s due to a lack of time, I know that’s not true, and the watch on my wrist is an excellent reminder that I need to go out more. Most of us wear tool watches, symbolizing the adventures that await us in the great outdoors. This is precisely what sparked Hamilton’s new “Step Outside” campaign. By putting watches from the Khaki collection in their natural habitat, Hamilton shows us the world that is out there and waiting to be conquered with a watch on your wrist. The brand invited Max, Fratello’s resident photographer, to experience the Khaki watches in their natural habitat and document the adventure for us.
Within Hamilton’s Khaki collection are several watches that I would actually bring out on a trip. Give me a Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, and I am ready to rock. I would even have a hard time choosing. There are so many great picks within that specific model range. The first one that pops into my mind is the bronze model with the black dial. I like the look of that watch, especially on the leather strap it comes with. Another one would be the model with a special “Earth” PVD coating and a green dial. But my absolute favorite is the Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition that the brand did with Engineered Garments. These three pieces are perfect examples of watches made to accompany you on your adventures.
The extent of the Hamilton Khaki collection
That is only the tip of the iceberg, though. Give me a 38mm Khaki Field Murph or Khaki Field Automatic, and I would be a happy camper. But let’s not forget that Hamilton’s Khaki collection is far more extensive. It consists of Khaki Field, Khaki Aviation, and Khaki Navy models that have you covered in the air, in the water, or on land.
To show the watches in their natural habitat, Hamilton created a new campaign that puts the spotlight on the brand’s adventurous side. For this, our photographer, Max, even received an invitation to Interlaken, Switzerland, to document two adventurous days in the Swiss Alps.
Hamilton picked one specific model per product line to highlight in its intended environment. First up is the Khaki Aviation X-Wind Automatic Chronograph. This special pilot’s watch features the first drift-angle calculator in a wristwatch and a “destro” (left-handed) crown and pusher setup.
The controls for the regular functions (useful for all non-pilots) were moved to the left side of the watch. That way, the crosswind calculator could shine on the right side. Two large screw-down crowns control the twin-level internal bezel, with the bottom crown for the upper level and the top crown for the bottom level. These two bezels help you land your plane when you run into a significant crosswind, and the functionality makes the Khaki Aviation X-Wind Automatic Chronograph a valuable tool during any aviation adventures.
Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic for any adventure on land
The second model that Hamilton picked was the Khaki Field Automatic. It’s a fantastic watch for any adventure on land. For many of us, running is a common activity, but it can be a bit mundane. That’s why Hamilton shows the watch in a more adventurous setting, used for trail running, hiking, and mountain climbing pursuits.
This makes it less of a time-trial-driven tool and more of an adventurous companion during such trips. While most of us will consider the Khaki Field Mechanical as the archetypal Hamilton, the Automatic version is another doozy. I love the extra bit of visual pizzazz the watch brings compared with its manual-wound brother, without forgoing its field-watch roots.
The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic for adventures in the sea
The last model highlighted in the new “Step Outside” campaign is the Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic. The blacked-out dive watch is a very capable tool with a 300m depth rating and a distinct crown guard to emphasize its rugged nature.
In full black, the watch looks notably smaller, but it is still the very competent diver that Mike wrote about in his review. Created to hold its own in the most challenging situations underwater, the Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic is a fantastic, affordable option for people who love the underwater world.
Final thoughts on the new Hamilton “Step Outside” campaign
All in all, I love that Hamilton portrays the watches in their intended adventure-filled environments. But what makes it even better is that Fratello’s photographer had a chance to combine his passion for watches and photography during this trip. As you can see, he also got to spend some quality time with the Khaki Field Mechanical with a bronze case and white dial.
All the images in the article were shot by Max, and it is great to see how he put a personal spin on the story. As you can see, the Swiss Alps should be on anyone’s list of places to visit at least once.
The watches shine the best in environments such as this, and the images reminded me that I should plan more trips, take more pictures, and generally not spend too much time tied to a desk. If a watch also helps you remember of that, it is a great storyteller that can inspire you to go out and live life.
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