Introducing: The Icy-Cool Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive Edition With A Matterhorn Engraving
This watch might not be for field-watch purists. But for those who are more open-minded and don’t mind chill frivolities, this icy-cool Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm might be just the watch they’re looking for. It will involve a bit of traveling, though, because this frosty-dial watch is only available in Zermatt. You will have to head to one of Switzerland’s most famous and beautiful ski towns, which is also worth a visit in summer. That’s because of the famous, characteristic mountain just outside town, the Matterhorn. When you buy the watch in the Alps for CHF 595, you get a second reward and souvenir — an engraving of the most photogenic of mountains on the back of the case.
Hamilton is funkifying its line of field watches. Not too long ago, my colleague Thomas went hands-on with two 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical models, one with a cool white dial and the other with a fashionable denim-blue one. As you know, the Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm is an extremely popular hand-wound field watch loved by fans of the genre, newcomers to the world of watches, and seasoned fans who respect the no-nonsense, value-for-money watch. Looking at a Khaki Field with a black dial is like cleansing your palate. The Zermatt-exclusive version with an icy-cold dial, however, is a bit more frivolous.
The icy-cool Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive Edition
Let’s start with the dial. Hamilton decided to outfit this Zermatt exclusive with a dial mimicking the stuff you see on the mountain outside the town — ice and snow. It does so very well and has a little bit of texture. The rest is what you expect from a utilitarian field watch. It shows large luminous Arabic numerals, hour markers, and lumed blackened hands. The additional 13–24-hour track is still part of the package and sits in the middle of the dial.
On the case back, a stylized depiction of the Matterhorn in all its geometrical glory shows you this is no ordinary Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm. It might not be a limited edition with unique numbers on the case back, but it is a geographically limited watch. That’s just as much a sign of exclusivity in my book.
The watch’s specs are not about exclusivity but, rather, inclusivity. The 38mm case has a 9.5mm thickness, which fits most wrists. Sure, the 47mm lug-to-lug is on the long side, but it’s not a deal-breaker for most people once they try it on. The curved lugs do give the watch a certain elegance. And it’s that elegance that goes so well with the frosted dial.
On the wrist and in the case
The Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive Edition comes on a NATO-style strap with luxurious leather details. It’s dark blue with a white stripe, and as a bonus, you get a fully dark blue NATO-style strap.
Inside the 50m-water-resistant case, there are no surprises either. The movement on duty is the caliber H-50, a Hamilton-exclusive variant of the hand-winding ETA C07.701 with an 80-hour power reserve. The laser-regulated balance doesn’t allow your watchmaker to regulate it, but the 3Hz movement probably won’t need that since it’s a proper workhorse.
Other features that need a brief mention are the screw-in case back and the slightly domed sapphire crystal above the icy dial. The watch also comes with a push-pull crown, allowing manual winding in the neutral position.
What do you think? Is the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Zermatt Exclusive Edition cool enough for you to plan a trip to Switzerland? Let me know in the comments below.
