New Additions To The Hamilton Diving Collection: Khaki Navy Frogman Auto And Khaki Navy Scuba Auto GMT Models
Fans of dive watches were already spoiled for choice with Hamilton. The brand’s Khaki Navy collection features almost any style, from daily divers to hardcore, oversized submersible watches. From today onward, you will have even more to choose from. Hamilton introduces the 43mm Khaki Navy Scuba Auto GMT in two versions (steel and bronze) and the 46mm Khaki Navy Frogman Auto in an altered colorway.
Let’s get the accounting out of the way first. The 46mm Frogman costs €1,445. The bronze Scuba Auto GMT comes in at €1,595, while the steel version costs €1,445. Now, let’s have a closer look!
The 46mm Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Auto
If this looks familiar, congratulations! You may consider yourself a Hamilton Khaki Navy connoisseur! The 46mm Frogman is an existing reference with a minor tweak for this new version. While the first model was completely blacked out, this new model (ref. H77855330) comes with white markers and hands. The result looks less stealthy but significantly more legible.
The massive 46mm diameter remains, as does the 13.6mm thickness. Hamilton rates the water resistance at an ample 300 meters. The characteristic protected crown also transfers from the blacked-out version to this one, and so do the sapphire crystal and the 22mm black rubber strap.
Inside still ticks caliber H-10, Hamilton’s version of the Powermatic 80. This means you get an 80-hour power reserve, automatic winding, and a Nivachron hairspring. The caliber sits hidden behind a — you guessed it — blacked-out case back. In short, you now have a choice of black lume or white lume on an otherwise identical 46mm Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Auto.
The 43mm Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto GMT in steel
The second new introduction from Hamilton offers greater novelty. You can now get your Scuba with a GMT complication, which is great for those far-from-home diving holidays. The Khaki Navy Scuba Auto GMT offers a 43mm diameter and a 13.9mm thickness. Up top, we find a sapphire crystal, while a solid steel case back forms the watch’s underbelly. Hamilton rates the water resistance at 300 meters. The steel version (ref. H82555150) comes on a steel three-row bracelet.
The relatively conservative look includes a ceramic bezel insert and a grained dial. The insert is glossy black, contrasting hard against the matte white dial. A red GMT hand ensures easy legibility of the second time zone. Pale green Super-LumiNova further supports optimal legibility under suboptimal lighting conditions.
Inside ticks caliber H-14. This caller-style GMT movement features the familiar 80-hour autonomy, automatic winding, and a date complication.
The 43mm Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto GMT in bronze
Today’s third and final addition to the Hamilton Khaki Navy collection is a bronze version of the Scuba Auto GMT. This model (ref. H82565930) shares the majority of its specifications with the steel version, but there are some distinct aesthetic changes.
As the name suggests, the case is now crafted out of bronze. This ensures that it will collect interesting patina over time, aging the watch and making it unique to your use. Hamilton’s bronze looks quite reddish here, leaning towards rose gold in tone.
Next, the dial is grainy black rather than white, for a classy combo with the pink bronze. Lastly, you get a black and brown nylon strap instead of the bracelet.
Initial impressions
I think these are solid additions to the Hamilton Khaki Navy collection. The new version of the Frogman feels more sensible to me. It seems conceptually congruent to make such a tool dive watch as legible as possible. The blacked-out lume of the earlier version did not quite do that.
A GMT complication on a dive watch makes a ton of sense to me in general. The combination makes for the ultimate holiday watch, ready for whatever, wherever. Hamilton adding a pair of GMT models to the Khaki Navy collection seems clever.
I can only assume the proportions of these new additions are based on market research. These relatively large models go against current fashion, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the more commercially responsible choice. We’ll have to wait and see how many of these we spot poolside and on the beach this summer!
What do you think of the new Hamilton Khaki Navy models? Let us know in the comments section below!
