Why I'm selling the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto - Brutally Honest Review 

👉 What do you think of the Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic? And does the lack of AR coating on the crystal bother you? 💖 Let me know in the comments! 🔔 If you liked the video please subscribe to my channel for future reviews www.youtube.com/@mosproblems?sub_confirmation=1 #HamiltonKhakiField #Automatic #WatchCommunity #FieldWatch

I've had the 38 for some years and the reflective nature of the crystal has never bothered me at all. In fact I think the dial with all that detail is a legibility work of genius. As a work-time beater watch, well it can't be beat. I wear it exclusively on a number of different NATOs and get that change-up every time. Each to their own.

I can see your point. I think it’s still a lovely watch but does deserve some AR coating and screw-down crown to be a proper field watch.

I got my Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic in 38 mm nearly two years ago. I absolutely love it. All of the things you don't like are important to you and I respect that. But they don't bother me. On the other hand, I'm totally irrational about accuracy and my watch gets COSC specs out of the box, after a break in period of a couple of months.

I have 5 Hamiltons and while the lack of AR coating is noticeable it’s never been an issue (except the few times I attempted to photograph them😂). And while noticeable it’s not a dealbreaker by any means, nor was it on my Rolex’s. I have many watches with and without AR but it has never been a reason to not purchase or wear them. Second, I actually enjoy a larger crown and don’t find them out of proportion for a field watch, but I also have fat fingers so a larger crown is nice. Also, this is a field watch with 100m water resistance, not having a screw down crown is not unusual. If it was a dive watch it would be worth mentioning but is completely unnecessary for a field watch. Third, The dial is a bit cluttered but purposefully so and is the reason I like a field watch, keep it mind that your looking at 3 functional dials. I personally don’t prefer the date and some don’t include it, like my Titanium Khaki. They offer version with no date, date, and day/date and even have different placements on the dial for the date window. With so many other choices in the Hamilton line you just chose the wrong watch. As far as the bracelet goes, I think they do the job. Are they great? No, but they are a lot better than most in that price category, overall I prefer a strap as most do with a field watch. And finally in the end you compare it to your Black Bay 58 at more than 3 times the price which is not a comparable watch either in price category or type/style. To compare a $600 watch to a $3,000 watch and say it’s cutting corners is a bit disingenuous. Okay, rant over.

Love mine. I've taken my 42mm from the tundra to the desert. The polished bezel shows scratches ...scratches that you totally remember the adventure that made them.

Puhh, i am very thankful for your review, the info about the reflective crystal is SO important for me. My Grand Seiko sky flake also have a domed crystal, but its coated and dial is all visible, i was about to buy the Hamilton until i saw this review, again thank you 🙂

Yes lack of AR is an issue on a domed crystal on a black dial. I have the 40mm Khaki King Auto that exhibits similar issue. I’ve simply accepted as a characteristic of the watch.

I quite like the domed crystal it gives the watch a little pop if that makes sense. I have this in the collection and love it, never had a watch go with as many straps. My biggest issue is only 2 micro adjusts on the clasp so I can't wear it on bracelet:(

For me, the lack of AR coating was also a deal breaker and ultimately the reason why I sold my Khaki Field King. That being said, I think that watch reviewers tend to review a watch based on the price bracket that a watch is in. With higher prices, you can expect better quality. There is just no way that a relatively cheap watch does not have to make consessions somewhere. For the price, these Hamiltons are still a great buy and excellent value for money. But if one of the negatives is a personal dealbreaker, then that ofcourse does not matter.

i like that where isn't a coating, coatings arrnt as hard as the sapphire and can scratch, and i like the reflections, looks great!

Thanks for the video. I have the 42mm on leather and am contemplating selling it. I thought I would want to wear it all the time, but I don’t. I’ve just got a much cheaper seiko SRPG27. It’s not perfect either but find the dial less cluttered. The bracelet isn’t good but I’ll try it on a few natos and it could become my new daily

I've had the Hamilton khaki automatic for six years. It has exceeded my expectations. It is typically on my wrist 24 to 20 hours a day

Yeah, this is my issue as well. I went to look at one yesterday and I was wearing my Sinn 556, LOL. I just could not see the dial! If they just added the AR, I would have bought one!

I'm just leaving a comment because you seem to be putting a lot into your channel and the content is high quality so I know that RU-vid will favor you more With more "interaction".

when it comes to the dial visibility, I totally agree with you I own the 38mm version of the khaki field automatic and I think it's a big letdown since I can't even enjoy the dial to the fullest, I would prefer a flat crystal or some reflective coating.

I purchased the new 38mm hamilton murph interstellar and was incredibly disappointed at this exact same issue. The website stated that there was AR coating on the crystal so I thought , perfect. However, after wearing the watch in different lighting the AR coating is basically negligible. Such a shame , beautiful watch but I ended up selling it.

I had this watch for less than a day because of that AR problem. I went back to shop to change it Hamilton Murph 38 and that was a good decision. I love the Murph 38. I just need to know if the videos’s stainless steel strap will fit to my Murph 38? Or do you guys know a stainless strap for Murph 38? Thanks

The reflection is rarely a problem for me, and when it is a little tilt of the wrist usually solves the issue. Love my 38.

I actually like the reflective crystal. It makes it different and sets it apart from the herd. It also give me more confidence in its robustness and practicality as an everyday rugged field watch. Also just love that big old oversized pull-out crown. It's just there begging to be grabbed to give an extra wind whenever you like and simplicity itself for time/date adjust. The only problem is the prices have just taken a massive 30% hike and it's now almost $900 or £700 here in the UK!

I have the same thought about the cristal. It's almost likeva mirror that prevents you to appreciate the beautiful dial.

Love this watch, guess it's all personal taste the things that may bother you don't bother me at all given the overall quality of this great watch.

At first it did bother me but as i wear it day in and day out, i have come to appreciat wit because i can accidently bumped it and it’s still scratch free. In addition, just twist your wrist a bit and you cna see the time 😊

I’ve looked at ones in a shop , and when I think about - yes it is more reflective - but I don’t think overly so . Some of the alternatives mentioned - I haven’t heard of

Is adding an aftermarket flat crystal with AR, or perhaps coating the stock domed Crystal with AR, possible? I know, it’s a hassle, but it’s otherwise a beautiful watch.

Cool video dude, have you considered the seiko baby alpinist as an alternative to it?

Yep. I had one and got rid of it due to the lack of AR. It’s a real shame

For me the reflective crystal glass is what makes this watch look great.

In the opinion the lack of an AR coating on the dial actually helps the overall look of the watch. While i makes it slightly harder to read, it also allows the light to play on the crystal and give it a nice shine. I dont find it difficult at all to read either. Because of how easily legible the dial is, the reduced legibility of the dial just lowers it down to being about average in bright light, and highly legible in normal light. I also disagree about the bracelet. Because while i agree about the clasp being chunky, and downright painful when typing, it’s definitely not a delicate bracelet at all.

This AR coating seems to be a big deal for most people, are there after market options to fix this? ( not that you should have to with a watch at this price)

Ive owned two 42mm on a strap. Ive never been a fan of this on the bracelet. I sold the second one so i could buy the murph 42mm. Generally Hamilton are one of my favourite brands.

Thank you for the great review. Anti-reflection is a big deal for me and almost spent a huge sum on Hamilton's titanium auto field watch.

I feel lucky you made this video and I ended up looking at it since the Hamilton Khaki Field was on my buylist. Before spending 900 $ cdn. I willthink twice.

Good point! 🤔

Hey great vid! great production quality too! I just made a video about the lack of AR on this watch as well it's an absolute bummer because the dial is quite beautiful

I bought a 38mm on a bracelet last year. At the £410 I paid I'm happy with it although the clasp is a little mismatched. Earlier this year however, Hamilton increased the RRP to around £700 and at that price I feel it's a bit much for what you get.

Finally! someone who shares the same opinion as me! Mineral crystal gets a lot of hate bur it allows a clear view of the dial in any angle. I recently bought the seiko alpinist laurel deep lake blue and returned it the next day due to the reflections and glare! What good a watch is if you can’t see the dial.

I don’t know if I can trust the guy who has the eye of Sauron behind him during watch view.

Sold within a week as well. Non screwdown, poor lume and reflective glass were the main reasons

I haven't been bothered by the lack of AR coating--I'm willing to just rotate my wrist a little more, I guess. I wear the watch all the time and generally like it a lot, but I agree that the chunky clasp is a problem. It really irritates me when I'm typing at work and my wrist is resting on the desk. I don't have to take off the other watch I wear to the office, but this one I do. Also, the lume is absurdly ineffective.

Dont think its cutting corners with the ar coating, its just an aesthetic detail they chose to go with. I would actually have to see it in person to sse if it bothered me. Looking at a watch through lenses is not the same as looking at a watch with the naked eye.

Love this watch. I wish it had anti reflective coating, but the thing that bothers the most is the lack of screw down crown. It’s a tool watch should be able to take a swim with it. Super disappointing. If it had that I’d get it in a heartbeat.

How precise is the movement? How many seconds a day is it off?

Good review, the no AR coating is 100% a deal breaker for me, it would really annoy me big time, I love the watch and was thinking of buying but after now knowing that I simply cannot buy it, end of story, such a shame coz it’s a brilliant watch.

Rolex do not have AR coating and are difficult to get on a waiting list, what’s his beef with Hamilton not having it at this price.

I just want to note that this watch is meant to be an everyday watch, field watch that happens to cross multiple styles. However adding an AR (Anti-Reflective Coating) to the watch would lower the resistance of the glass to scratches as the coating isn't as hard a sapphire (Obviously).

It is not subjective, it is fact. Even with their new 38mm Titanium, they still would Not put an inner AR coating at all (but the Murph has it). Common sense 'Hamilton' would dictate, you listen to the customers- Better Lume, AR coating & maybe a Screw down crown. It is Field Watch...for the outdoors!

What is a good alternative to this ? Price point but same style, don't think I would like the shine either.

I can understand the host problem with it. Reflective nature of it really hinder its function. Its a field watch, sometime you want just to see it at a glimpse. Let say when you ride a bike or car.

Baltany makes Hamilton homages with a screw down crown with AR coating for about 26% of the price. It's a shame that Swatch Group treats Hamilton like an entry level stepchild. At this price point especially with what micro brands are doing AR coating and screw down crowns should be mandatory.

Best movement you can buy for the money. I wore Seiko watches for years and will never go back after I can go weeks with this watch without resetting the time.

Paid $380 for mine on sale at Jomashop 3 years ago. I have beat the crap out of this watch and still +4 a day !! Also the strapco rubber straps make this a monster !! The ones that fit Rolex !! The white one is my favorite.

I love your nitpicking. Can you review the an ORIS Big Crown ProPilot?

Just when I after months decided to buy this watch! Have never thought of AR coating before, and when I think about I have it on all my watches. Will be a deal breaker. Alright, back to scare one.

Man I love mine

i love the domed crystal but not the reflective nature of it, it does affect the viewing experience of the dial but not the time. But hey, I can playfully reflect light onto some kid in mcdonalds just to annoy them😂

The guy that bought the Camel says”hey this Camel is terrible. It doesn’t do any of the things you said he did”. The seller replies “shhh! If you keep saying that you’ll never sell the camel”.

If i want to buy this watch is it better to go for the bracelet? can we change the bracelet for a strap? or is it impossible to remove?

Beautiful watch....

Great review. I just ordered this watch. Did you find the bracelet easy to remove in order to add leather strap options? Any tips on removal or tools that I should use?

Owned the 42mm version since 2015, I can tell you not once have I ever had issues reading the time. What a strange complaint, and even stranger reason to get rid of it.

I love an elejant watch.

Of course, they’re going to cut some corners at that price range. Maybe they should offer amother version at a higher price

I have this watch and admittedly I am guilty too of moaning about the crystal, so I had the crystal replaced (exact same crystal bit with inner AR coating, then available from Crystal Times). Although the glare became noticably less strong, it was still clearly present. But here's the thing: I own three other black-dial watches, each with AR coating on both sides. The crystal basically disppears on them. But when I glance at my Hamilton, I immediately notice how interesting or even 'premium' the watch looks, precisely because of the glare. I now can see the charm of glary crystals (although, as said, it's not completely fair since I swapped out the crystal, but still). Having said all this, I don't wear the Hamilton that often anymore; that field-watch spot has been filled by the Longines Spirit. If I didn't own that one, though, I'd probably still be wearing the heck out of the Hamilton. At the end of the day it's a damn fine watch.

Ima take a guess and say the people that turn down the watch because of the lack of AR coating is vecause theyve already experienced how it could be With good AR coating. But like for me, as a first time watch buyer, wouldn't notice it at all, and it never bothered me

I got the watch. Opened the box and saw all the reflections in the crystal. I screens smashed it with a hammer and threw it away.

how about the instellar ones? cooper one.

Lack of AR coating is the only reason I haven’t bought one

My 42 is never off my wrist. It is the Explorer for the masses without the silly price tag. OK, lume not brilliant and no AR - so what? Buy one and you won't regret it.

I owned the Khaki king model…I tried to like it but it never happened…sold it for half the price!

Sold mine too. As well as the pilot pioneer six months later, and then IWC Mark 16..... it seems to be a watch geek thing - many of us find it hard to settle and find the right watch. I'm still looking.... very tricky to find something that ticks every box. So I'm left with my G shock square and a 1970s Seiko Skyliner To go back to the Hamilton, I really struggled with the crystal, and also found the dial was way too busy. Too much going on, not a great date window and a horrible bulky crown...its one of those things.... you need time with a watch to find out if it's right for YOU

Mo some advice: once you are able to afford Pateks, APs, Rolexes, BlancPan like me you will learn that all watches have good and bad qualities! Doing a deep dive on a Hamilton is commendable but also so extra it’s cute. The real question is, have you made a video for the sake of a video?!

Would be cheap and easy to replace the crystal.

get a baltany only 130, and have antireflecting, black mini date, and screw down crown, and is 100mts

I tried one of these on, and I really wanted to love it. It looks great in photos and it's the sort of all-rounder sports watch that I'm after. Unfortunately, more than the lack of AR (apparently, you can get an AR coated domed sapphire for it from Crystal Times), it was the disproportionate crown that ruined it for me. I just couldn't get over it. The lack of a screw-down crown is a shame too I think.

You found more flaws than I did… I think the bracelet is extremely nice for the price… Quite possibly the most comfortable in my entire collection of over 70 watches. Yes, they are coding is nonexistent and disappointing, but I don’t find it as big as a flaw as the lack of lume. Even for a field watch, I find it one of the biggest drawbacks of the watch. I think the crown is the proper size for a field watch. And the clasp I also find great for a field watch… To refine these two things would just make it more of a dress watch.

I have owned a Hamilton Khaki Field 38 almost 6 years. It was the first Swiss made piece I purchased. I will never part with it.

swap the crystal for one with AR?

Sold mine decades ago.

I tried several field watches, but after 15 years in the army, I just don’t want a military style watch anymore.

Lack of ARC is better IMO... Only real problem is the massive price hike...

I returned my khaki because of the lack of AR coating. Too much reflection !

For me, the sharp rough edges on bracelet and clasp put me off.

Are you Macaulay Culkin from the 80’s?

The watch would be perfect if not for the crystal.

solution ? you can always replace it with an AR crystal..............as simple as that

Never buying Hamilton. I dropped my FMK and it was 20 seconds per day slow. Opened it up to realize that the H50 doesn't have a regulator lever, so that the only way to bring it up to proper timekeeping is to send it in for service. Left a bad taste in my mouth. I stuck to Tudor, Christopher Ward, older Seikos and such.

Heck Yeah, it bothers Me that there's no antireflective coating! It also bothers Me that there's not a Screw-Down Crown! These Two Things Bother Me So Much, I will Never Buy this Watch in It's current form.

I would have sold the watch- but, I wouldn’t have bought it in the first place.

Does that 'selling' mean that you recommend here?

lack of coating , bother Mr.

I keep looking at Hamilton and every time I see one I see GLARE. 4hz to 3hz... fail. I look at other Khaki models and they only have 50m of WR... on a field watch! Looking elsewhere.

It's easily one of the sharpest, best looking field watches on the market. Two additional things make it a hard pass for me though. The non-threaded crown is a deal breaker. A watch that is going to be used in a "field" setting absolutely needs a screw down crown, period. Combine that with the fact that the movement cannot be regulated by anyone but Hamilton, it completely removes the possibility of me ever owning one unfortunately. It's a fantastic piece to look at but its functionality is crippled.

Do you understand this watch ? Do you understand why the crown is so big…?

A watch is an accessory, a piece of jewellery if you will, something you wear for looks. Yes, I want them to reflect light, because I like my jewelry shiny. If you want functionality buy a fucking smart watch mate

A DATE WINDOW ON A FIELD WATCH IS OVERKILL AND A DEAL BREAKER FOR A FIELD WATCH,,,,,,,,,,,,

No AR, no purchase.

👍️🇳🇵

Water resistance 👎🏻

So change the crystal. Lol