Japanese streetwear brand Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 40 N. Hoolywood has tapped American watch brand Hamilton for a limited-edition Khaki Field for its FW21 collection.
Completely blacked out from head to toe save the luminescent hands, the inner 24-hour indices, and the chapter ring, the timepiece sits neatly in line with N. Hoolywood’s latest military-inspired collection thanks to the combat heritage of Hamilton’s iconic model. The 40mm stainless steel case has been PVD-coated for a sleek, matte finish and provides ample protection for your outdoor adventures alongside the robust sapphire crystal.
Sitting at the heart of the timepiece is then Hamilton’s H-10 movement, a three-hand movement coming with an impressive 80-hour power reserve, while a black NATO strap completes the look. Of course, as a limited-edition release, it also comes in special monochrome packaging for a truly exclusive collector’s experience.
There’s one problem with the all-black watches everybody loves: while they might look cool as fashion accessories, they don’t function well as watches because of compromised legibility. Mostly, you can’t have a black-on-black watch design and a solid, easy time-reading experience — but the new, limited collab watch from Hamilton and Japanese fashion label N.Hoolywood just might be the best of both worlds. It also takes the form of one of our favorite field watches…but is unfortunately hard to get your hands on.
Based on Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 40 N. Hoolywood the brand made for American soldiers, Hamilton’s Khaki Field collection offers a range of colors but mostly remains pretty straightforward and traditional. Add Japanese designer Daisuke Obana’s vision to the mix, however, and you’ve got an edgy, modern design that manages to feel authentic to the watches’ roots at the same time. It’s the second collaboration for the two brands, and this time it’s part of the N.Hoolywood’s collection based on military post exchange (PX) stores.
N.Hoolywood took the basic military feel of the Khaki Field and doubled down by giving it a stealthy black treatment with matte finishes. The Arabic numeral hour markers are black against the black dial, as with other such “phantom” watches, so they’ll appear almost like shadows, visible only in certain lights. All that blackness, though, makes the white Super-LumiNova-coated hands, outer track with its triangle hour markers, and the inner track with military time stand out even more. It all looks unexpected, pragmatic — and just plain cool and unique.
The Khaki Field Auto — which the watch is based on — is a more practical alternative to the basic Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 40 N. Hoolywood that we love to recommend as the field watch go get. With automatic winding, the Auto offers more detailed case finishing and construction as well as a slightly upsized 40mm diameter. It also offers a case back window to view the H-10 movement with 80 hours of power-reserve, and for the N.Hoolywood model, the window is plainly printed with the words “Watch, wrist: General Design by N. Hoolywood/Hamilton” and some of the watch’s specs.
Between its robust build quality, respected brand heritage, and diverse design selection, Hamilton’s Khaki Field collection has long served as one of the best value propositions in the watch industry. However, because of the timepiece’s obvious military influences, it’s traditionally been done up in more subdued hues like brown and olive drab. At least until now.
As a follow-up to their previous project in 2009, Hamilton and Japanese fashion label Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 40 N. Hoolywood have joined forces for a 300-piece Khaki Field Auto collab. Inspired by military exchange service (PX) stores, it’s bedecked in a blacked-out colorway with a PVD-coated 40mm stainless steel case and some ghosted Arabic hour markers. However, to maintain the watch’s legibility, Obana has given it a set of brilliant white SuperLumiNova hands as well as a matching chapter ring and an inner 24-hour track. Set off by a NATO strap with its own black-on-black hardware, the result is a watch that’s as distinctive as it is understated. As with Hamilton’s other Khaki Field Autos, it’s powered by an H-10 movement beneath a sapphire crystal and display back, offering an 80-hour reserve and 100m of water resistance. Unfortunately, it’s not destined for the States, but you can learn more below.