Khaki Navy Pioneer Watch Review

Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer Watch – Good For Today?

Hamilton is a US-based company with more than a century of experience in manufacturing watches and clocks.

In their early days, they’re known for supplying clocks to railroads companies.

During the 1920s, Hamilton started developing pilot watches for professional aviators.

From then on up to this day, the brand has become synonymous with precision and reliability in the world of aviation.

To pay tribute to their origins, Hamilton decided to come up with a pilot watch that closely resembles their first creations.

It’s called the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer collection and continues to belong to the group of coveted timepieces hunted by collectors.

The Khaki Name

After years of not releasing pilot models to the market, the brand released three new Hamilton models that sport different features: the Khaki Navy Pioneer H77715553 with a 43mm-wide case, the smaller H78465553 with a 40mm-wide case, and the H77706553 with chronograph subdials.

However, we’ll focus on the Khaki Navy Pioneer H77715553 in this article.

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer H77715553 is based on the widely popular 2012 model which was thicker and had manual-winding movement.

The overall design of the H77715553 retains the aesthetics of the older model, including the blued hands, the silver dial, the rectangular minute track, the edged bezel, the wired lugs, and the Arabic numeral hour markers.

The biggest difference between the older model of the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer and the newer 2015 model is the second subdial feature.

This has been removed in the newer model and a central second hand was placed instead (to the disappointment of some fans).

The crisp, clean, and classic design of the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer resembles old-school pocket watches back in the early 1900s.

It has a very nostalgic vibe, yet it has a contemporary air that makes it a relevant fashion accessory.

wearing the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer

Design and Movement

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer (H77715553) has a stainless steel case that measures 43mm wide and 10.9mm thick.

It has a slimmer profile compared to other watches, making it an excellent accessory for formal and casual use.

The silver-tone case is matched with a fixed, ribbed, silver-tone bezel made of stainless steel.

The watch has a skeleton case back that lets you see the ticking parts inside.

It also has wired lugs that give the watch a clock-like appearance.

The watch has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal similar to the ones used by more expensive luxury brands.

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer has a matching brown leather strap with a tang clasp to complete the classic appeal.

The strap is made from cowhide leather which makes it soft and comfortable to wear.

The silver-coloured dial simply exudes classiness.

The font itself of the Arabic numeral hour markers on the outer dial and the minute markers on the chapter ring retains the same style usually seen on vintage watches.

The blue, spade-shaped hands also add flair to the overall design of the watch while making the face highly legible.

At the 3 o’clock position, you’ll find a small date window.

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer has a Hamilton Calibre H-10 automatic movement.

It boasts a large power reserve of 80 hours which is twice the usual capacity offered by cheaper automatic watches from other brands.

Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer Watch Review

Talking Points

Here are some points to consider that will help you decide whether you should buy the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer or not.

Luminosity

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer doesn’t have lume on either its hands or markers so that the style will stay true to its vintage origins.

Thankfully, the contrasting colors of the white dial and blue hands make the watch face easy to read, even in certain low-light conditions.

Comfortability

People love the Khaki Navy Pioneer H77715553 for its thin frame.

It’s lightweight and very comfortable to wear even for prolonged periods.

The strap might be a little stiff at first, but as you wear it more, it will become softer and more comfortable on the wrist.

Variants

Aside from the siblings of Khaki Navy Pioneer H77715553, namely the 40mm H78465553 and the H77706553 chronograph, there’s a variant that’s more closely related to the H77715553.

The H78205553 model is smaller than the H77715553 but retains the same overall design as its bigger sibling.

The H78205553 has a 36mm-wide case fit for the smaller wrists of women.

This variant also has a PVD rose coating and hands with rose-gold coating.

Other than these features, everything else on the watch, including the movement, strap, and built, is the same as the H77715553.

Price

Hamilton is known as a value brand because it puts high-quality components and elaborate movements in their products without heavily bloating up their prices.

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer is priced around $995.

But you can get some for around $650 if you’re willing to dig deeper online.

Khaki Navy watch review

Questions About The Khaki Navy Pioneer

Is the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer water-resistant?

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer is water-resistant up to a depth of 100 meters underwater.

This rating is suitable for casual swimming and snorkelling, but never for diving and other deep-water sports.

Can the strap be replaced?

Although the OEM strap of the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer looks unchangeable, it can be replaced with a canvass strap or other styles you prefer.

Does the watch have a screw-down crown?

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer has a screw-down crown for improved water-resistance capability.

Its oversized design makes it easy to grip.

As a pilot watch, the oversized crown is to be expected.

It’s not too big to the point that it becomes annoying to wear, though.

It’s within the acceptable size that won’t intervene with whatever you want to wear it with.

Conclusion

The Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer is a great example of what a remake of a classic pilot watch should be.

It retains the vintage appeal of the older models while presenting a distinguishable flavour of its own.

It doesn’t try hard to be a copycat because it has a unique identity that makes it stand out among the timepieces in the sub-$1,000 category.

If you’re looking for a simple yet stylish sub-$1,000 watch, the Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer is a strong contender to consider.

It has a vintage appeal that’s both exciting and engaging.

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