Hamilton Khaki Titanium: The Only Titanium Watch You Need
- Jilliano Romano
- Aug 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 28
As a belated birthday gift, my friends and my girlfriend got me the Hamilton Khaki Titanium for a great price thanks to my AD. Prior to this, I had been on the lookout for a titanium watch for my collection. There was something so appealing about the gunmetal grey color of many titanium watches, and perhaps I’m just uniquely susceptible to marketing, but it simply seemed far more luxurious than simple 316 Stainless Steel. Right? Well, yes, and no. This will be explained later in the review, but now that I’ve laid the groundwork, let me explain everything I love about this watch, and things that could definitely be better.
The Hamilton Khaki Titanium has the classic Khaki Field dial with its dual hour numeral layout with AM and PM stacked on top of each other as seen in the picture. Finally, the dial color is a dark, understated blue color on the outer ring, but at center, it has a much lighter blue color that heightens the visual complexity of an otherwise simple dial. The aforementioned dual hour numeral layout is coated with your typical SuperLuminova, which adds a slight creamy color to something that would otherwise be a stark white against the blue dial.
The bracelet is a fully titanium 3-Link bracelet, and as expected of a sub-1,500 USD watch, there is little to praise or complain about in regards to it. However, this review is not a spec sheet, and I’m sure the pictures here are much better than my description.
The thing I love most about the watch is how light it is. It cannot be understated how much lighter a titanium watch is compared to a normal stainless steel model. For perspective, I have a Hamilton Khaki King on a brown leather strap, and it is noticeably heavier than its futuristic, titanium sibling. Many enthusiasts would consider its lightness or lack of heft to be a detraction against it, but I think that the fact that it is so light makes it more functional. Considering a field watch is meant to be worn by people in intense, outdoor conditions, I would argue that having a heavy piece of metal on the wrist might be a bit of a hindrance at times. That being said, my last hike was in 2021, and I only wear this watch to the office, but it’s the thought that counts, damn it!
The H-10 movement is, unfortunately, not hi-beat, but it compensates with an extremely convenient 80-Hour power reserve. This is a variant of Swatch group’s Powermatic 80, which has become ubiquitous with reasonably priced models from brands like Hamilton, Tissot, and Mido. On the bright side, you can check it out through a nice exhibition caseback, and I don’t care if it’s not particularly complicated or decorated, I will never tire of seeing a watch’s movement in action.
The watch thankfully eschews a date window, which makes me like it even more. I don’t hate date windows, but I do think certain watches (re: many, actually) benefit from a cleaner, date-less appearance (date-less is also an accurate descriptor for me in sophomore year of college). This is definitely one of the watches that benefit from the lack of a shoehorned date window, and it makes it much easier for me to reach for it in the morning.
So, is this a perfect watch? The review is absolutely glowing thus far, but sadly, even great watches have some flaws or quirks. Let’s backtrack to the question of titanium’s supposed luxury in comparison to the more common stainless steel. Is the titanium as good as I had hoped? It absolutely is, but this is also not the best titanium possible. This is where the importance of quality makes its first appearance. This watch is machined from Grade-2 Titanium, which is perfectly fine, but it is certainly the most affordable, and most accessible grade of titanium. What this means is that it is less corrosive, lighter, and even more hypoallergenic than stainless steel, but it is far from being as scratch resistant and as strong as Grade-5 titanium. The reason is simple: titanium is a softer metal than stainless steel. This makes it lighter, but it also makes it far more susceptible to scratches.
As I mentioned, I just wear this to the office, or on dates, but the bracelet has scratches as if I’ve actually used it as it was intended. Additionally, titanium is not as comfortable as I expected it would be, or so I thought. Then I had the chance to try Dr. Bryan’s - my co-founder - titanium Tudor Pelagos, and let’s just say the difference in price is completely understandable. How the Pelagos felt on my skin felt like a night-and-day difference, and it’s because they thoughtfully used Grade-5 titanium for the caseback, instead of making it completely out of Grade-2 titanium. I’m not saying that this sub-1500 USD watch should be as great as a watch that cost more than double, but comfortability is definitely a factor that everyone should consider.
No watch is perfect; instead, it’s about finding a watch that is as close to perfect for us. As someone who often goes on business trips, I love this lightweight watch, and it is perfect after a long day of meetings, or for when I’m holding a camera for an extended period of time. It doesn’t work for every situation for me, and that’s okay. It is still a fantastic watch for the price, and if you had to choose a titanium watch without breaking the bank, this is the watch I would recommend for everyone.
What do you think of the Hamilton Khaki Titanium? Have I missed anything? Let me know in the comments below!
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