Hamilton
Hamilton timepieces today still have that Pennsylvania rust-belt gumption and practicality, but they’re souped up with sophisticated Swiss precision.
After all, their most iconic new Swiss-made lines are the ones based on their American-made classics. Looking at these classics and more, we’re rounding up our choices for the 15 best Hamilton watches for men.
Table of Contents
Is Hamilton a Good Watch ?
Hamilton watches are solidly built and reliable, and always have been. When they were founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, they became an important partner for the railroad industry.
With their trusty timepieces in the hands of train conductors, Hamilton prevented once common railroad accidents caused by unreliable timing.
Hamilton also pioneered innovations that revolutionized the
- Producing the world’s first electrical battery-operated
watch in 1957. The Ventura featured a futuristic shield-design developed by famed industrial designer Richard Arbib. - Introducing the world’s first LED digital
watch , the Pulsar, in 1970.
The brand’s pop culture credits include:
- Designing futuristic timepieces, similar to the Pulsar and Ventura, for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- Elvis wearing a Ventura in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii, which created a pop culture connection akin to James Stuart’s Tissot and Bond’s Sub.
So yes, Hamilton has earned their reputation for being a good watchmaker.
But…
Is Hamilton a High-end / Luxury Watch ?
I’d call it a mid-level brand, but it’s top-tier when it comes to esteem from the
In 1974, the Swatch Group purchased Hamilton. Within the Swatch family, Hamilton is on the “lower end” of the spectrum compared to its cousins, Omega and Blancpain.
However, the brand has graced the pages of high-end auction catalogs, right next to Rolex and Vacheron. In fact, Sotheby’s sold Robin Williams’ ‘88 Hamilton quartz
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Are Hamilton Watches Good Quality?
Definitely. Because of their famed reliability, Hamilton has supplied countless military contracts.
Their lower price point in the Swatch hierarchy simply means that they’re likely built using automated processes. This is certainly less artful, but it doesn’t always result in a lower quality timepiece.
Today, Hamilton watches continue to be strong and reliable.
How Much Are Hamilton Watches?
They can cost as little as $300, and as much as $4,000. As mentioned, since they’re so beloved, they can go for much more in auction.
The bulk of their collection sits in the $300-1500 range.
What is the Best Hamilton Watch ?
As usual, it depends on your taste!
Whether you want to dip into Hamilton’s pop culture cache or their practical offerings, you’ll find at least one in the following roundup!
Hamilton Watches for Men Online Comparison
Here are some of our favorite Hamilton watches!
Khaki Field H69439531, Brown
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Black dial enhanced by luminous silver-tone hands. Silver-tone stainless steel case with a brown leather band. Hand Wind movement.
The H69439531 is Hamilton’s soldier’s
I also love the leather strap, which isn’t treated. This makes it look natural, and every strap is a little different, like buying hand-made art.
HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD H69439531 features:
| Movement | Mechanical hand wind |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 38mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Leather |
Jazzmaster Thinline
The Jazzmaster Thinline features one of the most streamlined designs I’ve seen in an affordable dress
Stainless steel case with a brown leather strap. Fixed stainless steel bezel. Silver dial with luminous silver-tone hands and Arabic numeral hour markers.
It features a 42mm face, but is so super thin that it works on most wrists. The dial has a subtle sunburst effect that plays beautifully with light, especially with the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The applied Arabic numerals are boldly shaped, but are small and subtly colored enough that it doesn’t take away from the understated design. They add a quiet pop on an overall timeless aesthetic.
HAMILTON JAZZMASTER THINLINE features:
| Movement | Quartz |
| Case Size | 42mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Embossed leather |
Khaki Field Officer
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Green dial enhanced by luminous silver-tone hands. Silver-tone stainless steel case with a green textile band. Hand Wind movement. 50 meters / 165 feet water resistance. Fixed bezel. Scratch Resistant Sapphire crystal.
The Khaki Field Officer is similar to the Khaki H69439531, with its military-style and H-50 movement, but with a sleeker, less crowded, and overall more grown-up face. Its date window and luminous silver-toned hands definitely level it up.
If you like the field style of this
HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD OFFICER features:
| Movement | Mechanical hand wind |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 38mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Canvas Strap |
Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date
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This watch is modeled after vintage aviation timepieces, featuring the hours in the inner circle and the minutes on the outer circle. The metallic, silver face adds a sheen that moves around depending on the light for a retro-futuristic look.
Of course, despite the vintage style, the
Another cool design component are the transparent compartments on the hands, which add a layered aesthetic. Overall, this is a casual vintage
HAMILTON KHAKI AVIATION PILOT DAY DATE features:
| Movement | Quartz |
| Case Size | 42mm |
| Water Resistance | 200m |
| Band Material | Leather |
Khaki Pilot GMT
As another excellent aviation-themed
Stainless steel case and bracelet. Black dial. Gmt-second time display. Silvertone luminous hands and hour markers. Push button deployant clasp. 100 meters water resistant.
However, the face features 24-hour clock markers as its midmost circle in a bold red. Against the all-black background and bezel, this gives the
The automatic movement is seen through the sweep of the second hand, as well as the display caseback. As an elegant professional
HAMILTON KHAKI PILOT GMT features:
| Movement | Automatic self-wind |
| Case Size | 44mm |
| Water Resistance | 200m |
| Band Material | Stainless steel bracelet |
Field King Auto
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This watch has a military style face, but with a sleeker, cleaner look that pairs well with its original stainless steel bracelet. Uniquely, the Field King Auto is a handsome military watch that can be dressed down and up, almost like a classic sport.
Military time is prominently featured on the dial, which is subtly sectioned by the textured ring that the hour indices sit on. This adds understated dimensionality. The day date at the center top also allows the whole day to be spelled out for superior legibility.
HAMILTON FIELD KING features:
| Movement | Automatic self-wind |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 40mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Stainless steel bracelet |
Khaki Field Day Date Auto H70695735
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This watch is unique from other blacked-out watches because it features several contrasting textures, which add layers and legibility. The black case also has PVD-coating for durability.
Its H-30 movement is a reliable automatic movement with a day-date function and 80 hours of power.
Hamilton’s Khaki Field strap is one of my favorite rubber straps because the texturing on it gives it complexity. If you’re looking for an all-black with a little extra, this guy is for you.
HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD DAY DATE AUTO features:
| Movement | Automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 42mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Rubber strap |
American Classic Intra-Matic Auto
Another quintessentially Hamilton
The Intra-Matic features designs associated with classic American watch-making. Nostalgists love that the Hamilton logo is in italics, as well as the perfectly circular case paired with abrupt lugs.
Nostalgists love that the Hamilton logo is in italics, as well as the perfectly circular case paired with abrupt lugs. This makes for a noticeable and exaggerated silhouette.
Its glossy face often creates an hour-glass shaped shine that moves around the dial. This adds fanciness without being flashy.
HAMILTON AMERICAN CLASSIC INTRA-MATIC features:
| Movement | Automatic |
| Case Size | 38mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Goat leather band |
Navy Scuba Auto
Style and function come together in this classic dive
The blue accents on an otherwise all-black face and bezel give it an ice cool aesthetic that’s appropriately nautical. They’re subtle pops in the form of the markers on the face, and the top right quarter of the bezel.
First, the blue accents on an otherwise all-black face and bezel give it an ice-cool aesthetic that’s appropriately nautical. They’re subtle pops in the form of the markers on the face, and the top-right quarter of the bezel.
Secondly, the Khaki rubber strap is branded. Pairing the stylish case with this original strap gives you the perfect balance of fashion and ruggedness.
HAMILTON NAVY SCUBA AUTO features:
| Movement | Automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 40mm |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Bezel Function | Unidirectionial |
| Band Material | Stainless steel bracelet |
Navy Frogman Auto
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The bold hour markers and bezel numbers on a shiny blue background and large crown with lock make for a fun, bold style, as well as a legible face suitable for actual diving.
HAMILTON NAVY FROGMAN AUTO features:
| Movement | Automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 42mm |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
| Bezel Function | Unidirectional |
| Band Material | Stainless steel bracelet |
Jazzmaster Open Heart
Open hearts are an effective way to add a masculine engineering aesthetic to a delicately designed dress
The window spans throughout the face, for a more comprehensive view of the movement. It even cuts into the 12-mark. Here, the designers kept the top of the 12 to give the impression that the window literally sliced into it for a fun, playful aesthetic.
The window spans throughout the face, for a more comprehensive view of the movement. It even cuts into the 12-mark. Here, the designers kept the top of the 12 to give the impression that the window literally sliced into it for a fun, playful aesthetic.
The caliber is H-10, which features intricate and contrasting snail and pearled patterns — a movement that deserves to be displayed!
HAMILTON JAZZMASTER OPEN HEART features:
| Movement | Automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80-hour |
| Case Size | 40mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Embossed leather strap |
PSR Digital
As mentioned, Hamilton’s new classics are really just their old classics, and the PSR is one of the top examples.
The PSR is a cool, retro futuristic watch unlike any other. Honestly, it’s one of the main reasons to go Hamilton if you haven’t done so already, especially if you’re looking for a unique digital addition to your watch collection.
The first digital
The PSR is a cool, retro futuristic
HAMILTON PSR DIGITAL features:
| Movement | Digital Quartz |
| Case Size | 40.8mmx34.7mm |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Band Material | Stainless steel |
Ventura Quartz Black H24411732
Another classic that’s specifically Hamilton, the original Ventura originally came out in 1957. The impractical style has become iconic, not least of which is due to that it was the first electrical, battery-powered
This Mid-Century design is both vintage and, somehow, still as daring today as it was back when it caught Elvis’s eye. The Ventura is for those who want something different, with an American heritage, or those who want a classic watch that manages to be bold too.
This Mid-Century design is both vintage and, somehow, still as daring today as it was back when it caught Elvis’s eye.
The Ventura is for those who want something different, with an American heritage, or those who want a classic
HAMILTON VENTURA QUARTZ features:
| Movement | Quartz |
| Case Size | 32.3mm x 50.3mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Embossed leather |
Ventura Elvis80
Just as Elvis fused country and rhythm to create rock, Hamilton combines the American heritage Ventura design with Swiss precision to re-release this classic.
This Ventura is bigger and bolder than the H24411732, with a smoother triangular case. This along with the stainless steel bracelet gives this timepiece more of a fun, Jetsons-look.
This Ventura is bigger and bolder than the H24411732, with a smoother triangular case. This along with the stainless steel bracelet gives this timepiece more of a fun, Jetsons-look.
The case and face of this Ventura looks more like Elvis’s original than the H24411732 does, though he paired his with a leather strap. I think the Ventura is a fun case design on any watch band.
HAMILTON VENTURA ELVIS80 features:
| Movement | Quartz |
| Case Size | 42.5mmx44.6mm |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Band Material | Embossed leather |
BeLOWZERO 1000m Auto
You may recognize this star from when Matt Damon rocked it in The Martian, but the BeLOWZERO is known for more than its telegenic industrial look.
This watch is water-resistant at 1000m! It’s also equipped with a helium escape valve and a convex sapphire crystal for underwater protection. The black stainless steel case is PVD-treated and has a matte, used cog aesthetic.
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Overall, this submarine of
HAMILTON BELOWZERO 1000M AUTO features:
| Movement | Automatic |
| Case Size | 46mm |
| Water Resistance | 1000m |
| Band Material | Rubber strap |
The Best Hamilton Watch for You
You know a brand is beloved when it’s been featured in over 500 movies.
Whether you want something quirky like the Ventura or powerful like the BeLOWZERO, you can count on Hamilton’s American can-do attitude and Swiss precision to deliver.
We hope this was helpful! Which Hamilton watches do you love most?