Watch vs. Watch: Hamilton Field Quartz vs. Seiko 5 Military

[mrtophat]

I have a Hamilton khaki auto and it's really not that big, and I think I have pretty skinny wrists. 38mm might seem larger than it is because it refers to the size of the entire case. the face is smaller than that, so it won't look as large as it sounds.

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by float

those are nice suggestions but still nothing too closely resembling the khaki hamiltons. i like a few i see on westcoasttime quite a bit. any reason that makes bottom of the list? more looks over function? i'd be happy and willing to spend more on the seiko 5 if it were known to be more reliable at keeping time.

Because I don't think quality of Ollech & Wajs and other military repros on westcoasttime compare to Omegas, Seiko Spirit/Alpinist, or Stowa.


If you're deadset on pilot style watches and willing to spend some money, Stowa Airman is the way to go:

OTOH, the Seiko 5 flieger would only run you around ~$70, and is fantastic if you're on a tight budget.



If prestige if a factor, Hamilton and Archimede both are questionable choices.

 

[BubblyMasquerade]

Seiko 5 flieger..........

where can you find it? i've looked on several sites no luck...

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by BubblyMasquerade

Seiko 5 flieger..........

where can you find it? i've looked on several sites no luck...

Oh it's the Seiko 5 linked to in the first post. "Flieger" is a nickname used among watch enthusiasts as the dial design follows the pilot (B-Uhren or B-Uhr) watch tradition.

An article on B-Uhren watches. Note that the 5 original makers are A.Lange & Sohne, International Watch Company, Laco, Stowa and Wempe.

The Archimede pilot is basically a straight homage. On a similar note, the modern Hamilton brand has virtually nothing to do with the Lancaster-based watchmaker, which supplied timepieces for the US armed forces.




Edit: best place to get the Seiko 5 is eBay, btw. There're a few choices when it comes to dial color: black, navy, olive green, beige, and beige with luminated hands (harder to find). There're also several other Seiko 5s with military designs/numerals, in difference case size (smallest I've seen is 32mm).

 

[dv3]

whaked: how much does that watch run?

Reminiscent of the instrument panel for sure. I really like it.

 

[milosz]

About $750 from Stowa direct.