Face Off: Budget Field Watches

Field watches are the jacks-of-all-trades in the tool watch category. They are characterized by legibility, simplicity, and overall ruggedness; made to take anything you can throw at them from skiing, hiking, swimming, flying, expeditions, sitting on the couch playing video games, and everything in between. There are many brands, types, and variations to choose from, and, for today’s Face Off, we’ll compare just a few of our favorite budget field watches.

 

Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 40mm ($700)

We often recommend Hamilton as a solid brand with good looking quality watches that won’t break the bank. The Khaki Field Auto 40mm is their quintessential field watch. Powered by the venerable ETA 2824-2, the dial is military inspired with its inner 24-hr scale and vintage style hands. It comes in a variation of cream and black dials and several leather straps or a steel bracelet. At 40mm with 20mm lug width, its proportions enable it to be worn comfortably by just about anyone. The styling is the most decidedly “field watch” look of the group, making no mistake of its purpose. The Khaki Field Auto is a highly affordable piece that is tough enough to take through the trenches.

Hanhart Pioneer Preventor9 ($1,300)

Hanhart is one that does not often get its due when discussing historical brands. Originally founded in Switzerland in 1882 and now manufactured out of Germany, Hanhart produces quality wristwatches, stopwatches, and race timers. The brand still maintains its classic looks and functionality. Their three hand field watch is the Pioneer Preventor9. The 40mm case houses the HAN4112 movement, which is based on the Sellita SW200 calibre. The dial under the domed sapphire crystal features a sub-seconds counter at 9:00 that is easily distinguishable from the primary hands. The vintage looking and military inspired piece is a no-nonsense workhorse that will still stand among other watches of its kind.

UTS Adventure Automatic ($2,100)

The aptly named UTS Adventure Automatic is one tough timepiece.  The Adventure Automatic is made in Munich and features the ETA Valgrange A07.111 movement. It’s a large watch at 45mm in diameter, but wears well due to its 15mm height and lugs that curve over the wrist. It has sapphire on both the front and back crystals, allowing you to view the unique movement, but still maintaining a 500m depth rating thanks to industrial grade steel, seals, and screws. The super-luminova dial comes in black, cobalt blue, or white, and is easily legible day or night. The Adventure also comes with several strap options including multiple leather straps, a rubber strap, and bracelet. It’s a bit large, but not unreasonable, and the options available enable it to be tailored to any wearer’s needs. Overall, it is a fine piece of German engineering, and at a little over $2,000, it’s a great price for the quality of watch you’re getting.

Each one of these is a quality made timepiece that will serve you well. They are tough, reliable, legible, and will work in just about any situation you can imagine. The UTS is a prime example of German engineering, and the 500 meter depth rating surpasses the other two, but its size and domineering case may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The Hamilton represents the best value of the group. It has a workhorse ETA movement that’s proven its worth many times over. The center 24-hr scale is a welcome feature and harkens to it’s military roots. However, the rugged, utilitarian looks are also somewhat limiting for those that want a more versatile watch. That’s why the Hanhart Pioneer Preventor9 is my pick from this group. It’s a classic brand and a classic looking watch. The sub-seconds dial and vintage hands are stand out features. The dial and strap options allow it to fit in in any situation. I also like Hanhart because it’s not a brand you see very often. After all, it’s hard to go wrong with a brand that Steve McQueen wore.

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