I definitely score a point for Bulova in that it's a throwback to its original military field watch. Out of all the watchmakers who made the A11, only Bulova is still around. I think that adds some weight for the collector in me.
Bulova is starting to sneak out some really compelling offerings. This and the A-15 are both looking like sleeper budget hits imo. Makes you wonder why citizen can't seem to figure out how to position Bulova.
Everything in Bulova’s archive collection looks really nice. Some people complain about the movements but I really like the aesthetics and design of most of the archive watches. I have an orange devil diver on the way.
@@tleek I agree. I do think the criticisms on the movements is fair. They are aging movements and are out done by the comparable Seiko movements. Though their mechanical quartz Chrono movement is a spec monster imo, that should be way more popular than it is.
82nd Airborne in the military B-roll footage! I'm watching this because I'm buying one of these for my best friend from the 82nd when he retires next year as a Command Sergeant Major. A Hamilton Khaki Automatic was my first Swiss watch of my collection and every time I wear it I'm brought back to memories of us at Fort Bragg, NC. But I could only afford a Timex back then lol. As soon as I made Sergeant I bought a Suunto.
After your last video I fell in love with your style of video Ben. You offer amazing suggestions for guys looking for value watches. This channel is the absolute niche for watch enthusiasts (just not too crazy) who are looking for that reasonable price but for a special time piece. I appreciate the time and wonderful sense of humor you offer and wish you the best mate.
I had been looking at Hamilton Khaki field watches for sometime, the automatic, not the mechanical. was not impressed with the price. I saw the Bulova Hack in the Jewelers the other day, and was very impressed with the cream dial, the incredibly supple leather strap and of course the price. I did not hesitate, I grabbed it up and I love the look and feel.
I own several Bulova watches, and as such I would take the Bulova any day. I do like Hamilton watches as well, but the hand wound business makes it a clear decision for the automatic Bulova. Being a large man it suits me to have a larger watch. Love the head to head comparison video format, Ben!!! Great video!!!
I own the bulova, had it for almost 2 years. I just wish the crystal was sapphire. Also it will look good on any strap, it's a strap monster. I have camo, brown leather and black. Great piece.
Great battle You convinced me to go for the Bulova Edit: I have had the Hack for a year now. I didn’t think I could like a watch this much. It is awesome I just enjoy looking at it. It displaced my Casio Duro as my every day watch. Oh and my bosses wife is a watch enthusiast she says the Hack came from Hong Kong so you can take that or leave it.
Thanks for covering the Bulova hack; I always thought it was a really great watch for the price and has received barely a fraction of the attention that the Hamilton gets quite frequently. With that said, since we are mentioning jomashop, it is worth mentioning that when you spend over $250, you can get 20 bucks back, so that takes 20 bucks off of the cost of the hamilton, which may not sound like much but does mean that it's harder to justify the Bulova when you could spend just a little bit more and get a lot more spec.
A lot of people question why the Khaki Field Mechanical doesn’t go for 100m WR, without asking themselves why they would need that much such a watch. 30m WR is standard for military issue infantry watches, and if that’s good enough for infantry, then 50m is more than enough for the average Joe. In my experience, watches with more WR also tend to be heavier if they aren’t made from some lightweight material, like titanium or fiber shell. To me, 50m is the perfect balance between comfort and peace of mind. Now if only Hamilton would release a “classic” size for the Khaki Field, 36x44mm, it would be an instant buy for me.
if it's not a marketing lie, it usually comes down to number of o-rings on the crown and grooves to accommodate them, so your argument is not applicable unless you are comparing it to a 200m dive watch which isn't what people are getting at when they say 100m WR.
I wanted to buy the khaki hamilton, but when i tried it on, I had the same problem , the lug to lug of 47mm is to big, ended purchasing the Vaer C3 Korean that has a lug to lug of 42mm. Its also at 36mm wich i prefer, plus it super luminova, saphire crystal and way better water resistant. Really happy with the choice
I have the Hamilton and I just love how slim it is; I'm not a fan of bulky watches. The lug to lug length isn't too present when you have a nato on too.
Fantastic review!! I own both watches now bought my Hamilton first and has been a definitive work horse.Keeps time well, sits low and is as rugged as it gets. I have been wearing the hack for about a month now, continues. It’s been keeping time like a dream almost as good as the Hamilton. I’m impressed is what I’m saying. The dial and cathedral hands just look lovely adding to the vintage look along side the dome crystal.As for the chunkiness of the bulova I don’t mind it at all. (PS)sits better with out the nato strap. Definitely rides proud on the wrist making it an eye magnet. I’ve gotten more compliments in a month than In a year with my Hamilton. I’m conclusion This is definitely a watch to add to the collection. I only wish they would have gone full heritage with a Bulova 10ak movement. But that’s just a wish.
Excellent. The Bulova every time for name (Hack), history, lug to lug (doesn't look silly) and less expensive, plus an automatic. Even the cheapest Bulova you reviewed, Ben, had an excellent quality strap. Anyway, if you have a Lorus, even though quartz, why would you need either? 30 quid from Argos. That's no contest, even if you could find the slightly more expensive titanium one (hopefully Alba but still looking). Great review! 👍🏼
i mean, if different people have a the opportunity to hold in your hands both a random seiko quartz chronograph and a zenith el primero, they will give you different answers on whether or not the 30 to 40 fold price difference is justified. on one hand you have exploding cost for a non-explosive improvement. on the other, you have a unique product that others can't match no matter the amount of money throwing at it. the value in these products is always subjectively perceived, never objectively determined.
The underside of the caseback usually reveals the origins of your watch. For Bulova (as well as most Seikos (even the J ones) and Citizens) it usually reds as follows: China Case, Japan Movt..
Speaking of Jomashop... I've bought a few watches from them and have been very happy with all my purchases, but their stock is getting pretty thin on some of the lower priced brands (Seiko, Glycine, Tissot et.al) Hoping they are doing a re-stocking soon before the holidays.
I'm partial to the Hamilton, possibly with black dial and a bracelet. The fact that it is hand wound is a plus for me. But I would wear the Bulova any day too.
I own Bulova hack 98A255. I like this chubby case. It has the same shape as the original MIL-W-3818A specification. They have only increased the diameter to 38 mm. Great watch. Greetings from the Czech republic. Joseph Bulova was born here.
I have the Bulova VWI Limited edition which is very close the Bulova reviewed and it is quite simply has far exceeded my expectations. I too have a smaller wrist and thought that it might not work out because of the thickness of the watch; no so. I love its thickness, heft and shape. Combined with the automatic movement for me this watch is a no brainer. Oh and I happen to like the green since the face on my watch is black. Definately function as well as stylish. Hamilton needs to release a redesigned Hack watch in order to be a consideration for any future purposes. I may verey well buy the watch reveiewed here in order to put a white faced watch in the rotation
Own both and love both. I lean more towards the Hamilton though. The Bulova's pretty thick for a small diameter watch and looks/wears a little weird on the wrist. The Hamilton just wears perfect and you forget it's even there.
I just bought the blue variant of the Hack on sale for AUD $186 and am very excited. I've wanted one for a couple of years, but until now have been unable to afford one.
One thing that has always striked me as odd, with the Hamilton, is the fact that the hand-wound version only has 50m of water resistance, whereas the automatic one has 100m. I don't get it. At all.
Might have to do with the crown-if the hand wound version needs to be better suited to more frequent engagement, the water resistance at that fail point might be lower.
@@jrsnow94 Yeah, I suppose that could be the reason. And from a very quick and dirty Google search right now, it seems a lot of hand-wound watches have less than 100m of water resistance.
To be honest, i would like to own the Bulova, but more specifically the VWI Special Edition because of the lumed numeral, which isn't available on Jomashop. Outside those two watches i would pick the Smiths Military PRS-29A (also known as the Smiths W10 reissue or the "British Hamilton Khaki" or the "Wendy Testaburger", with the nickname of the former comes from the fact that the PRS-29A is a British counterpart to the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, whereas the nickname of the latter comes from the fact that this would be the GADA watch of Wendy Testaburger from South Park)
Hi Ben, Great video as usual. I think there is another contender to the title: Timex Expedition North Field Post Mechanical 38mm Eco-Friendly Leather Strap. Why? Let me give you several reasons: 1- The size. It is 38mm so it is suitable for small wrists. 2- Screw-down crown & 100M water resistance. 3- Sapphire crystal 4- Affordable. $229 in the US and Pounds 209 in the UK. 5- You like Timex. There is also a cheaper ($159 in the US and Pounds 145 in the UK) and smaller (36 mm) solar version.
Nice watches, prefer the Bulova overall, but both watches fail very badly on water resistance. Better to get a 200m water resistant Addies Automatic Field/Pilot watch for 80 quid. Excellent review and video style!👍
A great comparison Ben considering the price points I tend to agree it's close to a tie. As I have 7" spindles I think I'd lean towards the Hamilton but it would be close. The hand winding is no issue for me, at least after you've wound it you know you are good to go for a few days. It also allows for that connection to build between the watch and the wearer and if like my OCD I wind my manual watches daily at around the same time each day. It's now become routine. I do like the Bulova and Myota movements are proven as well. A point that may be worth considering is that servicing the Hamilton will arguably by more of a considered decision as the ETA based PM80 movement is much harder to regulate once built by ETA at the factory but I've had no issues with the PM80 movements over the years. Ones that I've owned have been accurate to single digits and are consistent after several weeks running with little deviation. I'd be happy with either of these watches. Keep up the great work Ben.
@@fabiandee8178 I may be wrong but with Hamilton being part of the Swatch group it would have access to the ETA movements that are also part of the same Swatch group. Like ETA, Sellita are proven work horse movements so I'd be fine with either.
My main complaint might be of the Bulova is the water resistance. I know American field watches have always been 3 bar water resistance but that likely is an underestimation with the bulova I don’t know
Agree about the crappy strap on that Hamiton, but my green-dial Khaki came with an excellent leather-backed canvas strap, with metal eyelets, that's very thin, even at the buckle. The Bulova is just too clunky for my taste, and if you're actually outdoors doing outdoors stuff, it's much more likely to get whacked against something - and damaged - than the 9mm-thick Hamilton with its sapphire crystal.
10+ years ago i bought Casio Pathfinder for some 300 bucks. Travels, hikes, swims, snorkelings o f mine and my son’s( he even dove recreationally not deeper than 100 meters of course). Light, legible, useful functions. Day and night. No battery changing, solar powered, atomic time keeping. Comfortable resine band(changed twice). It may break only in case of nuclear bomb detonation. But of course if you are willing to spend twice as much and keep on winding, enjoy.
I know you ruled the cases a close call but I have to say the Hamilton's design is much much classier than the Bulova looks like. I may be biased for owning the black dial Hamilton. But the Bulova just looks all over the place with that case and crystal design, and the thickness is massive! I recommend trying a Marine National type strap on the Hamilton. It slims the watch down a lot on the wrist as it doesn’t have so much material, while still offering the security of a pass-under strap and covering the long lug gap. For anyone considering buying the Hamilton, I recommend getting it with the Hamilton nylon nato strap instead of the leather. It's probably a bit cheaper, too.
Great video! Personally I can vouch for the Hamilton. Khaki King Beige great watch accurate, durable, reliable, and good looking. I have had a bad experiences with Bulova. The Hamilton is so amazing I almost exclusively switch between my Rolex and it. Even choose the Hamilton over my Omega and my Longines. Great pick highly recommend Hamilton to anyone!
As someone who has owned both of these, I much prefer the Bulova. If it were a few mm shorter in depth it could almost make a passable dress watch with it's classic looking clean dial. The supplied strap is super comfortable and I appreciate that the keepers and buckle aren't bulky. The Hamilton looks and fits like a dude-bro interpretation of a classic field watch; it's too exaggerated in every dimension except for the depth. The lugs stick out way too far and in my opinion it'd look much better with 18mm lug width instead of 20mm.
Any recommendations on a field watch like this but with 100M of WR? It's hard to find....even the Khaki Field Mechanical has 50M, the Automatic has 100 but looks vastly different. So far I only found the Seiko SRPG37. Any microbrands recommended?
Great video ben really ... you've out done yourself on this one 👏👏👏 ... but I've had the Hamilton for a couple of years now and the gappy lugs are a little annoying and the lug measurement is abit to long for a 38mm case ... I still prefer it over the bulova for its slimmest and for what the brand stands for ... again great video Ben 👌⌚😝🤙🤙🤙
Imwas looking at both of these but got a great deal on the Khaki mechanical. Love it. Looking at the case shape and the hands. I'm a big fan of the Hamilton, although I think the Bulova is a bargain. Also, I'm a sucker for a nice hand cranked.
Awesome comparison and for me - as a Hamilton owner, I'd choose the khaki. But can't deny that bulova looks tempting and definitely is a solid alternative. Maybe if I didn't get such a good deal on the khaki, I could have ended up with the bulova. Wish it was a bit slimmer though.
Hamilton Khakis are a bad watch for the field due to no AR coating. I work outside and really wanted a Khaki Field to become my work watch. If I have trouble reading it most of the time it’s worthless to me.
I am not even sure I'd take either over my humble Chinese Baltany D12: authentic 36 mm size, uncompromized vintage design, very fine satin blast finish (I'd prefer brushed), double-domed sapphire, decent lume, screw-down crown, 10 bar water resistance, nicely finished hands. Got the Seiko quartz instead of the Seagull auto version for dependability, economy and its more contemporary pencil hands. It looks and feels like a grown-up quality watch, actually better than my Seiko SRPG.
This actually has the dial & hands from a Dirty Dozen watch from the second world war & the case from a Hamilton W10 watch issued to the RAF in the 1970s
Great video! Thanks Ben. I have that Hamilton and I love it (on the fabric NATO) but I feel like the Bulova is calling me too. I've been so impressed with finishing and feel of the Devil Diver (I have a high threshold for Miyotas, I should probably point out) and it's made me pay a lot more attention to Bulova in general. I think they're nailing it with the DD, the Hack the MIL-Ships and the Lunar Pilot.
My thoughts too. Of these two it would be the Bulova though. Seiko's Alba brand does a titanium with Lumibrite dial included compared to the Lorus either, or option. Finding it is extremely difficult at the moment. See Dave on Just The Watch. 👍🏼
I have the white face bulova and it’s a great watch just beautiful but I can’t stop looking at the Hamilton so I think I’m gonna get the black face Hamilton I’ll let ya know
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Replacement Watch Strap: geni.us/benchmarkbrown
The comedy bits just keep getting sillier and I absolutely adore it.
That large Gap on Hamilton Is really Awful!!!!!
This is the funniest thing
It's annoying and a waste of valuable time.
Ah. Its always a good day when Ben uploads.
I really enjoyed this head to head style comparison. Well done.
I definitely score a point for Bulova in that it's a throwback to its original military field watch. Out of all the watchmakers who made the A11, only Bulova is still around. I think that adds some weight for the collector in me.
Bulova is starting to sneak out some really compelling offerings. This and the A-15 are both looking like sleeper budget hits imo. Makes you wonder why citizen can't seem to figure out how to position Bulova.
Everything in Bulova’s archive collection looks really nice. Some people complain about the movements but I really like the aesthetics and design of most of the archive watches. I have an orange devil diver on the way.
@@tleek I agree. I do think the criticisms on the movements is fair. They are aging movements and are out done by the comparable Seiko movements. Though their mechanical quartz Chrono movement is a spec monster imo, that should be way more popular than it is.
I had the Khaki in all black, THAT strap was amazing... leather and nylon, perfect combo, and the buckle was super durable.
82nd Airborne in the military B-roll footage!
I'm watching this because I'm buying one of these for my best friend from the 82nd when he retires next year as a Command Sergeant Major. A Hamilton Khaki Automatic was my first Swiss watch of my collection and every time I wear it I'm brought back to memories of us at Fort Bragg, NC.
But I could only afford a Timex back then lol. As soon as I made Sergeant I bought a Suunto.
After your last video I fell in love with your style of video Ben.
You offer amazing suggestions for guys looking for value watches. This channel is the absolute niche for watch enthusiasts (just not too crazy) who are looking for that reasonable price but for a special time piece.
I appreciate the time and wonderful sense of humor you offer and wish you the best mate.
Thanks for the kind words Daniel!
I had been looking at Hamilton Khaki field watches for sometime, the automatic, not the mechanical. was not impressed with the price. I saw the Bulova Hack in the Jewelers the other day, and was very impressed with the cream dial, the incredibly supple leather strap and of course the price. I did not hesitate, I grabbed it up and I love the look and feel.
I own several Bulova watches, and as such I would take the Bulova any day. I do like Hamilton watches as well, but the hand wound business makes it a clear decision for the automatic Bulova. Being a large man it suits me to have a larger watch. Love the head to head comparison video format, Ben!!! Great video!!!
Hamilton has a fantastic automatic kaki field watch as well with an 80 hour power reserve.
I own the bulova, had it for almost 2 years. I just wish the crystal was sapphire. Also it will look good on any strap, it's a strap monster. I have camo, brown leather and black. Great piece.
Is there a steel option?
Great battle You convinced me to go for the Bulova
Edit: I have had the Hack for a year now. I didn’t think I could like a watch this much. It is awesome I just enjoy looking at it. It displaced my Casio Duro as my every day watch. Oh and my bosses wife is a watch enthusiast she says the Hack came from Hong Kong so you can take that or leave it.
I have owned both. I sold the Bulova and kept the Hamilton.
Thanks for covering the Bulova hack; I always thought it was a really great watch for the price and has received barely a fraction of the attention that the Hamilton gets quite frequently.
With that said, since we are mentioning jomashop, it is worth mentioning that when you spend over $250, you can get 20 bucks back, so that takes 20 bucks off of the cost of the hamilton, which may not sound like much but does mean that it's harder to justify the Bulova when you could spend just a little bit more and get a lot more spec.
A lot of people question why the Khaki Field Mechanical doesn’t go for 100m WR, without asking themselves why they would need that much such a watch. 30m WR is standard for military issue infantry watches, and if that’s good enough for infantry, then 50m is more than enough for the average Joe.
In my experience, watches with more WR also tend to be heavier if they aren’t made from some lightweight material, like titanium or fiber shell. To me, 50m is the perfect balance between comfort and peace of mind. Now if only Hamilton would release a “classic” size for the Khaki Field, 36x44mm, it would be an instant buy for me.
Hamilton do make a field watch that size, the Khaki Pilot Pioneer which is a re issue of the vintage W10 issued to Royal Airforce in the UK
if it's not a marketing lie, it usually comes down to number of o-rings on the crown and grooves to accommodate them, so your argument is not applicable unless you are comparing it to a 200m dive watch which isn't what people are getting at when they say 100m WR.
What do you think of the new 36mm Timex expedition north? With Sapphire and solar movement
I wanted to buy the khaki hamilton, but when i tried it on, I had the same problem , the lug to lug of 47mm is to big, ended purchasing the Vaer C3 Korean that has a lug to lug of 42mm. Its also at 36mm wich i prefer, plus it super luminova, saphire crystal and way better water resistant. Really happy with the choice
Just tried on the Hamilton and after seeing it and holding it all in person, I had to pass. It’s good, just not a watch for me.
I have the Hamilton and I just love how slim it is; I'm not a fan of bulky watches. The lug to lug length isn't too present when you have a nato on too.
"lets get ready to rumbllllllllLLLLLLLLLEEEEEE!!!" hahahahaha too funny
Fantastic review!! I own both watches now bought my Hamilton first and has been a definitive work horse.Keeps time well, sits low and is as rugged as it gets. I have been wearing the hack for about a month now, continues. It’s been keeping time like a dream almost as good as the Hamilton. I’m impressed is what I’m saying. The dial and cathedral hands just look lovely adding to the vintage look along side the dome crystal.As for the chunkiness of the bulova I don’t mind it at all. (PS)sits better with out the nato strap. Definitely rides proud on the wrist making it an eye magnet. I’ve gotten more compliments in a month than In a year with my Hamilton. I’m conclusion This is definitely a watch to add to the collection. I only wish they would have gone full heritage with a Bulova 10ak movement. But that’s just a wish.
Excellent. The Bulova every time for name (Hack), history, lug to lug (doesn't look silly) and less expensive, plus an automatic. Even the cheapest Bulova you reviewed, Ben, had an excellent quality strap. Anyway, if you have a Lorus, even though quartz, why would you need either? 30 quid from Argos. That's no contest, even if you could find the slightly more expensive titanium one (hopefully Alba but still looking). Great review! 👍🏼
i mean, if different people have a the opportunity to hold in your hands both a random seiko quartz chronograph and a zenith el primero, they will give you different answers on whether or not the 30 to 40 fold price difference is justified. on one hand you have exploding cost for a non-explosive improvement. on the other, you have a unique product that others can't match no matter the amount of money throwing at it. the value in these products is always subjectively perceived, never objectively determined.
The underside of the caseback usually reveals the origins of your watch. For Bulova (as well as most Seikos (even the J ones) and Citizens) it usually reds as follows: China Case, Japan Movt..
Speaking of Jomashop... I've bought a few watches from them and have been very happy with all my purchases, but their stock is getting pretty thin on some of the lower priced brands (Seiko, Glycine, Tissot et.al) Hoping they are doing a re-stocking soon before the holidays.
I’m from India. I watch you videos regularly!
All the best man you are doing a great job!!!
I'm partial to the Hamilton, possibly with black dial and a bracelet. The fact that it is hand wound is a plus for me. But I would wear the Bulova any day too.
I own Bulova hack 98A255. I like this chubby case. It has the same shape as the original MIL-W-3818A specification. They have only increased the diameter to 38 mm. Great watch. Greetings from the Czech republic. Joseph Bulova was born here.
The Bulova is good, but the Hammy owns this niche. Honestly you can't wrong with either.
I have the Bulova VWI Limited edition which is very close the Bulova reviewed and it is quite simply has far exceeded my expectations. I too have a smaller wrist and thought that it might not work out because of the thickness of the watch; no so. I love its thickness, heft and shape. Combined with the automatic movement for me this watch is a no brainer. Oh and I happen to like the green since the face on my watch is black. Definately function as well as stylish. Hamilton needs to release a redesigned Hack watch in order to be a consideration for any future purposes. I may verey well buy the watch reveiewed here in order to put a white faced watch in the rotation
Had the Hack had a sapphire and a thinner case, I could def see myself choosing it over the Hamilton. I’ve had two Khaki Mechanicals.
Own both and love both. I lean more towards the Hamilton though. The Bulova's pretty thick for a small diameter watch and looks/wears a little weird on the wrist. The Hamilton just wears perfect and you forget it's even there.
I just bought the blue variant of the Hack on sale for AUD $186 and am very excited. I've wanted one for a couple of years, but until now have been unable to afford one.
One thing that has always striked me as odd, with the Hamilton, is the fact that the hand-wound version only has 50m of water resistance, whereas the automatic one has 100m.
I don't get it. At all.
Might have to do with the crown-if the hand wound version needs to be better suited to more frequent engagement, the water resistance at that fail point might be lower.
@@jrsnow94 Yeah, I suppose that could be the reason. And from a very quick and dirty Google search right now, it seems a lot of hand-wound watches have less than 100m of water resistance.
@@OriginalLoLRandom it's probably just arse covering by the manufacturers, but 50m is hugely better than 30m.
@@fabiandee8178 I agree. 50m is a lot better than 30m.
Now my favorite watch channel. Thanks, Ben!
PS: acrylic crystals have their merits. 😉
To be honest, i would like to own the Bulova, but more specifically the VWI Special Edition because of the lumed numeral, which isn't available on Jomashop. Outside those two watches i would pick the Smiths Military PRS-29A (also known as the Smiths W10 reissue or the "British Hamilton Khaki" or the "Wendy Testaburger", with the nickname of the former comes from the fact that the PRS-29A is a British counterpart to the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, whereas the nickname of the latter comes from the fact that this would be the GADA watch of Wendy Testaburger from South Park)
It is available in Jomashop right now
Hi Ben,
Great video as usual. I think there is another contender to the title: Timex Expedition North Field Post Mechanical 38mm Eco-Friendly Leather Strap. Why? Let me give you several reasons:
1- The size. It is 38mm so it is suitable for small wrists.
2- Screw-down crown & 100M water resistance.
3- Sapphire crystal
4- Affordable. $229 in the US and Pounds 209 in the UK.
5- You like Timex.
There is also a cheaper ($159 in the US and Pounds 145 in the UK) and smaller (36 mm) solar version.
the hands are too short
I think I’d get the Bulova in the black dial and the Hamilton in the white. That way I’d have both and not feel like I’ve double dipped.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Nice review.
Nice watches, prefer the Bulova overall, but both watches fail very badly on water resistance. Better to get a 200m water resistant Addies Automatic Field/Pilot watch for 80 quid. Excellent review and video style!👍
A great comparison Ben considering the price points I tend to agree it's close to a tie. As I have 7" spindles I think I'd lean towards the Hamilton but it would be close. The hand winding is no issue for me, at least after you've wound it you know you are good to go for a few days. It also allows for that connection to build between the watch and the wearer and if like my OCD I wind my manual watches daily at around the same time each day. It's now become routine. I do like the Bulova and Myota movements are proven as well. A point that may be worth considering is that servicing the Hamilton will arguably by more of a considered decision as the ETA based PM80 movement is much harder to regulate once built by ETA at the factory but I've had no issues with the PM80 movements over the years. Ones that I've owned have been accurate to single digits and are consistent after several weeks running with little deviation. I'd be happy with either of these watches. Keep up the great work Ben.
I thought the Ham was based on the Sellita 210 not the ETA 2801.
@@fabiandee8178 I may be wrong but with Hamilton being part of the Swatch group it would have access to the ETA movements that are also part of the same Swatch group. Like ETA, Sellita are proven work horse movements so I'd be fine with either.
My main complaint might be of the Bulova is the water resistance. I know American field watches have always been 3 bar water resistance but that likely is an underestimation with the bulova I don’t know
Lorus lumibrite for about £30 could always be an alternative, I know it’s a favourite of yours. Currently £19.99 at Argos.
Bulova Hack.
For weeks I had this big doubt that kept me awake at night. Thank you for your help! Bulova is my choice!
That rumble nearly got to "It's Wednesday my dudes, urghhhh!" levels and I love it
That was awesome Ben!!! Enjoyed this!
Lmao that intro, you are by far my favorite watch reviewer
Bulova is a respectable starter brand, but the khaki field mechanical is the gold standard/submariner of field watches.
I got my 38mm Eco Drive yesterday after many comparisons. After watching this, I made the right decision for me.
which model is that? i don't find many citizen watches under 40mm
I’m so happy you’re finally covering hamiltons
Bulova ftw. I own them both, but the Bulova looks and feels more unique and authentic somehow.
That intro had me on the floor ✋😭
Great video! The Bulova comes off looking very nice.
Dude killed me with the "Let's get ready to rumbleee!!" xD
Love your videos man!
The video I've been waiting for months!
Greetings from Italy
Hamilton probably has some Chinese made components in it. Assembled in Switzerland!
Loved the boxing theme, you always find a way to spice up what would usually be just a dull reading of the specs. Ben keepin' it fresh! Thumbs up!
just get a diver. you can take it anywhere. anyway excellent video ben as always
Agree about the crappy strap on that Hamiton, but my green-dial Khaki came with an excellent leather-backed canvas strap, with metal eyelets, that's very thin, even at the buckle. The Bulova is just too clunky for my taste, and if you're actually outdoors doing outdoors stuff, it's much more likely to get whacked against something - and damaged - than the 9mm-thick Hamilton with its sapphire crystal.
Long Island Watches has a nice field watch too. 10 bar.
Seiko SSC081P1 is a great field watch. Solar movement, Chronograph, GMT sub-dial or alarm, 100m WR, domed crystal.
10+ years ago i bought Casio Pathfinder for some 300 bucks. Travels, hikes, swims, snorkelings o f mine and my son’s( he even dove recreationally not deeper than 100 meters of course). Light, legible, useful functions. Day and night. No battery changing, solar powered, atomic time keeping. Comfortable resine band(changed twice). It may break only in case of nuclear bomb detonation. But of course if you are willing to spend twice as much and keep on winding, enjoy.
I know you ruled the cases a close call but I have to say the Hamilton's design is much much classier than the Bulova looks like. I may be biased for owning the black dial Hamilton. But the Bulova just looks all over the place with that case and crystal design, and the thickness is massive!
I recommend trying a Marine National type strap on the Hamilton. It slims the watch down a lot on the wrist as it doesn’t have so much material, while still offering the security of a pass-under strap and covering the long lug gap.
For anyone considering buying the Hamilton, I recommend getting it with the Hamilton nylon nato strap instead of the leather. It's probably a bit cheaper, too.
As always, a great video Ben.
My god that boxing segment was amazing.
This Bulova neeeeeeds a double domed sapphire !
Great video! Personally I can vouch for the Hamilton. Khaki King Beige great watch accurate, durable, reliable, and good looking. I have had a bad experiences with Bulova. The Hamilton is so amazing I almost exclusively switch between my Rolex and it. Even choose the Hamilton over my Omega and my Longines. Great pick highly recommend Hamilton to anyone!
This is an excellent comparison video. I've got the Hamilton Khaki Field, but now I think I may have to get the bulova hack as well 😜
you had me at the "lets get ready to rummmmbllllleeeeeee" xD
As someone who has owned both of these, I much prefer the Bulova. If it were a few mm shorter in depth it could almost make a passable dress watch with it's classic looking clean dial. The supplied strap is super comfortable and I appreciate that the keepers and buckle aren't bulky.
The Hamilton looks and fits like a dude-bro interpretation of a classic field watch; it's too exaggerated in every dimension except for the depth. The lugs stick out way too far and in my opinion it'd look much better with 18mm lug width instead of 20mm.
That's half of my favorite brands. I guess I'll just have to get one of each to compare for myself. :D
Bulova can be found right now for 195 , khaki for around 450
This was an awesome video. Great analysis and lots of fun.
Any recommendations on a field watch like this but with 100M of WR? It's hard to find....even the Khaki Field Mechanical has 50M, the Automatic has 100 but looks vastly different.
So far I only found the Seiko SRPG37. Any microbrands recommended?
Brilliant comparison, my choice is the Bulova. Let's call it a crush... Just wished 100m water resistant, but I don't mind really.
Great video ben really ... you've out done yourself on this one 👏👏👏 ... but I've had the Hamilton for a couple of years now and the gappy lugs are a little annoying and the lug measurement is abit to long for a 38mm case ... I still prefer it over the bulova for its slimmest and for what the brand stands for ... again great video Ben 👌⌚😝🤙🤙🤙
Imwas looking at both of these but got a great deal on the Khaki mechanical. Love it.
Looking at the case shape and the hands. I'm a big fan of the Hamilton, although I think the Bulova is a bargain. Also, I'm a sucker for a nice hand cranked.
Awesome comparison and for me - as a Hamilton owner, I'd choose the khaki. But can't deny that bulova looks tempting and definitely is a solid alternative. Maybe if I didn't get such a good deal on the khaki, I could have ended up with the bulova. Wish it was a bit slimmer though.
The bulova is actually made in Japan.
Seiko SNK80(X) and Timex MK1, FTW!!
I never ever would buy a watch without sapphire glass
Thank you for an excellent video. What would you recommend for a similar style field watch with manual winding, screw down crown and sapphire crystal?
Never tried the Bulova but, i did tried the Hamilton and its incredible, looks way more expensive than 400 bucks.. imo..
No need to rumble - buy the black face Hamilton and the white face Bulova, or vice versa. I have them and they are both great.
I have the Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic Titanium and the Bulova Hack. I wear the Bulova more.
Easily the hamilton for me. I love the thinness of a handwinding watch. Favorite part of my vostok Komandirskie.
You would have loved the first generation of the Hamilton Khaki Mechanical Field watch. 33mm.
Ben, around 3 min you mention affordable micro-brands. Which video are you referring to? thanks. Love the videos.
Hamilton Khakis are a bad watch for the field due to no AR coating. I work outside and really wanted a Khaki Field to become my work watch. If I have trouble reading it most of the time it’s worthless to me.
I am not even sure I'd take either over my humble Chinese Baltany D12: authentic 36 mm size, uncompromized vintage design, very fine satin blast finish (I'd prefer brushed), double-domed sapphire, decent lume, screw-down crown, 10 bar water resistance, nicely finished hands. Got the Seiko quartz instead of the Seagull auto version for dependability, economy and its more contemporary pencil hands. It looks and feels like a grown-up quality watch, actually better than my Seiko SRPG.
This actually has the dial & hands from a Dirty Dozen watch from the second world war & the case from a Hamilton W10 watch issued to the RAF in the 1970s
@@Andrew.W75 Interesting! I am not even sure I could tell the cases apart - easily the the crowns though.
I stopped watching the video when Bulova's thickness was mentioned.
Imo the Khaki 38mm Automatic is superior to most watches in that price range.
Great video! Thanks Ben. I have that Hamilton and I love it (on the fabric NATO) but I feel like the Bulova is calling me too. I've been so impressed with finishing and feel of the Devil Diver (I have a high threshold for Miyotas, I should probably point out) and it's made me pay a lot more attention to Bulova in general. I think they're nailing it with the DD, the Hack the MIL-Ships and the Lunar Pilot.
The thickness of the Bulova is verging on the grotesque...Hamilton for me.
Just have to love the Hamilton though 😍 Great comparison mate 👍
Lorus, titanium, 100m WR, QUARTZ. I'm done, thank you and bye! 😜
My thoughts too. Of these two it would be the Bulova though. Seiko's Alba brand does a titanium with Lumibrite dial included compared to the Lorus either, or option. Finding it is extremely difficult at the moment. See Dave on Just The Watch. 👍🏼
Nice review. ❤
I have the white face bulova and it’s a great watch just beautiful but I can’t stop looking at the Hamilton so I think I’m gonna get the black face Hamilton I’ll let ya know
Im getting the Bulova HACK
Love how you change up your videos. You"re a great show man Mr. Scametti.