Borna Bosnjak
Hamilton answered the prayers of many when it actually launched the watch that played the pivotal role at the end of?Interstellar.?Now, I’d normally say “spoilers, beware”, but the movie’s been around for a decade, so it’s on you if you haven’t seen it yet. Unfortunately for some, though, that first-gen Murph measured in at 42mm in diameter, which was just too large for some. So when Hamilton dropped the Murph 38mm in 2022, it was no surprise to see so many flock to the new release. Two years on, and just in time to celebrate 10 years since Interstellar hit the silver screens, Hamilton refreshed the Khaki Field Murph 38mm line-up with two new models – one featuring a steel bracelet, and the other a grained white dial.The dialLet’s get right into what’s new for the new Murph 38. The most eye-catching novelty is the white dial, still accompanied by the fauxtinaed, vintage-style typeface of the indices. Though many of the images you see will depict a stark white surface, in reality, it’s actually a finely grained texture giving the dial almost a silver sheen. To improve legibility, the Arabic numerals are outlined in black, but the handset stays silver, and it does at times blend into the brightly coloured backdrop. The dial printing also stands out more thanks to the black-on-white contrast when compared to the black-dialled variant.And speaking of the black dial, it stays exactly as you’d expect it, with the warm tone of the dial printing and shape of the cathedral hands perfectly accompanying the colour. Fans of?Interstellar will notice, however, that the Morse code printing on the seconds hand remains exclusive to the 42mm Murph.The bracelet and strapWhat is new on the black dial is the steel bracelet. These are not usually associated with the Murph, as it was originally featured on a leather strap, but given its field watch aesthetic, it does make sense. It’s a pretty simple, three-link affair that’s fully brushed, except for the tiniest polished bevels on the outsides of the mid-links.The bracelet sports quick-release spring bars and a folding, push-button clasp with regular micro-adjust holes that you’ll need a tool for, but unfortunately no toolless, on-the-fly adjustment.The leather strap is the same shiny, black number you’ll find on the extant Murph 38mm, finished with a brawny, steel pin buckle. It’s certainly on the stiffer side before it breaks in, but if that’s ever a concern or you simply want to make the most of the 100-metre water resistance, you can easily play with straps given the Murph’s 20mm lugs.The caseBoth new models share the same, steel 38mm case that made the first Murph 38 so popular, featuring a 44.7mm lug-to-lug, and 11.1mm thickness. The dial is covered by a slightly domed sapphire crystal, while the screw-down caseback is displayed through a mineral one. You’ll find brushing throughout – fitting of the field watch aesthetic – along with a relatively large, protruding push-pull crown sealing in the aforementioned 100 metres of water resistance.The movementAnd visible through that display caseback is the Hamilton H-10 movement, beating at 3Hz and with an 80-hour power reserve. Seasoned enthusiasts will immediately recognise this as being derived from ETA’s Powermatic 80 range made exclusively for the Swatch Group, in this case, based on the ETA C07.611 that shares its design with the venerable 2824.The verdictWhat to say about the Hamilton Murph that hasn’t been said already? If, for whatever reason, the black dial didn’t quite speak to you or you wanted a bracelet on your Murph, now you have two more options that will make most attempts at resisting its allure futile. The Murph really is one of the best success stories of a brand listening and responding to its fanbase, and I’m glad to see it available in more variants.Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm pricing and availabilityThe Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm is now available from the Time+Tide Shop in all three configurations. Price: US$895 (white dial, strap), US$945 (black dial, bracelet)BrandHamiltonModelKhaki Field Murph 38mmReferenceH70405130 H70405710Case Dimensions38mm (D) x 11.1mm (T) x 44.7mm (LTL)Case MaterialStainless steelWater Resistance100 metresCrystal(s)Domed sapphire front, mineral backDialBlack or white, fauxtina numeralsLug Width20mmBraceletThree-link steel bracelet, folding claspBlack leather strap, steel pin buckleMovementH-10, ETA C07 base, automaticPower Reserve80 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, secondsAvailabilityNowPriceUS$895 (leather strap)US$945 (bracelet)
19.09.24