Fergus Nash
The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman 41 tames the beastly watch into a friendlier package.The case has been refined for comfort and accessibility.Its dial has also been simplified for a calmer appearance with no loss of spirit.The Hamilton brand has a long-standing history in supplying both militaries and Hollywood with task-specific watches, and the history of the Frogman is entwined through all of it. Although the modern releases have almost nothing in common with the watch that was actually supplied to US Navy Underwater Demolition Team, then featured in the 1951 film The Frogmen', the inspiration from the canteen crown and utilitarian attitude is clear. The latest addition to the collection is the Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman 41, cleaning up the contemporary looks and proportions while retaining the original's spirit.When the Khaki Navy Frogman returned to Hamilton's lineup, it was a beast of a watch in both its 42mm and 46mm case forms. The canteen crown was still a feature, but its hinge was a huge, industrial chunk of metal. This new 41mm version doesn't just reduce the size a fraction further, but also refines the style of the watch into something a bit more practical and accessible for an average enthusiast. The chunky bezel has been softened with a gear-shaped edge, the lugs have shrunken for a tad more wrist comfort, and the aggressive quarter indices have been replaced with more standard hour markers. The Arabic numeral at 12 has been given an extra bit of military detail however, opting for a stencil style.The 41mm case diameter works wonders in the Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman's favour, as do the lug-to-lug shortenings and the thickness of just 13mm for a beefy diver. The biggest change though has to come from the crown guard, which is now a simple bridge to protect it without overcomplicating the mechanism. With a screw-down seal, the watch is rated to 300m of water resistance for true professional diving specification. For those looking for a no-nonsense dive watch, the new Frogman offers its stern direction alongside technical value and some heritage lineage. Four references are available, being the standard sandblasted black dial on either a green or black rubber strap, an olive green dial version on black rubber, or a black dial with a steel bezel and solid steel bracelet. Each watch brings its own personality to the formula, although they all still represent the spirit of the collection.The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman 41 is powered by the H-10 movement, one of Swatch Group's flagship calibers amongst many of their brands. It offers an 80 hour power supply thanks to the slowed beat rate of 3Hz, as well as a Nivachron hairspring for more reliability and performance. Should you want to play around with straps, the lug width of 20mm makes experimentation exceedingly easy, as does the versatile dial.The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman 41 pricing and availability:The Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman 41 is available from Hamilton retailers and online. Price: US$1,195BrandHamiltonModelKhaki Navy Frogman 41Case Dimensions41mm x 43mm x 13.09mmCase MaterialStainless steelWater Resistance300mCrystal(s)SapphireDialBlack or greenLug Width20mmStrapRubber or steel braceletMovementHamilton H-10Power Reserve80 hoursAvailabilityAvailable nowPriceUS$1,195
18.05.23