Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38 mm: Smaller is Better

Hamilton has several strengths. On the one hand, it knows how to feel the trends and emotions of the market and enthusiasts, and consequently how to create watches to satisfy both. On the other hand, it knows how to tell fascinating stories that can convey the essence of the brand. This latter ability, perhaps, is helped by the close bond that connects the brand to the world of cinema, as Hamilton watches have appeared in dozens of Hollywood films since the 1930s.

And one of the coolest watch launched by the brand in recent years is quite precisely linked to cinema: the Khaki Field Murph. Specially created for the movie “Interstellar,” directed by Christopher Nolan in 2014, the watch was made available to the public in 2019 in a limited edition of 2,555 pieces with a special packaging inspired by the film, and in a non-limited edition with a normal packaging. That timepiece, which had a 42 mm case, now comes in a 38 mm version.

HISTORY OF THE HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD MURPH

Before seeing it in details, it is good to quickly recall the history of the watch. Actually, two timepieces appear in Nolan’s film, but the so-called Murph is the one people remember most. In the film, the existence of humanity is threatened, and a NASA team uses interstellar travel to try to find a new planet. Joseph Cooper, a former pilot from the American Space Agency, joins the mission leaving his daughter, Murph, on Earth – to whom he gives his watch, which becomes the protagonist.

During the mission, locked within the fifth dimension, Cooper sends a message using Morse code through the second hand of Murph’s watch. The message contains quantum data that will help humanity leave the dying Earth. When she comes up with the formula, Murph yells “Eureka!” to underline her discovery: thus, the watch – with its second hand – becomes a key element of the film.

FROM 42 TO 38

Now, three years after the commercial launch of the 42 mm, the Khaki Field Murph gets slimmer and switches to a more contemporary case size of 38 mm. Because, as written above, Hamilton understands the market trends that today demand watches with smaller cases, also for men. In this sense, 38 and 40 mm are two ideal sizes.

As for the market, the brand also knows how to listen to fans. Because the downsizing of the case also came from the many requests by customers and potential customers that Hamilton received. Most of all, from the internet.

Since the launch of the Khaki Field Murph, in fact, Hamilton fans have wanted a smaller version than the 42 mm one of the film and, to get it, they did not hesitate to directly involve the brand through its social media profiles and its official online channels, with a constant exchange of views and a very active discussion on the web.

Hamilton – which has always been receptive to the requests of fans and strongly active on social media and the web, media of which it uses all the potential – has listened, received, planned and worked accordingly: not trivial at all.

Beyond this, is there anything else that distinguishes the first 42 from the current 38 mm version? Virtually nothing. Based on the Khaki Field Auto standard, the Murph edition differs by its retro look with vintage luminous indexes and cathedral hands. Perhaps more importantly for aficionados, the Murph does not have a date window; it is the only automatic model of the Khaki Field line without date: the others without date are manually wound.

The Murph dial, topped by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, is well conceived, with a balanced and proportionate layout, where both hands have the right length. The vintage approach is quite bold, as evidenced by the slightly retro typography of the indices which well fits the design: the minute numbers use a serif font, while the hour indices have the 6 and 9 open. This means a surprisingly strong attention to detail, given that this watch is not a remake of a specific vintage watch, but a new design conceived for the film.

The only detail that refers to the movie, and which makes the watch even more unique, is a subtle and intelligent addition to the second hand, as in the 42 mm version: tiny lines and dots in Super-Luminova make up “Eureka” in Morse code, the strongest reference to the film.

THE H-10 CALIBER

Speaking of the movement, Hamilton has equipped the Khaki Field Murph with the reliable H-10 caliber. Developed based on the ETA C07.111, it is part of the C07 family of movements that ETA only sells to its sister companies within the Swatch Group. The C07.111 is an updated ETA 2824 which is also used by Tissot and Certina as the Powermatic 80.

Among the most evident improvements is the power reserve of 80 hours, compared to the ETA 2824’s only 38 hours. A performance obtained by reducing the balance wheel frequency to 3 Hz (that of the 2824 works at 4 Hz), and also thanks to the installation of a synthetic escapement with the anchor and escape wheel made of self-lubricating hard plastic.

Notably, the movement also has a patented free-spiral balance wheel with two weights on the rim for adjustment, a feature usually associated with high-end movements but here designed to be easy to use and adjust with a specific tool.

While the H-10’s specs are remarkable for a mid-range watch, Hamilton has made no effort to embellish the movement. The caliber that can be seen through the transparent caseback has a rather industrial look, and even the thick encasing ring does not help to refine the overall appearance.

IT IS HAMILTON’S DNA

Despite everything, however, Hamilton must once again be recognized for its ability to consistently position itself in the product range that enthusiasts expect from the brand. This is demonstrated by the price of the non-limited edition watch: 945 euros.

And speaking of enthusiasts, the CEO of the brand Vivian Stauffer recalls their importance in the development process for the Khaki Field Murph 38 mm: “The community of Hamilton watch fans is made up of people who are strongly passionate and knowledgeable of what we do. We recognize the importance of actively participating in conversations to connect with our fans, understand their needs and exceed their expectations. The 38mm Murph embodies our philosophy.” Because listening to the market is fine, but listening to those who really love watches is even better.

By Davide Passoni