That is a fine first choice!
This was also my first watch and I still wear it to this day!
The winding is perfectly fine on mine, there will be some resistance after 10-13 turns or so.
You would have to put a lot of pressure on the crown before it breaks.
Trust me when I say you will know when to stop winding the crown.

EDIT: I have currently used this watch for one year so far. Still solid performance so far.

 

I don't have one of those, but I have ETA 6497 and 6498 movements that have been going strong for a lot longer than a couple years. It's the same design as the Unitas 6498, and some of those are still going after 50 or more. (They're also dirt cheap to have fixed, parts are plentiful, and every watchmaker knows them, so even if it does break, you aren't hosed).

Edit: Hm, I guess there are multiple "Khaki mechanical" models - I was thinking of the one with small seconds at 6:00. If you were talking about the other one, then I have no useful information.

 

With a bit more digging, I think you'll find that the Khaki mechanical is a forum favourite - and for good reason. The movement is a tried and trusted ETA 2804 and while not a movement to drool over, it's the latest in a very long line of handwind movements from ETA. Any problems (if there were any to begin with, which I doubt) were ironed out decades ago.

You'd be surprised how many people are clueless and/or hamfisted and regularly break their stuff - and not just watches. Others can have something for decades and it still looks/works like new. Any watch can be a lemon - even Pateks, compounded by their being reported on watch forums. We don't often see posts from people letting us know they've had no problems with their watch (unless it's a review - or a reply to a question like yours).

You're right to be concerned, but if you buy from an AD with manufacturer's warranty and you won't go far wrong. I've had mine a year with regular use and no issues.

 

You're right to be concerned, but if you buy from an AD with manufacturer's warranty and you won't go far wrong. I've had mine a year with regular use and no issues.

Part of the reason for my concern is that I don't plan to buy from an AD. I will buy from someplace with a warranty, but it won't be the manufacturer's. Thank you for the reassurance with your experience.

 

Mine broke. Wasn't too much off a problem to get it fixed but it did go. Wasn't aware it was a common problem until now!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Will it break?

I dunno. I just want to know will it blend?

 

I have had mine for 6 months only and it's been a great watch so far. I wear it very frequently, it even came with me on a two month trip to Europe, and it still looks like new. It was pretty fast when I got it, about +30s/day, but it looks like it's settling at +10s/day now. I would say that's a great entry level swiss, looks great on leather, canvas, but the best imho is on a nato, see below! I don't think you can break the winding mechanism, as ConfusedOne said you will know when to stop.

 

JC, Hamilton makes a solid product with long proven movements. Every watch brand and model will have some failures, but the Khaki Field watches don't have a high failure rate. As long as you buy from a reputable gray market source, and the watch hasn't been obviously damaged, you should have no problems with the warranty if it's needed.

 

If you don't go at it like a proverbial bull at a gate everything should be fine.

 

It might break. I've had two ETA movement watches break. A 2824 and a 6497. Neither was treated any differently than the dozens of other watches I've owned over the years. The stem snapped on both, and additionally the 6497 had a screw work loose.