I'd pick the CW on looks alone. Yes the Ham is iconic but - to me - a bit boring. CW has the more interesting case, more interesting font, more interesting hands... And having owned CWs in the past, they are well made watches for the money.

 

In defense of the Hammy, it is supposed to be a modern field watch but vintage inspired. the boring case adds to the modern field watch persona.

Thanks for responding!

 

Love that CW and it would be my choice.

 

Hamilton for me.

 

I'm partial to the Hamilton as I do own one. I've never owed a CW but that is a good looking field watch although I'm not crazy about the hands. I can't get over having someone's full name on my watch...I know...I'm weird about it. I've owned the Hamilton KFM for well over a year and the manual winding of it is something that I look forward to when it's in rotation. It is very smooth and a great experience to wind. As far as accuracy goes, I have 3 watches with that movement (Hamilton, Mido, Certina) and all are extremely accurate. My Hamilton runs consistently +0.5 spd. Good luck with your decision.

 

That really is great accuracy for the slower 2824! But I'm not sure how consistent that is throughout all the watches, You may have just picked out a lucky one.

Cheers!

 

I like the less cluttered CW dial.

 

I am a big fan of both companies but I'll have to go with Christopher Ward on this one. It is just a better looking watch with a much cleaner dial.

 

Great spin on the classic military aviation design

I think your comment on the CW sums it up.

Even though the CW impressed me more than I thought it would, the Hammy wins out. I like the semi-syringe hands it on it vs. the blunt ends of the CW. However, the CW hands are nice and long and I do like the red end of the second hand.

I voted for the Hamilton.

 

I really love how they took the classic dial and put this really great spin on it!

 

I really like this CW and its plain jane dial. Also no trident hand is a major plus for me.

 

If the Hamilton needs factory service, it does not have to leave North America.

Wearing my Khaki 38mm Auto today:

 

OP I've had similar thoughts about the field/military style watches. I've been looking for one with American heritage since there are many with German heritage. The Hamilton definitely comes to mind, you also have Marathon that checks the american box. The drawback that I see with the Hamiltons if being picky is the lume and most do not have the seconds hand lumed like a Laco for example. Even if you are not picky about the seconds hand, the lume is weaker with Hamilton since Laco uses C3. CWard probably has better lume but not the real heritage (in my particular case). Are there more options out there that are not german?

 

The Sandhurst is max delish but at a pinch I’d sooner have the Hammy.

 

I've owned both and would go Sandhurst all day and twice on Sundays. Looks better (to me), better accuracy, better fine details/finishing, and amazing bracelet as well if so inclined. Also, the lugs are quite long on the Hamilton, and the lug holes are very from the case, which to me made it wear very weird on straps. As far as price, if you can find one in one of the Nearly New sales or used, they are in the $625-$700 range.

 

The Sandhurst really looks great! On the other hand I wouldn't mind that 80hr power reserve...

 

No hate on C. Ward, and OPs posted C.W. Field Watch is a looker, but personally, I'm partial to the Khaki I've had for 6 years now, even if it 'only' has the older 40 Hr power reserve

 

I've owned my Sandhurst now for about two years... roughly since they first came out. Love it, one of my few "keepers". Been through a slew of Hamiltons, only ended up keeping this model. They're both capable and excellent watches.

 

What's the bracelet that you have on that Khaki? I have the same 38mm Khaki and have struggled to find a good bracelet because the springbars are set so far in that the lugs stick out past the straight ends of the bracelets that I've tried so it becomes a flesh tearing machine. Are those solid end links? What brand?

 

On looks alone, I would go CW. But then I am kind of a brand snob and the "Christopher Ward" branding is just too long for my preference. Both great watches!

 

CW for me.
But if you prefer the Hamilton brand, perhaps, the Khaki pilot pioneer might work.

 

I feel this Hammy miltary watch is a better comparison.
View attachment 16391021

Yeah, I was about to say if CW is taking on anything, it’s the Khaki Pilot Pioneer, not the Khaki Field.

 

So, if you're calling the Hamilton 'Hammy', why don't you call the CW 'Chrissy'?
You may be artificially skewing the poll.

Oh, and I picked the Hammy.

 

I fell in love.

If you fell in love with it, then go for it!

I own the Hamilton (with the white dial) and I can tell you it's a great watch for the price. The manual wind is not a con to me. I think it's a great feeling to manually give life to a watch. And it's double the power reserve of the CW.

As for straps, you have tons of options with third parties.

But if you prefer the design of the Sandhurst, then go for it. You won't get wrong with a CW anyway

 

For me, I prefer the Hamilton. I like the Hamilton Khaki Field so much that I have three differential dial variants.

 

Did not vote since I’m not into field watches. Prefer put that $$ toward my dream one

 

Both are "boring". Tis the nature of a true field watch. Simple and easy to read. In other words, boring. I'd take the Hammy, without question. Partially because is manual wound, which is a positive for me.

1 con for each. The Hammy has long lugs that looks strange on anything but nato straps. The CW has the unfortunate name. It just calls to mind cheap fashion brands named for designers that don't actually exist. Just my opinions.

 

CW. I like the aesthetic better, and prefer the movement.

 

I’m agnostic, and i received a Hamilton khaki field as a gift recently. They’re both great-looking watches, both fine quality. For whatever it’s worth, this one has a red-tipped second hand and a hint of red around the edge of the dial from 10 to 12. It’s also probably larger than what you are looking at.

I don’t keep very close track of watch accuracy. every so often, i hack them to my Garmin device, which syncs to the atomic clock - did that on Sunday. This one is within 2 seconds of the Garmin, two days after i hacked it. the Powermatic 80 can be pretty accurate, whether it’s chronometer grade or not.

if you want to really blow it out, price-wise:

 

Whoa!!! That’s impressive! Never heard about SUF. Anything you can tel me about it google can’t? How’s it wear?

I’m agnostic, and i received a Hamilton khaki field as a gift recently. They’re both great-looking watches, both fine quality. For whatever it’s worth, this one has a red-tipped second hand and a hint of red around the edge of the dial from 10 to 12. It’s also probably larger than what you are looking at.

I don’t keep very close track of watch accuracy. every so often, i hack them to my Garmin device, which syncs to the atomic clock - did that on Sunday. This one is within 2 seconds of the Garmin, two days after i hacked it. the Powermatic 80 can be pretty accurate, whether it’s chronometer grade or not.

View attachment 16390904

View attachment 16390905

if you want to really blow it out, price-wise:

View attachment 16390888

 

I actually considered that same hamilton before. Ended up going with a pilot day date instead after diving into that rabbit hole 😅