Introducing: Hamilton Khaki Field 'Call Of Duty' Special Edition

What We Know

Hamilton has just unveiled its latest special edition for the world (and players) of Call of Duty with a fresh version of the brand’s classic Khaki Field. Limited to 5000 pieces, the Black Ops 7 special edition changes very little from the resolute formula of a Hamilton field watch, with the only reference to the game relegated to the caseback. Instead, the connection to the incredibly popular video game series plays out in-game, with a character from the franchise’s latest outing wearing the same Hamilton on their digital wrist. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, set to release on November 14 of this year, is the latest installment of the best-selling first-person shooter series, and this will be the third time that Hamilton has partnered with the franchise to create a watch meant for fans of the game. Fans of Hamilton watches will note that beyond the COD-themed caseback and the tactical-grade packaging, this is a largely unchanged spec for the 38mm Khaki Field Automatic. 

With a steel case, a black dial, a green NATO strap, and an automatic Hamilton H10 movement inside, this reference, H70475930, is nearly identical to the standard H70455533, featuring 80 hours of power reserve, 100 meters of water resistance, and the familiar black dial with a date at 3 o’clock. 

Mounted to a green NATO with brown leather accents, this same watch will feature digitally in-game on the wrist of a character named “Axel Vermaak”. While I don’t know if (or how) the watch may be featured as an in-game element beyond its on-wrist character inclusion, it’s a rare case of the game leading the pitch towards new eyeballs for a brand that is a well-known (and beloved) quantity for watch enthusiasts. 

The Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm Call of Duty Special Edition is limited to 5000 pieces, each with a retail price of $975. 

What We Think

Those of you who never really got beyond Super Mario, or simply don’t care for the visceral experience of a modern first-person shooter, may not immediately understand why Hamilton would want to partner, multiple times, with the world of Call of Duty. For a certain cohort, a massive one at that, the near-annual release of a new COD is equivalent to a major holiday. I remember waiting in a midnight line for the first Black Ops back in 2010. I was in line with many of my friends; it was a social event that we had waited for. We booked time off work. We went home shortly after midnight, game in hand, and hopped on a group chat (with the same people from the line) and immediately started playing.

While that phase of my life is long behind me, the world is not short of 18-34 year olds (predominantly males) who want to pour hours and cash into this game and its highly competitive online elements. Furthermore, in the time since I was an active gamer, the world of microtransactions has added additional layers of personalization into gaming, including myriad options for outfits, camos, weapon skins, in-game actions, and yes, branded collaborations. If gamers will spend a few dollars (or more) for a digital element in-game, why not flip the script and offer a real-life watch that reflects the in-game world?

A quick look at the numbers may offer some clarity, as the Call of Duty franchise has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. As of 2022, the series had generated more than $30B in revenue (according to Activision’s financial reporting).

I know this paragraph will be triggering for some, but let’s take just a moment to establish a scale for Call of Duty by comparing it to a franchise known for its watch collaborations: James Bond. Over the lifetime of the 27 James Bond films, the franchise is said to have grossed approximately $7.8 billion at the box office (according to Box Office Mojo), with Skyfall being the highest-grossing film at ~$1.1 billion. Even when adjusted for inflation, the Bond series has taken in less than COD, according to Wikipedia. It says the franchise had earned about $19.2 billion since its start in 1962 (when adjusted for inflation and using exchange rates from 2022). By this metric, Bond is considerably smaller than Call of Duty, which only launched its first title in 2003.

Yes, I understand that this is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison. COD does not have a central figure (a James Bond), games often age much faster than films, etc, etc. But doesn’t it make you wonder why more brands aren’t aligning with gaming? It’s not always going to make sense (given the product on either side of the equation), but Bond wears an Omega in the new game, 007 First Light. Jack from Bioshock could have roamed Rapture with a vintage Submariner. Lara Croft could rock a Tudor, no?

As far as the watch goes, what is there to say? It’s a 38mm automatic Khaki Field. It’s a great watch that many of us know and love, and I think it fits the role of an on-wrist choice for a military-themed character in a video game. That said, you’d have to ask a true Call of Duty fan (maybe even collector) if the caseback, strap, and packaging are worth the $230 premium over the standard-issue model – that’s the game. 

The Basics

Brand: Hamilton
Model: Khaki Field Auto 38mm Call of Duty Special Edition
Reference: H70475930

Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 10.9mm
Case Material: Steel
Dial Color: Black
Indexes: Arabic, painted
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Green NATO-style strap

The Movement

Caliber: Hamilton H-10 Automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Diameter: 25.6mm
Power Reserve: 80 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600
Jewels: 25
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Based on the ETA C07.611 (an evolution of the 2824 base)

Pricing & Availability

Price: $975
Limited Edition: 5000 pieces

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