My Eastern Watch Collection: Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic Reference H77825331 - The Ultimate Beater Diver, A Review (plus Video)

When Hamilton relaunched the Khaki Navy Frogman in 2016, I was immediately taken by the crown guard designed. I was particularly interested in the Titanium model but due to other commitments, it wasn't priority. On hindsight, it could also be because I had some negative views about the crown guard design (love versus hate; weird isn't it?).

In 2022, Hamilton introduced a revised design to the Frogman that actually appealed to me. The original crown guard was redesigned to be more symmetrical and give a better protection. Immediately, this model went up the priority list.

I visited Hang Thai Watch outlet in Bangsar Village. They have a good collection of Hamilton watches. There was the light khaki green strap version which I fancied and I decided to bring it back home.

To be honest, I would preferred to get a model with a bracelet. Nevertheless, I could live with a strap version.

The Series

There are four members to the current series of Navy Frogman. These are:

Stainless steel, black bezel, matte black rubber strap Ref: H77825330 MSRP: RM5,050	Stainless steel, black bezel, khaki rubber strap Ref: H77825331 MSRP: RM5,050
Stainless steel, gray bezel, stainless steel metal bracelet Ref: H77815130 MSR: RM5,050	Black PVD steel case and bezel, black dial, grey dial markings, and black rubber strap Ref: H77845330 MSRP: RM5,550

This series of dive watches from Hamilton got its name from the US Navy combat divers who wore the original tool watch during WWII. Launched in 1943, the design has an unusual locking mechanism on the crown was part of the Naval Combat Demolition Units gear. The first civilian model of the Frogman appeared in 1951 when it was shown in the 1951 movie The Frogmen (even back then, Hamilton understood the promotional value of product placement through the big screen).

The 1943 Hamilton Diver

The most distinctive feature of the 1943 diver was its canteen-style screw-down crown. The crown protector was linked to a small chain soldered onto the casing.

In 2016, Hamilton re-launched the dive watch series as the Khaki Navy Frogman. In this iteration, it has a prominent crown guard with an in-built locking system and a unidirectional rotating bezel.

The 2016 Hamilton Navy Frogman

In 2022 a refreshed and redesigned Khaki Navy Frogman was launched. The very prominent crown guard was changed radically where now the screw-down crown is protected by a bridge-shaped structure instead of a screw-down cap. The shape of the bezel have also changed where the numerals, line markers and dots are now raised instead of painted on. Hamilton has also up-sized the watch from 42 mm to 46 mm in the latest iteration.

In 2023, Hamilton launched a new series of Khaki Navy Frogman Automatic with a diameter of 41.00 mm and a height of 13.09 mm. This series was designed to cater to the needs of users that have smaller wrists as well as those that prefer smaller watches.

The Watch

Made out of stainless steel, the Khaki Navy Frogman has a diameter of 46.00 mm with a height of 13.58 mm. Apart from the substantial up-sizing of the series, one will also immediately noticed that Hamilton has decided to redesigned the unmistakable 'canteen' screw-down crown which has been a classic component of the Khaki Navy Frogman to a more subtle bridge-shaped structure akin (from a visual perspective) to a Panerai dive watch.

Offered with brushed surfaces, the new design also debuts a new shape for the unidirectional rotating bezel with a black insert adorned with an embossed 60 minute scale. For contrast, the embossed scale has a polished natural finish.

The dial is done in a matte black grainy texture. The vertical chapter ring that sits at the edge of the dial has a smooth reflective finish. For symmetry and legibility, there are line markers in white for the minutes and applied hour markers at all positions accept for 12:00. For 12:00, a large Arabic numeral was used. For reference, a small trench has been cut down the number 2 to denote the exact point for 12:00. The hour markers are all coated with Superluminova luminous paint.

There are 5 lines of texts and logo on the dial surface. The brand and logo are painted in white at the upper quadrant while the words "AUTOMATIC" and "300m/1000ft" are painted in orange and located at the bottom quadrant. At the edge of the dial at 6:00 is the famous "SWISS MADE" quality mark.

The aggressive nature of the design is aptly observed in the design of the hands. The hands are large. The hours hand is shaped like an arrow with a blunt tip and polished edges while the minutes hand is broad that tapers to the end and painted with an orange border. Meanwhile the seconds needle shaped hand has an arrow head also tipped in orange. All the hands are coated in Superluminova paint.

Protecting the dial is a domed sapphire crystal. Hamilton provides anti-reflective protection for the crystal. Do note that the edge of the crystal sits slightly beyond the end of the bezel. The edge of the sapphire crystal is beveled to reduce the risk of chipping.

The ratcheting system used on the bezel has a positive feel to it and the gear-edge bezel is easy to grip. The bezel has a 120-click incremental shift for a complete rotation.

The new crown protection system utilised by Hamilton's designers is simple yet practical. Unlike the one used on a typical Panerai that has a dedicated mechanism, the bridge-shaped structure on the Khaki Navy Frogman is simply linked to screw-down crown via a floating screw (see the image below). By the action of just unscrewing the crown, the bridge-shaped structure will also move in tandem.

Due to the substantial overhang of the bridge-shaped structure, Hamilton's designers balanced it (somewhat) by creating a protrusion from the casing at 9:00 and embossed with the Hamilton logo.

The solid screw-down case-back has a nice graphic of a diver's mask etched in the center. The casing has a water resistant ratings of 300 meters.

Underneath the case-back is the H-10 automatic by Hamilton with Nivachron balance spring. This is a time-only display movement and is similar to the Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80 Calibre. It has an 80 hour power reserve and an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring for improved reliability and precision. With 25 jewels, the movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 BPH.

The lug spacing on the casing is 22.00 mm in width. The watch is paired with a green silicone strap with an accordion expansion section near the lug ends. Measuring 22.00 mm wide, the strap is signed with the brand and logo especially on the underside. This provides the necessary texture to ensure the strap stays firmly on the skin.

The buckle on the strap is also branded with the brand's initials in the form of a large cut-out.

The Superluminova paint on the watch provides a good illumination in the dark. In the photo below, it is easy to refer to the time as all the hour markers are represented. I am happy that Hamilton was not stingy with the luminous paint. It is as bright as what you get from Seiko's sports watches.

The Wearing Experience

Despite the size, the watch wears well on my 6.75 inch wrist. Having the rubber strap helps as it follows the contours of the wrist and the friction is more than sufficient to ensure that the watch does not wobble. Below is a short video of the watch on my wrist.

My impression of the Navy Frogman is that of a beater watch. A timepiece that should be used and abused. Therefore, the need to try to keep it as 'perfect' as possible is unnecessary. Don't get me wrong, I am not implying that I don't care about the watch, it is just that I am happy for it to be used, hard. I supposed this is why I don't find the need to get a bracelet version (the general rule I have is to get a bracelet version for the collection and if a strap is more useful, at least I got the bracelet as part of the overall package) for the collection.

Specifications

Watch Reference: H77825331

Collection : Khaki Navy

Width: 46.00 mm

Thickness: 13.58 mm

Length: 51.00 mm

Lug Width : 22.00 mm

Weight: 147 gm

Dial: Black

Case Material: Stainless steel

Crystal: Dome sapphire with anti reflection protection

Caliber: H-10, automatic with Nivachron balance spring