This Affordable Automatic Pilot’s Watch Is More Attractive Than Ever

Mid-century vibes in a modern package.

Close-up of a wristwatch with a stainless steel case, a green bezel, and a cream-colored dial displaying the words "KHAKI AUTOMATIC." The watch has a green leather strap with beige stitching near the lugs and a crown featuring a star emblem.

Published September 3, 2025

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Despite having distinct designs influenced by very different watches, Hamilton’s collection of revived mid-century pilot’s watches has predominantly followed a uniform color scheme.

The American-turned-Swiss watchmaker is spicing up its archival designs with some color, and the perfectly sized Khaki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm has two alluring new references.

The Khaki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm now has a creamy white dial.

Hamilton

Gathered under the Pilot Pioneer label, the vintage-inspired aviation watches debuted with creamy faux-patina detailing on matte black with brushed steel cases.

The Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm was introduced in 2021 with that default look. Four years later, Hamilton finally adds some zest to the criminally underrated compact pilot’s watch.

Hamilton Khaki Automatic watch with a cream dial, black Arabic numerals, and a burgundy bezel. The watch features silver-tone hands and a burgundy leather strap with white stitching. The case is stainless steel with a textured crown. — The new bezel insert and matching leather pin-buckle strap are available in burgundy and dark green.

The Khaki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm is a downsized, three-hand version of Hamilton’s revival of the Model 23, a pocket watch issued to U.S. military aviators during WWII.

The Khaki Pilot Pioneer has a historically faithful 43mm case and hand-wound movement with a small seconds dial. It is a treat for military and horological history fans, but far less practical for daily wear than the compact, automatic alternative.

A splash of color

The new Khaki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm has a creamy white dial with the same fine-grade sandpaper-like texture as the original. The fauxtina markings are now black to maintain peak legibility.

Wristwatch with a cream-colored dial, black numerals, and a green bezel, worn on a dark green leather strap. The watch is on a person's wrist, who is dressed in a beige textured jacket with a white shirt cuff visible underneath, and dark brown pants with a hand in the pocket. — The 38mm case size complements most wrists.

It is modestly decorated with printed Arabic numeral hour markers and a railroad seconds track along the dial’s outer rim. Hamilton’s logo appears above the hands, and below them simply reads “Khaki Automatic.”

Hamilton’s syringe-pointed cathedral hands are still the dial’s centerpiece, but the rough finish on the black reference has been polished brilliantly.

The hour hand and minute hand have Super-LumiNova infill, with matching markers placed every five minutes along the railroad track.

The bidirectional countdown bezel still has a coin edge and a sapphire crystal insert, but it’s now colored either dark green or burgundy with cream-colored markings.

Hamilton Khaki Automatic watch with a cream-colored dial, black Arabic numerals, and silver-tone hands with luminescent fill. It features a burgundy bezel with minute markers and a matching burgundy leather strap. The watch case is stainless steel with a textured crown. The dial includes the text "HAMILTON," "KHAKI AUTOMATIC," and "SWISS MADE. — The hour hand, minute hand and the hour markers on the railroad minute track are marked with Super-LumiNova.

Each watch comes on a leather pin buckle strap colored to match the bezel, with white stitched ends. The uniform color is a nice look, but I would swap in a black leather strap right after purchasing this watch.

A pilot “Murph”

The Khaki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm has been around since 2021, but it remains relatively obscure, buried deep in Hamilton’s extensive catalog.

Back view of a Hamilton wristwatch showcasing its mechanical movement through a transparent case back. The stainless steel case is engraved with "WATER RESISTANT 10 bar/145 psi," "SWISS MADE," and the model number "H762550." The visible movement features intricate gears and components, with "HAMILTON" and "TWENTY-FIVE 25 JEWELS SWISS" engraved on the rotor. The watch has a black leather strap with white stitching. — It runs on the H-10 automatic movement, Hamilton’s version of the Swatch Group’s ETA Powermatic 80.

This favorably sized pilot’s watch offers much of the same appeal as one of Hamilton’s most adored releases, the Khaki Field Murph. It has the same case size as the much-preferred 38mm version released in 2022, runs on the same movement and has the same cathedral hands.

Both watches have nearly identical brushed steel cases housing Hamilton’s caliber H-10 automatic movement, a version of the Swatch Group’s ETA Powermatic 80, boasting an 80-hour power reserve.

Each watch has a different Hamilton logo, seconds track and numeral font, but those variations are barely noticeable at arm’s length. What truly sets them apart are the bezels and color schemes.

Stainless steel wristwatch with a cream-colored dial featuring black Arabic numerals and black minute markers. The watch has a green bezel with yellow markings and a green leather strap with beige stitching. The crown is textured with a star emblem. The dial includes the text "KHAKI AUTOMATIC. — The large pilot’s watch crown is signed with the Hamilton logo.

The Kahki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm is a deep-cut alternative to the universally admired Khaki Field Murph. It checks most of the same boxes and is the same price.

If you’re like me and get turned off by overhyped and popular products, but still really want a Murph, this is the watch for you.

Availability and price

The new Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Automatic 38mm color options are available now from Hamilton for $995.

Hamilton also still stocks the original black dial version released in 2021, if you prefer the classic look.

Hamilton Khaki Automatic watch with a cream dial, black Arabic numerals, and silver-tone hands. It features a green bezel with minute markers and a green leather strap with beige stitching. The watch has a stainless steel case and a crown on the right side.

Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer 38mm

Specs

Case Size	38mm
Movement	Hamilton Cal. H-10 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

$995 at Hamilton

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.