Can’t afford a Panerai so I got this instead…Hamilton Khaki Action

Can’t afford a Panerai so I got this…it’s unique looking, the Year 2000, Hamilton #khaki Action 6309, Quartz #movement #eta 955.112, 100m WR, 40mm case all brushed, 44.5m with crown, lug to lug 45mm, 11mm thickness, 20mm tapered to 18mm brushed bracelet.

More details of variances like sizes, colors, and model references to ETA quartz, and automatic movements in-post.

The watch seems to have been released in the year 2000 in a watch catalog (pic at the end). I guess this can be considered almost as a #vintage #watch

This is my first field watch, and I picked this because it got the Panerai vibes with Hamilton DNA. You can see the resemblance to other Khaki models in the dial and case shape similar look if the crown guard is removed or shaped to be pointy. Also, I’m pretty sure this would fit my #smallwrist size better (6.5 in) than a Panerai. I bought this watch on eBay in near #mint condition with a box and papers. The watch shipped from Tokyo, Japan, and within 4 days. So Fast!

At first, I didn’t like the watch bracelet in the picture, but it’s looks pretty good in person and it wears very comfortably. It’s a sporty bracelet. All the links are removable so a lot of adjustments there, but tough to get it out. Need a bracelet holder, hammer, and pin extractor tool to push it out. It’s tight due to the plastic center in the middle so you get that rubber friction. I got bought some nato straps for it…still waiting for those to come. I think that will make it feel more rugged and have military looks. For now, I changed to a green nato, black leather, brown leather strap and it looks amazing with the black in person! In the beginning, it was a mixed feeling, wasn’t sure if I loved the watch but now I do with the black leather strap.

This watch comes in different sizes, two different movements, and styles.

Here is my research on the variances. There wasn’t much info out there online about this that’s all in one place. I wasn’t sure if this was legit since I opened the case and it said inside the case back “Hamilton China” because I thought all parts were supposed to be made in Swiss. It is legit since I found the catalog and there are references on a forum from users that stated they have other models besides the Khaki Action that says it too. It just means the case is made in China. Hope my research helps someone :) post on here if you bought one because of this post!

Note, there is a #youtube video about the 6301 that you can watch to give you a better feel of it. Note, that small-size (6301) has second markers that are not in the outer perimeter but are marked inward like a GMT. It is only available for the black dial, while the silver dial will be the same for small or large sizes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=E90rpK5qCDI

From the video, it seems like 34mm case size (38mm with crown) one doesn’t look small, but having the large one I think 38mm is too small if you want the panerai vibes. It still does have the look but size wise it would not. The large size have a 45mm lug to lug so I think it would fit on the majority of wrist sizes out there.

At first, it seemed like this model only existed in Japan, because mostly I see are from Japanese sellers on eBay, and other watch sites have Japanese sellers as well, but I did find an American Hamilton watch catalog.

On #ebay price-wise, the same range whether they are quartz or automatic. I see from $200 to $600 for both types, and conditions vary, so it is #affordable , #budget friendly, and does not break the bank.

Model options:

Dial color option, silver or black, and that bracelet center section will match with the dial. Also, they should be all brushed, so if you see polished, then it means it’s not in the original state, so the scratches got buffed out and polished.

There is a red-brownish for the 6311 on eBay, only one as of this post date…pic at the end.

The neat feature it has is the date can still be changed while the crown guard is locked. It allows clearance to do 1 pull extension for the date change feature. Another one would be the double lugs, it is an awesome feature that allows you to have more options with straps whether they're slim or bulkier ones.

• Small, 38mm

• Large 44.5m (online measurement is 44mm)

…these sizes are with the crown, so minus 4-5mm for the case size

• Small/large in quartz - 6301, 6309

• Small/large in automatic, eta 2824 - 6305, 6311 …they go for $150-200 more than quartz. the thickness is the same since the quartz version has a spacer between the case back and movement. So a lot of space to fit an automatic.

• Small/large in quartz chronograph- 6303, 6313, black is the only color option I believe...pic below.

Here is a pic of the quartz movement for 6301 and 6309 to confirm the movement numbers…sorry I don’t have fancy a machine :) I used my phone to hold up a jewelry loop x30. Curious I see most pics with this move moment it says “4A” next to the battery but this one says “5A” I wonder what’s this means.? Drop a comment below if you know. Thanks!

Note, the movement is not locked in place with a screw to the case somehow like I see in other pics of this movement but with a plastic spacer to hold the movement lock in place. I didn’t take a picture of it on here.

This movement does have a low battery indicator, End of Life (EOL) feature, where it ticks every two seconds instead one one. Very Cool!

I don't see a "Swiss" or "V8" being labeled next to the "7 Jewels" on the chip to say that the ETA is made in Swiss but found this in a forum, a post back in 2009 (forum.tz-uk.com) to confirm that ETA reference number 955.112 is made in Swiss. And other places mentioned "A Swiss movement will have stamp of 3 letters – E.T.A."...which this does have it, can see in the picture before "955112"

"all of ETA's quartz movements were available in Swiss made and non-Swiss made.

• 955.xx2 or .xx1 are the Swiss ones

• 955.xx4 are the non-Swiss ones, these have slightly looser accuracy requirements, the #swiss are -0.3 to +0.5 s/d; the non-Swiss are -0.4 to +0.6 s/d."

Here is a #lumeshot in the dark. The #lume is decent, and pretty bright initially. No lume on the second hand.

Here is a pic of the #chronograph model.

Here is a a reference from a forum, watchuseek, from someone posted in 2022 that this variance from Hamilton does exist.

“Hamilton used to use a 4-digit code for cases, but around 2003/2004 they switched to a longer code, beginning with the letter H.

The first pic below is from a 2000 catalog. The men's Action Auto model uses a case reference of 6311xx. The second pic is from a 2003 catalog. The men's Action Auto model now uses a case reference of H62415xxx.”

Thanks to that forum, I tried to find the catalog and I found it! Here is the 2000 Hamilton catalog someone selling on eBay and #lucky they took a picture of that Khaki Action watch line page :)

Here is the red-brownish dial of the #automatic large size, 6311.

Here is a pic of the 6301, small variance, with the second markers inward like a GMT.

Here is a pic of a #silver #dial variance.