I had no idea 🤷🏻♂️
I love this watch, the Timex MK1 SST. It's one of my favorites in my collection for sure.
But if I'm honest there was something that rained on its parade a little bit.
I bought it because I love the way it looks, the bead-blasted finish that almost looks like titanium. I love the no-nonsense dial with the classic fieldwatch style. The "engineer" style bracelet is gorgeous, especially when you turn your wrist slowly in the light. And the watch is an absolute strap-monster!
What's the problem, you ask?
Well, it turns out that the watch looks a little bit too much like the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, picture courtesy of Hodinkee.
It's not a real big problem, but I find myself a little bit annoyed sometimes when someone says that the watch really reminds them of the Hamilton. I'm not saying it's always inplied, but I really didn't buy it for that reason, I mean I had no idea!
Can you relate? Do you have a watch you thought was original, but it turns out it isn't? You had no idea?
Living the dream as an expat in Jakarta, collecting watches on a budget. All watches are mine, all content created by me.
Both of those watches look that way because the military (either U.S. or U.K.) decided that they should in Korea and Vietnam. You can find Benrus and Bulova watches that look very similar (and even Westclox if you keep looking). There is absolutely nothing original in the design and Hamilton didn't get there first.
Hamilton's "original" designs are their least popular.
In this case Timex gave you a good field watch at a fraction of the Hamilton price. It has a different handset, different numeral font and size, different lume, and a different case and bracelet, all within time honored military inspired field watch conventions. You have a dry parade.
Both of those watches look that way because the military (either U.S. or U.K.) decided that they should in Korea and Vietnam. You can find Benrus and Bulova watches that look very similar (and even Westclox if you keep looking). There is absolutely nothing original in the design and Hamilton didn't get there first.
Hamilton's "original" designs are their least popular.
In this case Timex gave you a good field watch at a fraction of the Hamilton price. It has a different handset, different numeral font and size, different lume, and a different case and bracelet, all within time honored military inspired field watch conventions. You have a dry parade.
I'd echo what @Aurelian said. Most who will say it looks like a Hamilton would be a tad bit uneducated.
Timex had as many, if not more field watch/camper style watches on wrists of troops back then as Hamilton.
I would wear what you like. And btws that Timex is 🔥.
I think a lot of watch people forget that dive, field, and pilot's watch designs often come from government specifications, which is why so many look similar.
Hamilton didn't invent field watches, Laco/IWC/Stowa didn't invent fliegers, and even the iconic dive watch design is based on government requirements.
I'd echo what @Aurelian said. Most who will say it looks like a Hamilton would be a tad bit uneducated.
Timex had as many, if not more field watch/camper style watches on wrists of troops back then as Hamilton.
I would wear what you like. And btws that Timex is 🔥.
Yeah, this would be a nutty thing for anyone to say. It would be like if your watch had baton indices and someone said "Oh, nice Datejust homage."
Both of those watches look that way because the military (either U.S. or U.K.) decided that they should in Korea and Vietnam. You can find Benrus and Bulova watches that look very similar (and even Westclox if you keep looking). There is absolutely nothing original in the design and Hamilton didn't get there first.
Hamilton's "original" designs are their least popular.
In this case Timex gave you a good field watch at a fraction of the Hamilton price. It has a different handset, different numeral font and size, different lume, and a different case and bracelet, all within time honored military inspired field watch conventions. You have a dry parade.
Here's my Benrus DTU-2A/P as an example, I think this was the first watch to have the style of dial & hands which Hamilton then used when they replaced Benrus in providing military issue watches to the US govt.
Both of those watches look that way because the military (either U.S. or U.K.) decided that they should in Korea and Vietnam. You can find Benrus and Bulova watches that look very similar (and even Westclox if you keep looking). There is absolutely nothing original in the design and Hamilton didn't get there first.
Hamilton's "original" designs are their least popular.
In this case Timex gave you a good field watch at a fraction of the Hamilton price. It has a different handset, different numeral font and size, different lume, and a different case and bracelet, all within time honored military inspired field watch conventions. You have a dry parade.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate your detailed reply. Ok, I feel EVEN better now about my watch!
I'd echo what @Aurelian said. Most who will say it looks like a Hamilton would be a tad bit uneducated.
Timex had as many, if not more field watch/camper style watches on wrists of troops back then as Hamilton.
I would wear what you like. And btws that Timex is 🔥.
Thanks my friend, much appreciated! No worries, I do wear what I like. I just don't like the misunderstanding, or assumptions some people make is all. Thanks for the compliment, I actually did a commercial style video in honor of it 😀
Here's my Benrus DTU-2A/P as an example, I think this was the first watch to have the style of dial & hands which Hamilton then used when they replaced Benrus in providing military issue watches to the US govt.
Very nice watch indeed 👌
I think a lot of watch people forget that dive, field, and pilot's watch designs often come from government specifications, which is why so many look similar.
Hamilton didn't invent field watches, Laco/IWC/Stowa didn't invent fliegers, and even the iconic dive watch design is based on government requirements.
Thanks for the additional information. I'll use it to educate the next person that "misinterprets" my watch 😎