The new Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO is all about Underwater Readability

Forget about thinness and vintage designs. Today’s watch is aggressively cool, impressively technical and not meant to slip under a cuff. It’s a proper dive instrument with a bold design that’s here to make an impressive. And it did so, not only underwater but also on the silver screen, as the Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO appeared in blockbuster movies “The Martian” and “TENET” recently. But today, it’s here with a new version that’s probably a bit more mainstream as Hamilton presents the natural titanium and yellow accented Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO, a watch that’s all about underwater readability. 

For now, the Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO was mostly associated with cinema – not a surprise knowing Hamilton’s enduring connections with filmmakers – and was only available in stealth black, with a black PVD-coated case. This year, we have a new and slightly more classic edition. What doesn’t change is the actual look of the watch. Don’t expect refinement and elegance here. This is not the idea with this watch. It’s bold, oversized and designed as an instrument. And while this watch won’t feel at home with a suit, it’ll certainly look more than appropriate when strapped around a wetsuit.

The Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO is a modern instrument dive watch made of titanium – uncoated this time – with dimensions that will daunt more than a few, but will speak to proper dive watch fans. Its 46mm case, with an unneglectable thickness of 15.7mm, is designed as if was taken out of a piece of diving gear, with hex-style screws at the four corner extensions of the case, with exposed studs on the bezel. The latter rotates in one direction and features a detailed 15-minute scale for precision timing. The caseback is solid titanium, secured by screws and the crown is also fairly protected with lateral guards. And don’t be scared to bring this watch underwater, it’ll go down 1,000m. A helium escape valve is integrated on the left of the case.

besides this uncoated look, the new edition of Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO brings a highly contrasted colour scheme. Its matte, anti-reflective black dial features oversized luminous Arabic markers and yellow accents on the hands and hour indexes. Why yellow? Because it is one of the colours that offer the strongest contrast with black, and also among the most visible in coastal waters – but note that because colours have different wavelengths, those with less energy are filtered out quickly. Yellow sits in the middle of the spectrum and disappears at about 40m and blue is the most lasting colour – but doesn’t offer as much contrast as yellow.

Complementing this brightly contrasted look, this new Hamilton is worn on a 24mm structured yellow rubber strap, closed by a H-pin buckle in titanium. Inside the case is the powerful calibre H-10 (base Powermatic), with 80h power reserve and Nivachron balance spring.

Now available and part of the permanent collection, the new Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO is priced at EUR 1,845, CHF 1,595 or USD 1,745. For more details, please visit www.hamiltonwatch.com.