
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Hamilton Khaki Field Watch (Ref. 921980) "L.L. Bean", 1980s
- Maker / attribution
- Hamilton (maker)
- Date
- 1980s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- HTNKLLB
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (HTNKLLB)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1980s Hamilton Khaki Field Watch (Ref. 921980) "L.L. Bean" (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number HTNKLLB), this is a wristwatch by Hamilton, made in Switzerland, dated 1980s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1882 and initially specialized in producing pocket watches. The brand boasts a long and impressive history of breakthroughs in design and technology, and are probably best known for their military associations and fantastic field watches. Case in point, this double-signed Khaki model from the '80s, featuring the L.L. Bean name as the larger of the two on the dial. These Hamilton's were offered in the catalogue of the astute yet rugged Maine-based brand as a civilian version of the military spec wristwatch, which they were. The "Khaki" was the branded name for the commercial version of the same watches that saw action in military operations such as Korea and Vietnam. It's a highly-legible, eminently usable, no frills piece that exudes military cool, and would be the perfect addition to any collection. Stock # HTNKLLB Brand Hamilton Style Khaki Model 921980 Serial N/A Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black "L.L Bean" Millimeters 34 Bracelet Single Pass Nylon Strap CASE & BRACELET The unpolished case retains its factory bead-blasted finishing and remains in exceptional condition showing no major signs of use. The bead-blasted smooth bezel also is in excellent condition and shows only minimal signs of use. The case retains its original Hamilton-signed bead-blasted crown. The case back retains all of its original markings. The watch comes supplied on an era-correct single pass nylon ribbon strap. DIAL & HANDS The matte black dial is remarkably well-preserved, showing little signs of age. The tritium lume plots have taken on a yellow patina while the original tritium hands have aged to a medium grey patina, both of which are in great condition and display no degradation under U.V. light inspection. The co-signed dial features the L.L. Bean logo under 12 o'clock, while the Hamilton name and logo reside lower down, just above 6 o'clock. ACCESSORIES
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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