Hamilton Khaki Field 'L.L. Bean'

You can't get much more iconic than the Government Issue, or "GI"-style field wristwatch. Produced under contract for the US Military since the 1960s, these simple watches were fashioned by a handful of American manufacturers for American servicemen. Many of these timepieces were used extensively — forged in the infernos by the heroes who wore them. Due to the robust nature and clean lines, a demand was born in the civilian market, and brands such as Hamilton continued producing them through the 1980s for commercial sale under their "Khaki" collection with only minor changes from their Government Issue counterparts. This particular example was produced under contract for the legendary New England outfitter L.L. Bean of Freeport, Maine, and is essentially a civilian "continuation" of their historically military-minded collection. With added dial text and a simplified screw-back case being the only major differentiators, this is the perfect watch for...well...just about everyone. Housed in a 34mm parkerized steel case with an acrylic crystal and a signed crown, it features a matte black tritium dial with luminous 'dart' plots, painted white 'Arabic' indices, an inner 24-hour track in white, a luminous 'syringe' handset, and the Hamilton and L.L. Bean wordmarks. With an accessible price point, bombproof ETA Calibre 2750 manual-wind movement, and spartan military styling that is always en vogue, these timekeepers are the perfect companions for everyday wear — and with the added L.L. Bean provenance, this watch truly speaks to outdoors enthusiasts everywhere!