As an entry into the world of mechanical watches, few packages are more compelling than Hamilton’s Khaki Field watch. The model offers a real-deal movement and category-defining looks for less than $700. On Tuesday, the brand announced the Khaki Field Mechanical 250, a new-and-improved special edition that takes inspiration from one of its most collectible vintage models and even slims down the proportions. Hamilton has plenty of references to pull from. The brand has a rich history in American railroad expansion, early aviation, and decades of military timekeeping. The very best Hamilton releases manage to feel less like nostalgia and more like a direct continuation of that storied lineage. The new Khaki Field Mechanical 250 falls squarely into that latter category. Released to commemorate America’s upcoming 250th birthday, it’s limited to 1,776 pieces—a fitting nod to the year America was founded. More importantly, it’s a model that ties Hamilton’s American roots to one of the brand’s most intriguing military references, the little-known FAPD 5101 navigator’s watch developed for the US Air Force in the early …