The Hamilton Murph 38 Gets A White Dial And A Bracelet Option!

Sometimes a watch only exists within a very specific context, relegated to an eternity of association to a very specific thing. Sometimes that can be a good thing (ahem, Speedmaster Moonwatch), but it can also be the horological equivalent of typecasting and nobody wants to be George Costanza forever. Random Seinfeld analogies notwithstanding, I say all this to take you on a circuitous path to the Hamilton Khaki Field Murph, which today breaks out of potential typecast purgatory with two new additions to the collection – one far more surprising than the other, but both very notable.

The first new Murph will be very obvious to you, and that is the white-dial edition. Yes, you read that right, there is now a white-dial Murph in the world. This is kind of a big deal because it represents the first real departure from the true Murph form and means that the “Murph” is no longer just a watch tied to Interstellar but a sub-collection within the broader Khaki Field line from Hamilton.

If you thought sizing the watch down to 38mm was big news, then this is going to fully knock your socks off. Of course, this shift in dial color comes only in the 38mm sizing but is no less a signal of the popularity of the model, its case diameter, its dial layout and its overall wearability. This launch also comes almost 10 years after Interstellar hit theaters in 2014 and brought the Murph design to us in the first place.

For those not familiar with the Murph, it is a watch made by Hamilton specifically for Interstellar. The watch played a pivotal role in the movie’s plot and was cemented in cinematic horological history as the movie became an instant classic. But there was one catch: The watch was not a commercial product, merely a movie prop…until 2019, when Hamilton released the Murph and its film-faithful 42mm case size. It was a hit for sure but many enthusiasts wished it were smaller –– many specifically calling for a 38mm edition.

Hamilton listened to this feedback and released a 38mm version in late 2022 maintaining the same basic look of the original, just smaller. And since then, that was it. We had two sizes of the Murph, both of which came on straps which made them effectively copies of the watch that appeared on the silver screen.

Today, that all changes. Now the question becomes: Is a white-dial Murph even a Murph? And at this point I have already buried another part of the lede. In addition to the white-dial model, there is also a black-dial Murph 38 on a stainless steel bracelet. I know, this may very well be even bigger news. This was a watch with stylized numerals, cathedral hands, and overall toolish charm that already had people buying it as a sub-$1,000 alternative to a Rolex Explorer.

With the addition of the bracelet, this prospect becomes even more compelling. The bracelet only comes on the black dial, which remains unchanged from the one on the original 38mm Murph. The clasp on this bracelet features a twin-trigger deployant system.

Turning back to the white dial, what we have is more than just a color change. The numerals take on more of a dark khaki color and the dial – which is a smooth matte on the black edition – takes on a very specific texture that reminds me of a certain Murph-espque Patek Philippe Calatrava. This white-dial model currently comes only on the specific, movie-inspired, stitched leather strap. The white dial will cost $895 while the bracelet model will cost $945.

Both models are the same 38mm wide, 11.1mm thick watch we know, with the Hamilton H-10 movement (ETA  C07.611 base) inside, boasting 80 hours of power reserve. This news is all about the two new looks.

I am having a hard time choosing which is my favorite, but if I had to, I would lean toward the black dial on bracelet because it's the classic, and the bracelet just makes it that much more of an everyday watch.

To be honest, today the Murph becomes a collection all its own, separate from the movie, and I think that is a good thing. The white-dial vs black-dial debate is so subjective that I think a lot of people will be thrilled to see this new option.

So what’s the bigger news, black dial on bracelet or the new white dial? Be sure to let me know.