Today, Hemel Watches launches the HF Series Night Ops. You may remember the 2017 HFT20 series that I reviewed here. Well, apparently they decided that very popular model could be improved by making it thinner, blacker, and just a bit more badass.
At a glance, the 42mm Night Ops watches are nearly identical to the HFT20s. They share the same dials, inspired by the jet age Dodane and Breuget Type 20 pilot’s watches. That fabulous diamond crown is back. Bezel options still include a glossy ceramic timing bezel or stainless steel 12-hour version, and both are engraved and filled with C3 SuperLuminova; however, the Night Ops’s case is a full 2mm thinner for improved wearability and the case, bezel, and strap are black. Lending the watch a sleek, sinister new look.
One item that will not be returning is the Seiko NE88 mechanical chronograph. The Night Ops are offered only with the Seiko VK64 MechaQuartz. This lower-cost hybrid has long been one of my favorite budget-minded choices as it incorporates a mechanical stopwatch module into a quartz timekeeping movement, thus providing a smooth sweephand, snap-back reset, and a crisp click when you depress the chronograph buttons. Also, I am quite sure that the Night Ops arrived at its trimmer form not by diet and exercise, but by forgoing the significantly thicker NE88 movement.
The Hemel HF Night Ops is in stock and available for immediate delivery. The price is $449.99 and a percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation for military vets and their families. For more information, visit hemelwatches.com.
