Kingsbury Watch Co. recently sent me an MS2 Platoon Automatic Field Watch. You may remember it from an earlier paid announcement, but this was my first chance for a hands-on review. We have had quite a few field watches through Time Bum headquarters this year, at a wide range of price points. The Platoon comes in on the lower end, at just $179.
Measuring 41mm wide, 47.5mm long, and 11.5mm thick, the Platoon is a comfortable size that fits well on my 6.75” wrist. I appreciate its modest proportions. While I’d never wear it to the office, it is nice to be able to wear it with a casual button-down shirt.
Field watches need to be able to weather actual field use, and the Platoon has no issues on that front. The stainless steel case features a sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance rating, and a sturdy Miyota 82S5 automatic movement with a small seconds indicator. While not as silky smooth as the popular 9000 series, the 21.6k bph, hand winding 82S5 is more than capable and a true dateless unit, so those of you who hate phantom crown positions may rejoice. Kingsbury’s choice is curious in that this is the gilt, open heart version, a fancy unit for a field watch. You can get a look at the gold through the display case back.
The movement is mounted with the subdial at 6, which places the signed, push-down crown in the somewhat odd position of 4:15. If you can look past its position relative to the dial (I can), you will find it is attractive, proportionately sized, easy to use, and by virtue of its low position, out of the way.
Kingsbury offers the Platoon with black or green dials, in brushed steel, or black or rose gold PVD cases. The review sample was green on gold. It certainly looks attractive, at first glance you might mistake it for clean bronze, but I question the utility of plating a field watch. You expect a tool watch to get bumped and scraped, and while well-worn black cases have a certain wabi-sabi charm, to my eye, worn gold just looks shabby.
The dial’s layout recalls those of classic military field watches, offering 12-hour markers as well as a 24-hour index on the outer track, and gold baton hands. Bright yellow “home plate” frames highlight the four primary hours on the 24-hour index, offering an appealing accent against the matte green surface. The markers and hands are lumed.
Kingsbury offers the Platoon on perforated leather, or the sturdy, leather-backed canvas shown here. The 22mm strap features quick-release pins and a signed buckle. I was impressed with the color match to the dial (no easy feat with green) and the relative pliability of the heavy fabric. It is neatly made and unlikely to fray they way unfinished canvas edges often do.
Overall, the Kingsbury MS2 Platoon is a sound unit that would make a fine weekend tool watch. If the green and gold is not to your liking, a more traditional steel or black one might do the trick. Whichever you choose, it will only cost $179, and that is tough to beat. ⬩
