HANHART watches goes way beyond Steve McQueen, whom wore one out of personal interest!
If anyone is looking for an authentic rendition watch full of significant history, Hanhart should be on their radar. A few YouTube watch reviewers have covered these watches including one who was involved in a project of 150 pieces where he put his crest to a variant of the 417ES model on the caseback. There is an interesting fact about the original 417ES of 1954 that a few already know. Of all the watches Steve McQueen wore, his 417ES with a flyback complication 41 caliber movement in the 1960s was of his personal choice , a favorite and not worn to promote the brand. He used it while motorcycling and wore it on-screen sets. No one knew at the time what Hanhart watches were about, but he did. Others were more interested in his Rolex and Heuer pieces as well as later Benrus and Cartier. Hanhart watches go beyond the famous actor who was inadvertently was an ambassador for the brand. They started in 1882 in the German speaking part of Switzerland then later moved to Germany. They originally produced stop watches of different kinds and around 1938, they produced a single or mono pusher chronograph that the piston style button smaller than their stopwatch models, were so one can take the wristwatch in the hand to be used in the same way using the thumb. The modern-day version of that model being the Pioneer MKI 714.210 with an adapted Swiss movement replicates that, as the chronograph starts, stops and resets only using one button. The piston style single mono pusher is red in color and that has a legendary story behind it, but the practical part is to immediately draw one’s attention to it briefly to prevent accidental activation. This red color button is a signature, as with the dual control models mainly have it on the second button used for re-setting the chronograph. Moving onto 1939 to 1940s, Hanhart went from the Caliber 40 to the flyback 41 movements serving the German Luftwaffe on timed bombing raids in WWII with precision. The Cathedral style hands became distinctive until the 1950s when the 417E and the ES came out in 1954, Mathey-Tissot came out with the Type XX for Breguet for the French Air Force. There are similarities and differences. At the same time Tutima, another German watch brand from Glashutte were competing with Hanhart. They deserve equal recognition, but Hanhart’s consistency and long traditions have propelled them to appeal to cult watch collectors like me. That adds to the nostalgia and gives prestige. Where we are today, Hanhart have produced a few rendition models of their iconic ones of the 30s and 50s period. There are very subtle changes to bring the original up to date using modern components including Swiss movements and sapphire crystals. Limited editions have been produced since the turn of this century. Do research what they are and all about as you will not be disappointed. Any Hanhart model is a good piece and one cannot go wrong. Having four in my collection; each one with its own significance and subtle distinction. Value for money with great performance, exceptional craftsmanship, robust, utilitarian and distinction make them exceptional. There are not investments of the same type as some high-end brands but for the enthusiast and serious collector, they are worth buying for pleasure and enjoyment with a fantastic unique wearing experience. I like the Time Capsule concept of these pieces leaving a lot to one’s imagination of flying an aircraft from the era when they were first made. There are not dress watches but for all other occasions, apart from diving and water sports, they fit The Bill. Now considered a cult, these Hanharts is an appreciation for gentry, that being a clue as to the YouTube reviewer who collaborated with them to come up with The Red Lion with 150 pieces limited edition! Don’t take my words for it, go and explore these for yourselves to see what they do for you. For me, it has been a great journey to get this far and now has come to an end only left to enjoy wearing these four in rotation. Please let us know what you have found and do share your experiences with Hanhart watches as these can tell many stories of adventures. From left to right – Pioneer MK1 single mono-pusher automatic, 1939 Replika Flieger Chronograph one of 2,500 made where I applied acrylic red paint to the second pusher, Pioneer 417ES 42mm Panda Flyback with an open case back to view the 510M single column wheel movement and Pioneer X 417 Bronze Rake and Revolution 42mm limited to 150 pieces.
Watch collector since 1975 and have over 100 pieces https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-bramzel-82174a11/
A very interesting write up, thank you.
awesome write. also a fan of hanhart, personally i know hanhart first time from the gentry who collab yo produced the red lion lol
awesome write. also a fan of hanhart, personally i know hanhart first time from the gentry who collab yo produced the red lion lol
@Unholy Yes - TGV is the guy who has featured them on his YT channel. Plenty of coverage there.
I've been long considering one of these to be my first chronograph. I like how clean the dial is with 2 registers vs 3. However I'm most interested in tracking hours and minutes.
In a review I've heard that the bezel could be used to track hours but they never showed how.
I am wondering if you could explain how the hours could be tracked on this if it could be
I've been long considering one of these to be my first chronograph. I like how clean the dial is with 2 registers vs 3. However I'm most interested in tracking hours and minutes.
In a review I've heard that the bezel could be used to track hours but they never showed how.
I am wondering if you could explain how the hours could be tracked on this if it could be
@timeismoneyman Thanks for your reply. To have a new current production Hanhart model as your first chronograph is a very good choice and the Sellita 510M movement with a column wheel is of good quality with a power reserves up to approximately 60 hours without slowing the beat rate from the 4 Hz 28,800, which other other watch houses do to go beyond 42 hours. More information about the movement can be found by going to https://watchbase.com/sellita/caliber/sw510-m-bh-b and https://calibercorner.com/sellita-caliber-sw510-m-bh-b/ The black dials of the models I have, the lume is better and the numerals are more defined than the white Panda one. The registers totalizers subdials are sharp and easily can be read at a glance. With Hanhart models, the symmetry and spacing of the two dial models are just right without overlapping to the Arabic numerals of the upper and lower. Very clean and well thought out. One of the best I have come across. Good attention to detail.
With the two register dials, by using the bezel to align the red dot, in one case on my 1939 rendition a luminous dot, to the position the hour hand is pointing to and then you can gauge the 30 minutes past stages from there as that is an easy eye ball. The 30 minute subdial reading off the minutes. The bezel marker can also be used as a count down timer by moving it to in a bi-directional rotation to where you want the minute, or perhaps the hour hand of the main watch to be. Good for parking meters or boiling an egg. three out of four of my watches the bezel sits firmly and moves by deliberate motion with fingers. The fourth one, single or mono pusher, is not so firm and can be moved with hardly any resistance accidentally.
Having a few chronographs in my collection, including from other watch houses, I have only used the stop watch part for what it is intended very rarely. It is really knowing there is a complication movement and with Hanhart models 1930s or 1950s, depending on which model, for nostalgia reasons. The minute hand on the main part curves down at the tips for extra sharpness and the minute track is very clear.
I hope this helps you to make the decision that is best for you. I tend to favor the 1930s models with the Cathedral style hands, that being subjective as different strokes for different folks!
@timeismoneyman Thanks for your reply. To have a new current production Hanhart model as your first chronograph is a very good choice and the Sellita 510M movement with a column wheel is of good quality with a power reserves up to approximately 60 hours without slowing the beat rate from the 4 Hz 28,800, which other other watch houses do to go beyond 42 hours. More information about the movement can be found by going to https://watchbase.com/sellita/caliber/sw510-m-bh-b and https://calibercorner.com/sellita-caliber-sw510-m-bh-b/ The black dials of the models I have, the lume is better and the numerals are more defined than the white Panda one. The registers totalizers subdials are sharp and easily can be read at a glance. With Hanhart models, the symmetry and spacing of the two dial models are just right without overlapping to the Arabic numerals of the upper and lower. Very clean and well thought out. One of the best I have come across. Good attention to detail.
With the two register dials, by using the bezel to align the red dot, in one case on my 1939 rendition a luminous dot, to the position the hour hand is pointing to and then you can gauge the 30 minutes past stages from there as that is an easy eye ball. The 30 minute subdial reading off the minutes. The bezel marker can also be used as a count down timer by moving it to in a bi-directional rotation to where you want the minute, or perhaps the hour hand of the main watch to be. Good for parking meters or boiling an egg. three out of four of my watches the bezel sits firmly and moves by deliberate motion with fingers. The fourth one, single or mono pusher, is not so firm and can be moved with hardly any resistance accidentally.
Having a few chronographs in my collection, including from other watch houses, I have only used the stop watch part for what it is intended very rarely. It is really knowing there is a complication movement and with Hanhart models 1930s or 1950s, depending on which model, for nostalgia reasons. The minute hand on the main part curves down at the tips for extra sharpness and the minute track is very clear.
I hope this helps you to make the decision that is best for you. I tend to favor the 1930s models with the Cathedral style hands, that being subjective as different strokes for different folks!
Wow friend this was very good! So it can be used as an elapsed time and a countdown essentially! That's very good to know. I suppose I never conceptualized it like that until now.
I trade and part of my trading is time based whether it's entry or exits and so there are times I do not like to have my phone on me or hover around the computer anxiously so timing these with a chronograph would be fun.
I appreciate the time and energy to share that! I'm partial to cathedral hands but like the flyback and sizing of that 417 es1954
Wow friend this was very good! So it can be used as an elapsed time and a countdown essentially! That's very good to know. I suppose I never conceptualized it like that until now.
I trade and part of my trading is time based whether it's entry or exits and so there are times I do not like to have my phone on me or hover around the computer anxiously so timing these with a chronograph would be fun.
I appreciate the time and energy to share that! I'm partial to cathedral hands but like the flyback and sizing of that 417 es1954
@timeismoneyman Indeed and that being the reason I finished up with four of them: two cathedral and two of the needle/pencil 1954 ones. I like the flexibility of having a dot on the bezel so one can use it as a timer or count down as well as gauging for the hour hand instead of having a third sub dial. Simple and effective. All 4 of my H's have a purpose in my collection and they have individual character. Having an 8 to 8.25 inch wrist and +1.25 Readers, the 40mm and 42mm case sizes work for me. The 39mm 417ES may have been a tad small although it is the McQueen size. In my case when I wear the bronze one 42mm, the McQueen nostalgia effect kicks in quite a bit. The others I feel more like a Luftwaffe pilot in a Heinkel or a Messerschmidt!
@timeismoneyman Thanks for your reply. To have a new current production Hanhart model as your first chronograph is a very good choice and the Sellita 510M movement with a column wheel is of good quality with a power reserves up to approximately 60 hours without slowing the beat rate from the 4 Hz 28,800, which other other watch houses do to go beyond 42 hours. More information about the movement can be found by going to https://watchbase.com/sellita/caliber/sw510-m-bh-b and https://calibercorner.com/sellita-caliber-sw510-m-bh-b/ The black dials of the models I have, the lume is better and the numerals are more defined than the white Panda one. The registers totalizers subdials are sharp and easily can be read at a glance. With Hanhart models, the symmetry and spacing of the two dial models are just right without overlapping to the Arabic numerals of the upper and lower. Very clean and well thought out. One of the best I have come across. Good attention to detail.
With the two register dials, by using the bezel to align the red dot, in one case on my 1939 rendition a luminous dot, to the position the hour hand is pointing to and then you can gauge the 30 minutes past stages from there as that is an easy eye ball. The 30 minute subdial reading off the minutes. The bezel marker can also be used as a count down timer by moving it to in a bi-directional rotation to where you want the minute, or perhaps the hour hand of the main watch to be. Good for parking meters or boiling an egg. three out of four of my watches the bezel sits firmly and moves by deliberate motion with fingers. The fourth one, single or mono pusher, is not so firm and can be moved with hardly any resistance accidentally.
Having a few chronographs in my collection, including from other watch houses, I have only used the stop watch part for what it is intended very rarely. It is really knowing there is a complication movement and with Hanhart models 1930s or 1950s, depending on which model, for nostalgia reasons. The minute hand on the main part curves down at the tips for extra sharpness and the minute track is very clear.
I hope this helps you to make the decision that is best for you. I tend to favor the 1930s models with the Cathedral style hands, that being subjective as different strokes for different folks!
Thank you so much for this awesome post and you did a great job in describing my new watch!
@at_michi Nice and the reverse Panda's lume is more prominent than the standard. It looks like the 42mm model and does it have the display caseback showing the blue steel column wheel? It fits nicely on your wrist and McQueen-esque. You should get some good remarks wearing it. The reset of the Chrono snaps back very sharply and precisely at 12. These are quality watches and for price point, very modest.
@at_michi Nice and the reverse Panda's lume is more prominent than the standard. It looks like the 42mm model and does it have the display caseback showing the blue steel column wheel? It fits nicely on your wrist and McQueen-esque. You should get some good remarks wearing it. The reset of the Chrono snaps back very sharply and precisely at 12. These are quality watches and for price point, very modest.
Thanks for the compliment but McQueen certainly is a million times more cooler than I am 😂.
Yes I got the 42 mm version because my wrist really can need the extra 39mm. And honestly, the display caseback really shouldn't be missed either!
The price point is really great. I can't think of such a historic watch with that kind of complication at such an attractive price point.