I need to admit that I’ve wished to get my fingers on the Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda 39 for a very long time. Ever since Hanhart launched its most iconic chronograph in a 39mm case measurement (similar to the unique watch from 1954), it has been excessive on my listing of watches to attempt. Now that I’ve, I can say that it might be the model’s finest. One factor’s for positive: it packs loads of punch for just below €2,500.
When you find yourself excited to see a watch within the steel, your expectations may be the tyranny of evaluate. That is just because your expectations are elevated past merely assessing a product on its deserves. Your feelings come into play. “Don’t meet your heroes,” because the saying goes. Even so, I’ve not been dissatisfied within the slightest when dealing with this Hanhart 417 ES. Learn on.
A German watchmaker with Swiss roots
For these of us who aren’t notably aware of Hanhart, the now-German model was based within the Swiss city of Diessenhofen in 1882. Twenty years later, the founder (Swiss watchmaker Johann Hanhart) relocated his workshop to Schwenningen within the southern German Black Forest area. By 1939, the model had began making pilot chronographs for the German Luftwaffe and had already develop into a neighborhood chief in stopwatch manufacturing. These days, Hanhart produces its watches in a manufacturing facility in Gütenbach, additionally in southern Germany.
Picture: Hanhart
The unique Hanhart 417 chronograph
In 1954, Hanhart launched what would develop into its best-known watch, although there have been no indications on the time that this is able to be the case. The post-war West German Air Pressure wanted hardy wrist chronographs for navigation. Hanhart was tasked with producing this watch, and in 1954, the unique Hanhart 417 (in a chrome-plated brass case) and 417 ES (quick for edelstahl, the German phrase for stainless-steel) have been born. It’s believed that far fewer than 1,000 of the latter have been produced, maybe round half that quantity in complete. These have been by no means for civilian sale however solely for the West German navy.
However, in some way, Hollywood icon (and a person with good style in watches) Steve McQueen ended up proudly owning one. He was pictured sporting it on a Bund-style strap on a number of events. This may be seen within the gallery of pictures above taken by François Gragnon for Paris Match in addition to an uncommon certainly one of McQueen with an animal pelt (I don’t condone the killing and skinning of unique or endangered animals).
The fashionable Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback
Due to the connections to navy heritage and a Hollywood icon, the classic Hanhart 417s have been well-liked with collectors however comparatively unknown to the broader world. That has continued to the fashionable day, although Hanhart has a powerful following. Fortunately, Hanhart determined to reintroduce iterations of the unique 417 ES in several case sizes and dial colours. These days, we’ve got choices in each 39mm and 42mm instances. At the moment, we’re specializing in the 39mm Reverse Panda model.
The very first thing I observed with this watch was the extraordinarily excessive legibility inherent within the dial design. Double-register chronographs can have a pleasant symmetry to them. That is notably present in a Sort 20 format, and this Hanhart isn’t any exception. The stark white numerals appear to leap out from the matte black dial. Hanhart did a superb job of recreating the vibe of the unique watch with this dial. The numerals wrap neatly across the dial’s perimeter and mirror the unique font, together with a gorgeous open 6. That is certainly one of my favourite parts of the dial.
One other certainly one of my favourite points is the Tremendous-LumiNova therapy on the sub-dials. The general nighttime functionality of this watch is spectacular, with loads of luminescent materials within the numerals and fingers as nicely, which I hope the picture above illustrates. Not like the unique, the chronograph seconds hand can also be luminous. This ensures that each the elapsed seconds and the 30-minute chronograph counter are simply seen in low-light situations.
A contemporary flyback chronograph motion
On the sting of the dial of the Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda 39, we discover a full set of hash marks together with Arabic numerals in five-minute/second intervals. The latter is a delicate contact that aids in monitoring elapsed seconds with the chronograph. Additionally on the dial, there are reminders that the watch is antimagnetic, shockproof, and a flyback chronograph. This motion is a comparatively current addition from the Swiss motion maker Sellita, caliber AMT5100 M. It’s a hand-wound flyback built-in chronograph with a column wheel. The 23-jewel motion operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and supplies at the very least 58 hours of energy reserve when totally wound. Manually winding the watch is a pleasure. The crown doesn’t wiggle, and the winding motion is easy and pleasurable.
These Hanhart chronograph watches are adjusted to run between -0 and +8 seconds per day, so they are going to hold good time. Using a Sellita motion relatively than one thing in-house is a plus in my thoughts. It signifies that as these actions develop into extra extensively used, components ought to stay accessible to any unbiased watchmaker for servicing and repairs within the years to come back. Nonetheless, on the 39mm model, you gained’t see the motion as a result of it sits behind an all-steel case again with the engaging Hanhart signature and “Handmade in Germany” (in German). The case again can also be elementary to offering this watch with antimagnetic properties.
Is the Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda 39 GADA materials?
One other function you might have observed inscribed on the case again is that this watch’s water resistance to 10 ATM (100 meters). Which means the 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda 39 might actually be a “go wherever, do something” watch and one I might comfortably take swimming. The 39 × 46mm case supplies reassurance, although at 13.3mm thick, it may appear a tad chunky. Nonetheless, this thickness is kind of affordable for a chronograph with this stage of water resistance. The excessive legibility and stable specs make this Hanhart glorious GADA materials should you just like the appears and design. The good thing about a 20mm lug spacing is you could pair it with many alternative strap choices too.
A fast take a look at the case would possibly point out a comparatively easy design and therapy, however you’ll be mistaken in your preliminary impressions. The perimeters of the case are properly brushed, whereas the highest surfaces of the lugs have each brushed and polished finishes. The place the underside of the case meets the case again, there’s additionally a small ring of polished steel, making a good bit of visible distinction the nearer you take a look at this watch. So there’s extra to the case than instantly meets the attention, which is a pleasant contact from Hanhart.
An elapsed-time bezel
One of many quirks of the Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback’s design is the crimson marker on the bezel. This bezel is bidirectional with none clicks and supplies the bonus of an elapsed-time marker. Simply line up the crimson mark with the present location of the minute hand, and you’ve got one thing akin to a rudimentary dive bezel. It’s small touches like this that add to the quirkiness of the watch. Shifting the bezel is simple. There’s sufficient resistance to forestall it from getting simply knocked misplaced, however there’s sufficient smoothness to permit for painless adjustment.
One other factor I ought to spotlight is the standard of the leather-based strap that got here with the watch. You see, should you order it on the strap, you get a Bund-style model in black with off-white stitching. It’s very comfy. The additional leather-based pad the watch sits on is detachable, although, so you may simply convert it to an everyday leather-based strap. The standard of the strap is superb, being gentle and supple. The buckle, engraved with the Hanhart identify, is a pleasant, high quality unit. Fast-release spring bars make for straightforward detachable of the strap if you wish to put the watch on one thing else. Hanhart now additionally makes a steel bracelet for this watch that appears stable sufficient.
Closing ideas
Bravo, Hanhart. The technical developments over the unique 417 ES are appreciable. This is smart since there have been a number of a long time between the classic and fashionable variations. I need to say that the Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda 39 is a really well-put-together watch. It has the appropriate mixture of recent updates and homage to the unique design. Hanhart has designed a watch that carefully displays the spirit and really feel of the unique. In so doing, it has additionally supplied reassuring ranges of construct high quality and ruggedness. At €2,490 on the strap, if I have been available in the market, this is able to be very excessive on my listing. Fortunately for my pockets, I’ve a neo-vintage IWC 3706 tri-register chronograph already. However, Hanhart as soon as once more proves why German watchmakers are price investigating for an ideal quality-to-price ratio. This 417 ES 1954 Flyback has the heritage to match.
What do you suppose, Fratelli? Do you just like the appears of this Hanhart and its heritage? What do you consider the model extra broadly, and would you contemplate proudly owning certainly one of its watches? Let me know within the feedback.
