With the 417 C Flyback LE, Hanhart and Chronos — the German sister magazine of WatchTime — present a limited-edition model in steel and bronze. The favorite of Steve McQueen and former German Bundeswehr chronograph comes with a column-wheel chronograph, flyback function, and a manual-winding movement.
The Hanhart 417 started its career as a tool watch for German Air Force pilots shortly after the rearmament of West Germany and its accession to NATO. Hanhart supplied the German armed forces with the watch for almost ten years. Today, the few surviving examples are considered coveted collector’s items. Actor and racing driver Steve McQueen also wore the chronograph and was seen with it at numerous motorbike races, as well in the 1962 film “The War Lover.” There were two different versions of the model: the 417 made of nickel-plated brass and the 417 ES made of stainless steel.
Old models radiate a special beauty, where the nickel layer became thinner over time due to the many uses of pushers, crown, and rotating bezel, and the rose gold color of the brass was revealed. Hanhart achieved this look in the new model with case parts made of steel and bronze.
The light patina of bronze gives the watch even more retro charm when worn. The dial under the highly domed sapphire crystal with the bi-compax division, as well as the hand shape and the historic Hanhart logo, are also authentic.
As with the original, the case measures 39 millimeters, and it comes with a manual-winding caliber with column-wheel control and flyback function. The mechanism allows a new time interval to be measured immediately by pressing the reset pusher. The new AMT5100 M caliber can be viewed through the sapphire crystal case back. It comes from the Manufacture AMT department of the Swiss specialist Sellita and has a power reserve of 58 hours. The column wheel and the screws have been blued, and the plate shows a striped finish. The chronograph is worn on a choice of brown or black leather strap with an underlay.
The new Hanhart 417 C Flyback LE is limited to 150 pieces and costs $2,860 or €2,490.
You can learn more and order the new model, here.