Brief profile: Hanhart
- Founded: 1882 by Johann A. Hanhart in Diessenhofen (Switzerland)
- From 1902: Headquarters in Schwenningen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
- Manufacturers of stopwatches, chronographs and pilot's watches
- Today: Hanhart GmbH & Co. KG in Gütenbach (Black Forest)
Main types of Hanhart watches
| type |
Period |
Description |
| Stopwatches (mechanical)
|
from 1920
|
Hanhart became the market leader in Germany
|
| Air Force pilot chronographs (caliber 40/41)
|
1938 – 1945
|
Single and double push buttons, robust steel housings
|
| Post-war chronographs (caliber Cal. 41 / 42 / 42.1) |
1948 – 1962
|
Civilian versions, red push button remains trademark
|
| Stopwatches & sports chronographs (Cal. 122x / 128x)
|
1950 – 1980
|
Precision sports timers
|
| Modern era (mechanical reissues)
|
from 1990/2000s
|
Reissues of the legendary pilot's watches |
Serial numbers of the historical Hanhart chronographs
Serial number ranges can be accurately dated for military and early civilian chronographs. Hanhart used a consecutive serial number engraved on the bridge or plate.
| Serial number (approx.) |
Period |
caliber |
| 0001 – 1000
|
1938 – 1939
|
Cal. 40 (1-pusher pilot's chronograph)
|
| 1001 – 3500
|
1939 – 1941
|
Cal. 41 (2-pusher, partly military Fl. 23883) |
| 3501 – 7000
|
1941 – 1945
|
Cal. 41/42, late wartime version
|
| 7001 – 12000
|
1948 – 1952
|
Civilian post-war production, caliber 41/42 (Schwenningen/Gütenbach)
|
| 12001 – 18000
|
1952 – 1960
|
Caliber 42.1, improved escapement
|
| 18,000 – 25,000
|
1960 – 1970
|
Late chronographs and sports versions
|
| > 25000
|
from 1980
|
Special editions, new productions, no longer a close connection to the original series |
📘 Example:
A Hanhart with serial number 5173 , cal. 41 → manufactured in 1943–1944 , a classic Wehrmacht two-pusher chronograph .
Further dating information
| feature |
Period |
| Single-button (start-stop-reset via one button) |
1938–1940
|
| Two pushers, nickel case
|
1940–1944
|
| Red stop button
|
from 1941 (trademark to this day)
|
| Dial “Hanhart Chrome” or “Shockproof”
|
Post-war period (1948–1955)
|
| Shock protection (Incabloc)
|
After 1950 |
Hanhart specializes in the production of stopwatches and high-quality chronographs.
In 1882, the Swiss Johann Adolf Hanhart founded his watchmaking manufactory in Diessenhofen, Canton Thurgau. Due to a shortage of watchmakers, he relocated it 20 years later across the border to the watchmaking center of Schwenningen in the Black Forest.
His youngest son, Wilhelm Julius Hanhart (born October 31, 1902, died October 22, 1986), joined the company in 1920 at the age of 18. In 1924, Wilhelm Julius Hanhart launched the world's first affordable stopwatch, intended to rival the expensive Swiss models.
The success of this watch laid the foundation for the company's rise. From 1926 onwards, the product range was expanded to include wristwatches and pocket watches.
In 1938, Hanhart developed its first single-pusher chronograph, Caliber 40. A faithful replica of this movement is now very popular among watch enthusiasts under the name Pioneer Mk I.
The single-pusher chronograph, introduced in 1939, was issued to the German Navy and especially the Luftwaffe. Due to its reliability and accuracy, it was just as popular with pilots during the Second World War as the Tutima watches from the Glashütte-based manufacturer UFAG (Uhrenfabrik AG Glashütte).
Alongside these pilot's chronographs, production of the two-pusher model Caliber 41 began around 1940. Pilot's watches became the manufacturer's main product at that time, which also produced pocket chronographs for naval artillery, among other things.
At that time, Hanhart manufactured, among other things, eight different stopwatches. With the so-called super-fast oscillator, it was possible to measure 1/100th of a second with a mechanical stopwatch. However, watch production had to be curtailed until the end of the war in favor of producing time fuses for torpedoes.
Hanhart began its serial numbers at 100,000, and early models bear very low numbers, e.g., "100,236" from 1942.
Military watches from World War II typically range in price between 100,000 and 127,000.
Early Hanhart chronographs – such as the Caliber 40 – date from 1938 onwards, Caliber 41 from around 1940.
Caliber 40 – single-pusher chronograph, since series production began in 1938, based on the Landeron movement
Red pushers, asymmetrical layout and rotating bezel became widespread on Hanhart pilot chronographs from 1939 onwards.
Monopusher (single-pusher): first versions from 1938
Two-pusher (caliber 41): developed for the Luftwaffe from 1940 onwards
Caliber 41 – two-pusher flyback model, introduced in 1939/1940
Serial number 105 800, caliber 41, steel case → very likely circa 1941–1945, two-pusher pilot's chronograph
Serial number 100,000–127,000 + caliber 40 or 41 + knife-shaped housing → WWII era (ca. 1938–45)
Serial number significantly higher + Caliber 41 + steel case → late 1940s to 1950s
After the war and up until the 1960s, many vehicles were produced in steel – for example, the well-known 417 ES design.
417 ES: Original model from 1954,
The 415 ES models date back to the 1960s.
415 ES: first introduced in the mid-1960s
Serial number 115,000, caliber SW510, 39 mm modern re-edition → Hanhart Pioneer/417 ES
Hanhart Homepage:
1938 - DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMPACT CHRONOGRAPH "CALIBER 40"
The year 1938 marks the beginning of a new era in the company's history. The first Hanhart chronograph model goes into series production: the single-pusher "Caliber 40," which would soon become the company's flagship product. In its 2003 relaunch as the "Primus" model, it has become a highly sought-after collector's item.
1939 - PRESENTATION AND RELEASE OF THE MODEL "`TACHY TELE``
In 1939, the legendary pilot's chronographs "Caliber 41" and "TachyTele" followed – some featuring a red-lacquered pusher to prevent accidental reset. The Tachy Tele, introduced in 1939, was issued to the German Navy but primarily to the German Air Force and, due to its reliability and precision, was also very popular with professional pilots during World War II. By 1939, Hanhart had already increased its sales figures to such an extent that it employed 200 people.
1940 - LAUNCH OF THE TWIN-PUSH MODEL "CALIBER 41"
Production of the two-pusher model “Caliber 41” began in 1940. Pilot's watches became the manufacturer's main product at that time; the company also produced pocket chronographs for naval artillery, among other things.
1945 - THE SO-CALLED "B-CLOCK" OBSERVATION CLOCK
The B-Uhr was manufactured in the post-war years with a hand-wound movement and caliber 44. This three-hand watch was very popular both as a Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) watch and as a civilian timepiece. Its simple dial ensured easy readability, and the low case height made it very comfortable to wear.
1948 - WILLY HANHART RETURNS AND PRODUCTION OF THE CHRONOGRAPH "ADMIRAL" BEGINS
Willy Hanhart returned to the newly founded state of Baden-Württemberg after being acquitted of special war guilt very quickly. Due to a hiatus lasting from 1945 to 1948, Hanhart was unable to resume production immediately after the war.
Production of pilot's chronographs resumed in 1948. Hanhart manufactured the "Admiral" chronograph for the French, specifically for doctors and officers. The German Navy was supplied with precision timepieces. By the early 1950s, production was back in full swing. Hanhart increasingly focused on the manufacture of mechanical stopwatches and simultaneously launched several innovative products, such as time switches and the "Sans Souci" wrist alarm clock.
1957 - SUPPLY OF CHRONOGRAPHS TO THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES: THE FAMOUS "CAL. 42"
Hanhart initially manufactured watches for the French Air Force and, from 1957 onwards, with slight modifications, also for the newly re-established German Air Force and Navy. At that time, Hanhart was the sole watch supplier to the German Armed Forces. Other Western European air forces were also supplied with the stopwatches with which Hanhart had become the market leader in Europe in the 1950s.
Until 1962, pilot's watches and chronographs were manufactured for staff officers and doctors of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). The Hanhart Cal. 42, a column-wheel caliber with flyback function (now known as flyback) and manual winding, was introduced in 1957 and was a further development of the Cal. 40 and 41. The 417 E model in a matte chrome-plated brass case and the 417 ES Flyback in a stainless steel case were originally produced for the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) between 1953 and 1962, which is why the watch is also known among connoisseurs as the "Bundeswehr Chronograph".
1960 TO 1962 - EXPANSION AND MARKET LEADER IN STOPWATCHES
The expansion of the stopwatch product range continued even after the partial cessation of orders from the German Federal Armed Forces in the 1960s. In 1962, Hanhart repeated his coup from 1924: He surprised the market with his new stopwatch, the "Amigo." The company became the market leader and largest producer of mechanical stopwatches in Europe.
Source: Wikipedia, GPT chat, watch forum
2004 - SPECIAL SERIES "DORNIER BY HANHART"
In 2004, the German company launched the "Dornier by Hanhart" model. Its initiator was Irén Dornier, the grandson of the famous aircraft designer Claude Dornier. He commissioned the design of a chronograph in Gütenbach, dedicated to the legendary Do-X flying boat, which accompanied him on a very special journey: Irén Dornier circumnavigated the globe in a historic seaplane, wearing the Hanhart chronograph on his wrist.
2005 - INTRODUCTION OF ``M39``
In 2005, the highly successful replica “M39” was launched. Further newly developed models followed. This marked the beginning of a new watch series based on the originals from 1939.
2007 - 125 YEARS OF HANHART: ``OPUS41`` & ``SPIRIT OF RACING``
In 2007, two special editions marked the company's 125th anniversary. They reflect the company's history: "Opus 41" and "Spirit of Racing." The "Opus 41" hand-wound chronograph, equipped with an original, historic Hanhart column-wheel movement "Caliber 41/42," is crafted from platinum and limited to 39 pieces. The high-quality "Spirit of Racing" collector's set, featuring the classic Hanhart "Minos" wristwatch and a special edition rattrapante flyback stopwatch, celebrates the spirit of 125 years of timekeeping for sporting events.
2008 - THE WORLD PREMIERE "TACHYMASTER"`
Hanhart launched the world's first "Tachymaster" in 2008: a stopwatch that provides passionate classic car rally drivers with a completely new and innovative tool. It displays the distance to be driven, making average speed checks much easier. With the launch of the "Tachymaster" for classic car rallies, the long-established watch manufacturer underscores its leading position as Europe's most important stopwatch manufacturer.
2009 - PRESENTATION OF THE "PRIMUS" MODEL SERIES AT BASELWORLD
In close collaboration with the workshops of the Gütenbach manufactory and highly specialized suppliers from the Swiss watch industry, a new, progressively designed collection of mechanical chronographs was developed under the name “Primus” and presented for the first time at Baselworld 2009. This collection builds on the long tradition and expertise of the brand's own watchmaking manufacture and combines historical elements – such as the distinctive red pusher that has characterized Hanhart watches since 1939 – with state-of-the-art technology and progressive design. The Pilot, Racer, and Diver models are based on the brand's core competence in producing highly precise, extremely reliable, and robust timepieces for use in the air and on land.
2011 - PIONEER MODELS
At Baselworld 2011, Hanhart presented three new models in its “Pioneer” collection. The “MonoControl,” the “TwinControl,” and the “TwinDicator” are based in design and technology on the brand's legendary chronographs, thus building on its long tradition and high level of expertise, while implementing them in a contemporary way. With its hour counter integrated into the small seconds subdial and the displays positioned at the very edge of the dial, the “Pioneer TwinDicator” in particular is a highlight of the collection.
2012 - 130 YEARS OF HANHART
Hanhart celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2012. The Swiss-German watch brand, which still holds its position as a leading producer of timekeeping instruments, looks back on an uninterrupted manufacturing tradition and a successful and innovative company history. Today, it focuses more than ever on its core competence: the production of functional instrument watches for use in the air, on land, and at sea.
2013 - PRESENTATION OF THE "RACEMASTER" MODELS
As a tribute to its traditionally close ties to motorsport in the 1960s and 1970s, Hanhart is launching three new chronographs in its “Pioneer” collection. The “Racemaster GT”, the “Racemaster GTM”, and the “Racemaster GTF”, with their sporty, technical design, are the first watch models whose cases are made from HDSPro®, a steel that is 100 times more scratch-resistant.
2015 - LIMITED EDITION FOR URBAN SURVIVORS
Under the motto “Urban Survivor,” Hanhart appealed to high performers seeking adventures off the beaten track with this limited edition. The chronograph, with its Black Forest-inspired design, was strictly limited to 50 pieces and sold out quickly. It bears the name PRIMUS Survivor Pilot. The watch's outdoor capabilities are clearly the focus, appealing precisely to those individualists who consciously choose to purchase such a unique timepiece.
2018 - ``PIONEER ONE`` & ``BLACK FALCON PRIMUS RACE WINNER``
PIONEER One – a timeless design admired for decades – returns with modern technology as a three-hand watch. The hands and basic dial design are based on the iconic Hanhart 417 ES Flyback. By reducing it to a three-hand watch and employing the latest watchmaking standards, Hanhart revives the unique charm of the early 1950s. The new limited-edition Black Falcon PRIMUS Race Winner was created in cooperation with the Black Falcon Team, a young German motorsport company currently enjoying national and international success. Crafted to the highest quality standards and featuring a unique color combination, it is designed for racing drivers, adrenaline junkies, car enthusiasts, or the modern man whose passion is speed. The combination of sporty design and innovative technology in the Black Falcon Chronograph is truly unique.
2019 - S-SERIES
Hanhart's strictly limited S-Series was dedicated to a very special anniversary: 50 years of the Saab 105 in service with the Austrian Armed Forces. The instrument watches were designed in the style of the cockpit clocks used in Saab 105 fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, thus bringing a piece of Austrian Air Force history to the wearer's wrist. The S 105 OE and S 105 OE GMT are based on the cockpit clock of the Saab 105s used by the Austrian Armed Forces, while the SK 60 GMT is based on the cockpit clock of the Swedish model of the Saab 105, designated SK 60.
2020 - 417 ES: THE RETURN OF A LEGEND
With the new Hanhart 417 ES, we celebrate the return of a legend among stopwatches. Over 60 years ago, its historical predecessor served as the first pilot's chronograph for the German Armed Forces. Today, it combines the best design of that era with the most modern manufacturing techniques of our time. The result: A robust chronograph with a fascinating history, perfect for everyday life and adventure.
Sources: AI, Wikipedia, hanhart.com
Photos: hanhart.com
