The Hanhart #FliegerFriday Edition

Hanhart, the German watch brand with Swiss roots, has been producing Flieger (pilot’s) chronographs since 1938. Hanhart’s first pilot’s watch was the legendary monopusher “Calibre 40” followed in rapid succession by iconic models like the Hanhart 417 ES, the first pilot’s chronograph for the German armed forces, and the 1939 Tachytele Pilot’s Chronograph. All the abovementioned models are still alive and kicking today with modern materials and new movements. Today the brand releases a new #FliegerFriday pilot chronograph with a contemporary black DLC-coated case and a vibrant blue dial. Although the brand has gone for the #FliegerFriday hashtag that is popular on social media, the watch is essentially a Pioneer TwinControl chronograph.

The TwinControl pays homage to Hanhart’s pilot chronographs equipped with the “Calibre 41” of 1939 with two pushers, one painted in red to avoid unintentional resetting. The original Calibre 41 chronograph movement with column wheel and flyback function resulted in the extremely legible bicompax (two-register) layout, a feature that has endured over time and is common to all Hanhart’s wristwatch chronographs. Other details of the watch that hark back to the ancestor are the piston-style chronograph pushers with the signature red reset pusher at 4 o’clock, and the upper pusher positioned asymmetrically towards the lug.

Black DLC case

The most striking feature of the Hanhart #FliegerFriday Edition is the black DLC-coated stainless steel case. Accustomed as we are to these vintage-inspired watches appearing in steel cases with or without the Hanhart fluted bezel, this latest edition has a contemporary black Diamond-Like Carbon coating that not only changes the look of the watch but also protects the surface of the case from abrasion and corrosion.  Like other TwinControl models, the case has a 42mm diameter and height of 15mm, and the hallmark red reset pusher at 4 o’clock is protected by a HyCeram ceramic/polymer compound. Protected by a convex anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the front and a screw-down caseback, the watch is water-resistant to 100m.

RICH blue dial

Although there are currently TwinControl models with classic off-white or black dials, this #FliegerFriday Edition stages its displays against an eye-catching royal blue background. Like the black dial versions, this intense blue provides a sharp contrast for the straightforward bicompax layout. The precision seconds/minutes track on the perimeter is white, and the central chronograph seconds hand has a red tip, just like the arrow-tipped hand of the 30-minute chronograph counter. Opposite the 30-minute sub-dial is the small seconds counter, both with snailed interiors and white markings.

The similarities between the dial of the TwinControl and the original “Calibre 41” are striking and give this model an irrefutable vintage aura. However, the twin counters on the vintage model are smaller and graze the perimeter of the dial. The new movement allows a more balanced and central position of the sub-dials that are slightly recessed and lodged between the 2 and 4 and 8 and 10 o’clock numerals. The sharp-pointed cathedral-style hour hand and the syringe minutes hand are similar to the original and are filled with Super-LumiNova that emits a cool green glow in the dark. In a departure from “Calibre 41”, there is a date window at 6 o’clock with a black background and white numerals.

Automatic Chronograph Movement

The #FliegerFriday Edition is powered by calibre HAN3809, a movement based on the solid architecture of the automatic ETA/Valjoux7750 chronograph with a La Joux-Perret modification. The modification changes the conventional 6-9-12 sub-dial layout to a more balanced two-register layout (3 and 9) style, with the small seconds and the 30-minute counters at a slight distance from the axis of the hands. For the rest, the specifications are identical to a standard 7750 – cam-activated chronograph, 4Hz frequency and 42h power reserve.

Availability & Price

The blue ox leather strap with a suede finish and red cross stitching on the lugs is spot on. Not only does it echo the colour scheme of the dial, but it also gives the watch a casual contemporary air. The Hanhart #FliegerFriday Edition is limited to 100 pieces and retails for EUR 2,490 (incl. tax).

For more information and orders, please visit Hanhart’s website.