The ever expanding Hanhart 417 ES collection has just added yet another return of an icon from more than 60 years. The Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick
The Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick is now available for SGD 2,600 (before GST) or EUR 1,940 including 19% VAT.
Commentary
Interesting release of a somewhat lesser known collector’s piece from the late 1950s…the all white dial with unmarked bezel version of the Hanhart 417 ES, nicknamed the Moby Dick.
This is yet another variant of the 417 ES collection, now numbering 7 models, which has been expanding for a few years now. But we do not blame Hanhart for riding on its own band wagon. The watch is handsome, and has proven to be highly reliable. It also comes with strong historical linkages. Though Hanhart does mention that the 417 ES were supplied to the German Air Force, including the Luftwaffe in World War II, they are smart and careful enough not to celebrate this dark era in German history.
We quite like the 417 ES, particularly the all black dial version released in 2020. This novelty is the polar opposite in terms of colourway. The entire dial is white. And also, the red mark at 12 o’clock is replaced with a white one. We do note that this is a departure from the styling of the original 417 ES which was nicknamed Moby Dick, which sported the standard red mark on the bezel. The movement remains the Sellita SW 510, a time tested variant of the Valjoux 7750.
Pricing remains quite competitive, and is set to release at EUR 1,940 (today German VAT is 19%) compared to EUR 1,744 (VAT at 16% with COVID stimulus) in 2020. Straps are available in calf, in a standard stitched leather in light brown, or in a bund style black leather. A steel bracelet is also available.
Release details
The new Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick: A chronograph for admirals and doctors
The launch of the Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick marks the return of another collector’s item among wristwatches. More than 60 years ago, its historical model served as a chronograph for officers and in the medical service. Today, it combines the classic design of yesteryear with the most advanced manufacturing techniques of our time. The result is a robust chronograph with a fascinating history, ready for everyday life and adventure.
In the past, the 417 was intended to combine robustness, reliability and readability in one watch. Originally designed as a pilot’s chronograph, there was also a version with a white dial and blued hands for use in the navy and medical service. The original historical model, of which only very few pieces still exist worldwide, is knownamong collectors as the Moby Dick. The few surviving examples of the historic 417 ES Moby Dick are now coveted vintage chronographs for collectors.
The attached letter abbreviation “ES” stands for stainless steel, as it once did. Even if it cannot take you back in time, we have combined the most fascinating details of the past with the most modern materials of our time. Today, the stainless steel case measures a contemporary 42 mm in diameter. Despite the heavily domed sapphire crystal, we have retained a height of just 13.3 mm. Our aim was to make the 417 ES Moby Dick as slim as possible in order to achieve a present but not disproportionate appearance on the wrist.
A sharply drawn and highly polished bevel marks the transition from the satin-finished horns to the flanks. The fluted bezel, a typical Hanhart style feature, rotates continuously in both directions. However, the position marker on the Moby Dick is not red, but matches the color of the dial. Like the rest of the design, the details on the dial are reminiscent of the historical model from the 1950s. The bi-compax layout and the lettering are based on the early 417. To win over even the most die-hard vintage fans, we have adopted the numbers and fonts from back then.
A new feature is the use of modern Superluminova luminous material in a subtle cream shade. Together with the black edges and thermally blued hands, it forms an appealing contrast to the white background. The historical logo adorns the crown on the dial.
To ensure that our latest stopwatch not only looks good, but also runs precisely, the reliable hand-wound SW510 caliber in the best Swiss Made quality works behind the screw-down stainless steel case back. In addition to the stop-seconds function, it of- fers a power reserve of up to 48 hours when fully wound. The historic 417 was also wound by hand, although its range of action was severely restricted due to its limited water resistance. This is why our new 417 ES Moby Dick can withstand pressures of up to 10 bar.
A strap made of light brown leather ensures comfortable wear on the wrist from day one. The pin buckle with the historic Hanhart logo ensures a secure fit. For further design options, we also offer straps in black and dark brown.
Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick Technical Specifications
CASE
- Stainless steel, satined/polished
- Diameter 42 mm, Height with glass 13.3 mm (11.55mm without glass) Crown with the historic Hanhart “h”
- Fluted rotating bezel, continuously rotatable, with crème-colored marking Anti-reflective convex sapphire glass
- High-domed sapphire glass
- Screwed-down stainless steel case back
- Water resistant to 10 bar/10 ATM according to DIN 8310
- Continuous serial number
- Shockproof
- Engraving of the historical logo on the case back
DIAL AND HANDS
- Historical Logo
- Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium GL coated numerals Thermally blued hands
STRAP
- Light brown calfskin strap with white stitching Pin-buckle with historical logo
- Lug width 21mm
MOVEMENT
- Manual wound chronograph Sellita SW 510 M
- Symmetrical button arrangement 28.800 A/h, 4 Hz, 23 jewels Power reserve minimum 48 hours
FUNCTIONS
- Small second
- 30-minute counter
- Bicompax Chronograph with central stop-second
