INTRODUCING: The Hanhart 417 ES Panda Flyback Chronographs offer even better value.

Time+Tide

There is no shortage of vintage-inspired chronographs on the market. Especially coming from established Swiss brands that have dug through their vast catalogues to recreate iconic models. There has also been a re-emergence of fine German watchmaking in the past few years. Hanhart is one of the best representatives of this movement. The brand made watch headlines in 2020 when it released the 417 ES, one of the preferred watches of actor Steve McQueen. The 417 ES re-creation was a big deal because this watch used to only be available to German Air Force pilots. So, in 2020 and for the first time in 60 years, the 417 ES was made available to everyone. Now, Hanhart is releasing new versions of the 417 ES that offer even better value.

The big star of the show is the re-introduction of the flyback chronograph in this collection. The original 417 ES had a flyback function and so it was perhaps only a matter of time before Hanhart would bring it back to the 417 ES. Having a flyback chronograph means being able to quickly reset the chronograph hand to time a new event by pressing the reset pusher at the 4 o’clock position. This function is made possible by equipping the new 417 ES with the Sellita AMT5100 M caliber that comes with 58 hours of power reserve. These new versions of the 417 ES are the closest to the original that had a limited run of 1,000 pieces 60 years ago.

In early 2022, Hanhart introduced a 39mm version of the 417 ES to complement the 42mm version. This 39mm size is the dimension of the original and it guarantees a better fit for most wrist sizes. The new Panda Flyback chronographs come in both 39mm and 42mm cases and each size is offered with the Panda and Reverse Panda dial configurations and measure 13.5mm in height. The only difference between the two, besides the diameter difference, is the fact that the larger version comes with a sapphire see-through case-back, while the 39mm comes with a closed anti-magnetic caseback.

While the first re-issue of the 417 ES in 2020 only had a monochromatic layout, the new Pandas and Reserve Pandas, as their names indicate, bring subtle colour plays to the collection. Either showcasing white sub-registers against a black dial or black sub-registers against a white dial, these new non-limited releases make the 417 ES accessible to more people by offering more variety. Like the black version, the new versions come with the almost full Arabic hour marker dials, a running seconds sub-register at the 9 o’clock and a 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock.

The 417 ES Panda Flyback chronographs may look super-vintage but they are definitely proper tool watches. All models come with a domed sapphire crystal, screw-down caseback offering 100 metres of water resistance, SuperLuminova Light Old Radium lume on the hour markers and hands, and are offered on a black calfskin leather strap. These new 417 ES pieces come with the iconic red mark on the fluted bezel which, in case you didn’t know, makes it possible to time events that are more than 60 minutes long.

Coming in two sizes means there is a 417 ES for everyone, now with the added bonus of coming with the flyback function and more interesting dial configurations. If you are into vintage and/or proper tool watches, you might want to take a closer look at these new releases from the German brand.

The Hanhart 417 ES Panda Flyback Chronographs pricing & availability

The Hanhart 417 ES Panda Flyback Chronographs are available now from the Hanhart website for 2,390 EUR