Pilot’s watches have been present in the cockpit since the very beginning of aviation. Most pilots used to navigate with the help of pocket watches, because wristwatches specially designed for flying were a rare occurrence.
A LEGEND IS BORN
The first pilot watch built by Hanhart in 1938, was a one-button chronograph “Calibre 40” with black dial, luminous numerals and the small distance between hands and dial in order to guarantee quick and unimpaired reading of time in bright lighting as well as in the dark. Followed by the legendary models “Tachy Tele” and “Calibre 41” in 1939, these watches came with a rotating bezel, luminescent hands and numerals, and red painted button with asymmetric position of the buttons for supreme ease of operation. The variant with only one chronograph button allows only one timer action and the reset. In the two button models, e.g. Tachy Tele and Calibre 41, the top button started the time measurement, which could be stopped and restarted again from this point. The bottom button instantly reset the indicator to zero during measurement (fly back function).
The bezel with its red marking was aligned with its minute hand to record a given flying distance. It was also possible to obtain second precise time intervals up to 30 minutes with the chronograph function. However, the watches did not display any military markings.
The wristwatch chronographs of the Gütenbach-based manufacturer Hanhart were mainly produced for Stuka pilots and Navy officers and were available in several case varieties. The chronographs came with an extremely reduced design; the dial was clearly organised and took inspiration from the cockpit instrumentation of contemporary aircrafts.
In 1997, the launch of the pilot chronograph Replica upheld Hanhart’s tradition in producing legendary pilot watches. Every detail of the original’s case and dial were copied with the greatest care; from the old Hanhart lettering to the asymmetrical offset of the buttons.
A COCKPIT ON YOUR WRIST – DORNIER BY HANHART
48 meters of wingspan, a total weight of 54 tons, 12 engines with 640 HP each: the Dornier DoX 1929 was the largest airship ever built, a vision that had become reality. Its creator, Claude Dornier became a legend.
Hanhart continued its development of pilot watches in 2003. With the intend to pay tribute to Dornier with a chronograph, Irén Dornier, grandson of Claude and owner of an airline, introduced in cooperation with Hanhart a unique pilot chronograph whose highest technical standards correspond with those of Claude Dornier’s aircraft. Perfect readability, a clearly structured layout and separate measuring for the instrumental flying to guarantee precise operation of landing facilities. Its design, too, unique: wing elements of the DoX 1929 including their parts classification are cited on the case.
UNMISTAKABLE CHARAKTERISTICS OF HANHART’S PILOT CHRONOGRAPHS
Hanhart’s watches stand for technical perfection and exceptional ease of use. Asymmetrical positions of buttons, extra strong sleeve that protects against vertical shocks and special manufacturing techniques used to produce the large crown that ensures easy handling and resistance to mechanical wear. Furthermore, Hanhart has gone to all lengths to achieve increased visibility by making the bezel exceptionally thin and increasing depth of recessed minute and second register bevels.
PIONEER – THE LEGEND OF TODAY
At Baselworld 2010, Hanhart the first models in the collection “PIONEER” before: Mk I, Mk II and TachyTele based in the design and engineering of the legendary Hanhart chronographs and thus build on a long tradition and high level of expertise with the times.
Based on the pilot watches the 30s embodies the PIONEER series a faithful tribute to Hanhart’s long tradition and expertise in the mechanical precision timekeeping. Already at first glance can be the clarity of a classic Hanhart chronographs not misunderstand: the asymmetrical button arrangement, the red reset button, depending on the model, the fluted rotating bezel and the timeless leather strap with satin rivets.
This unique combination of duty to tradition and modern spirit is embodied under the claim of the highest precision, perfect functionality and optimum readability in each Hanhart PIONEER.
Discover the variety of our PIONEER collection.