The Hanhart brand, born in Switzerland and later relocated to Germany, has a long tradition of producing pilot's watches.
Primarily, its chronographs equipped with calibers 40 and 42 have become some of the defining models in this genre, proving their reliability on battlefields and the wrists of many pilots after conflicts. In its latest model, Hanhart decided to forego the chronograph function but retained some historical design features. Limited to 100 pieces in 2024, more sporty and bold than classic models, the new Hanhart Preventor9 S.
The design of the Preventor9 S is based on the historical Hanhart model from the 1950s, a watch equipped with the caliber 42 chronograph, in line with the recent reissue of the 417 ES model. In the new edition, the presence of a small second hand at the 9 o'clock position, used in historical models, is important. The idea is that by removing the chronograph function from the caliber 42 with its central second hand and minute counter at the 3 o'clock position, the result is a watch indicating running seconds at the 9 o'clock position. Therefore, Hanhart made some changes in its usual smart and accessible way to create the new Preventor9 S.
A more modern and slightly bold approach to the concept of pilot's watches, these new watches are housed in a reasonable 40 mm case (which is not too much for pilot's watches). Unlike chronograph models, these small second watches do not feature the brand's signature rotating fluted bezel but instead use a clean smooth bezel. A feature of this limited series is the black PVD-coated case used to prevent reflections in the pilot's cockpit, and the letter S in the name stands for the German word "Schwarz," which translates to "black" in English. The model is complemented by a domed sapphire crystal with AR coating, a screw-down case back, and 10 bar water resistance.
The black dial of the Hanhart Preventor9 S possesses all the familiar brand features but without the chronograph counter. It is equipped with a railroad minute track and large luminous Arabic numerals, ensuring optimal readability. The hands, unlike the 4117 ES, are done in a classic cathedral style, contrasting with the overall modern appearance of the watch. The watch is clean, efficient, and performs what it is designed to do - indicate time in the most legible way.
Inside the darkened case is the reliable automatic Sellita SW200-1 movement, modified by Dubois-Depraz to set the small second hand at the 9 o'clock position. This movement has retained the 4 Hz frequency and a rather short power reserve of 38 hours but is equipped with a "stop-seconds" mechanism for precise time setting.
The Hanhart Preventor9 S watches on a black calf leather strap with white contrast stitching and an Alcantara lining are released in a limited edition of 100 pieces in 2024, priced at 1,290 euros (including taxes). More information can be found on the website www.hanhart.com.