Description
Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition
Some watches become associated with famous names through advertising. The Hanhart 417 ES became associated with Steve McQueen for a much simpler reason: he chose to wear one. Photographs from races, private moments and life away from the film set repeatedly show McQueen with his own 417 ES on his wrist. The Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition draws directly from that genuine connection, pairing the historic military chronograph with carefully considered details linked to one of its most recognisable wearers.
Limited to just 300 pieces worldwide, the edition uses a 39 mm stainless steel case that closely follows the proportions of the historic 417 ES. Its compact 46 mm lug-to-lug measurement, fluted bidirectional bezel and highly domed sapphire crystal preserve the purposeful character of the original without turning the watch into an oversized modern interpretation. The signature Hanhart red chronograph pusher remains firmly in place, complemented by brushed and polished case surfaces and the historic ‘h’ marking on the crown.
The matte black dial stays faithful to the functional character that made the 417 such a distinctive pilot’s chronograph. Steve McQueen’s signature appears discreetly on the dial rather than dominating it, while the numerals and hands use Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium GL to recreate the warm appearance of aged luminous material. The minute and central seconds hands feature downward-curved tips to minimise parallax error, a technical detail that reinforces the watch’s instrument-like origins.
Inside is the hand-wound Sellita AMT5100 M flyback chronograph movement. Its flyback mechanism allows the running chronograph to be reset and immediately restarted with a single press, rather than requiring the conventional stop, reset and restart sequence. The calibre operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, provides at least 58 hours of power reserve and includes hacking seconds, small seconds, a 30-minute counter and central chronograph seconds. Each movement is regulated by Hanhart in Gütenbach to an average daily rate between 0 and +8 seconds across six positions.
One of the most characterful elements is the dark brown Shell Cordovan cuff strap. Historical photographs show McQueen wearing his 417 ES on a similar style of strap, with a continuous leather section running beneath the watch case. Hanhart recreates that appearance using Shell Cordovan produced by Italian tannery Comipel, chosen for its dense structure, smooth finish, natural lustre and durability. The watch retains a standard 20 mm lug width, allowing it to be paired with additional compatible Hanhart leather straps or the latest steel bracelet.
The presentation set extends the historical references beyond the watch itself. Each example includes a booklet, an individually numbered plaque, red nail polish referencing the story behind Hanhart’s famous red pusher, and a limitation card styled after Steve McQueen’s 1964 international FIM racing licence. The card is signed by McQueen’s grandchildren Chase and Madison McQueen, while the reverse also carries the signature of the watchmaker responsible for assembling the chronograph in Gütenbach. Together, these details make the 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition a particularly personal interpretation of one of Hanhart’s most important chronographs.
Technical Specifications
Case
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Height: 13.30 mm including crystal
- Case height excluding crystal: 11.55 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 46 mm
- Brushed and polished stainless steel construction
- Red chronograph pusher in HyCeram®
- Historical ‘h’ marking on crown
Bezel
- Fluted bezel with red insert
- Bidirectional rotation
- Click-free operation
Crystal
- Highly domed sapphire crystal
- Convex profile
- Double-sided anti-reflective coating
Caseback
- Screw-down stainless steel caseback
- Sapphire exhibition window
- Anti-reflective coating on inner surface
- Individually numbered XXX/300
Water Resistance
- 10 bar / 10 ATM
- Tested according to DIN 8310
Dial
- Matte black dial
- Historical Hanhart logo
- Steve McQueen signature
- Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium GL numerals
Hands
- Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium GL coating
- Minute hand with downward-curved tip to minimise parallax error
- Central chronograph seconds hand with downward-curved tip
Movement
- Sellita AMT5100 M
- Mechanical hand-wound calibre
- Flyback chronograph
- 23 jewels
- Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour / 4 Hz
- Minimum power reserve: 58 hours
- Hacking seconds
Chronograph Functions
- Flyback function
- Central chronograph seconds
- 30-minute chronograph counter
- Small seconds
Accuracy
- Regulated at the Hanhart manufacture in Gütenbach
- Average daily rate: 0 to +8 seconds per day across six positions
- Maximum permitted deviation between individual positions: 10 seconds
Strap
- Dark brown Shell Cordovan leather cuff strap with pad
- Shell Cordovan supplied by Italian tannery Comipel
- Pin buckle with historical Hanhart logo
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Quick-release spring bars
Compatible Strap Options
- Black leather
- Dark brown leather
- Light brown leather
- Leather options available with or without pad
- New-generation Hanhart steel bracelet with tool-free micro-adjustment
Limited Edition
- Limited to 300 pieces worldwide
- Individual limitation number engraved on caseback
Presentation
- Presentation box
- Booklet
- Individually numbered plaque
- Red nail polish referencing the Hanhart red pusher legend
- Limited-edition card inspired by Steve McQueen’s 1964 international FIM racing licence
- Card signed by Chase and Madison McQueen
- Reverse signed by the Hanhart watchmaker responsible for assembling the chronograph
