Not just about the chronos: Hanhart targets pro divers with the Aquasphere Ocean Fade
Borna Bošnjak- Hanhart expands the Aquasphere collection with the new Ocean Fade, bringing a gradient blue dial and new straps.
- The brawny 42mm case is water-resistant to 300 metres, certified by the ISO-equivalent DIN 8310 standard.
- Available with a choice of three different straps, the Aquasphere Ocean Fade starts at €1,490, powered by a Soprod automatic.
Up until recently, Hanhart was a brand with a clear, single focus – tributing their heritage rich with important pilot’s chronographs. Though the brand revelled in that niche, there was a danger of becoming one-dimensional, especially in an evolving market that’s become overly reliant on a constantly churning release cycle. To remedy that, Hanhart launched their first-ever dive watch collection in October of 2024, inspired by the signatures that started with the Primus Fly Navy a year before. The Aquasphere presented with clear brand signatures: stencil-like numerals, bold lines, and plenty of Teutonic robustness. The Aquasphere Ocean Fade adds a subtle, new dial into the mix, alongside a couple of strap novelties, too.
As this is a new collection, Hanhart couldn’t quite pull a design from their archives and just make it again. That doesn’t mean, however, that they can’t call on certain brand signatures that are consistent with all of their watches. Looking from the bezel inwards, you’ll notice the red-tinged dash that has become synonymous with Hanhart chronographs, extending into the bezel insert’s red triangle.
Further in, all three hands are quite complex. The semi-skeletonised design again pulls from Hanhart’s history and their signature syringe hands, though they’ve now been rendered in a pseudo-sword format. I think the overall design works really well, but the different strips of brushing, polishing, and lume might be just a tad too complicated for me. That said, I imagine the double-striped lume of the hour hand will help differentiate it in the dark.
To match the legible handset, Hanahrt equipped the Aquasphere with broad, tapering stick markers, with 12 o’clock being the exception. Here, the “12” numeral matches the stencil-like typeface used for the bezel. Looking at the top of the dial, it’s also where you’ll find it to be the lightest in colour, as it gently transitions from navy to abyss blue at the “Made in Germany” text on either side of the 6 o’clock index.
On the wrist, don’t go expecting vintage-adjacent proportions either. At 42mm in diameter, 12.95mm in height, and 49mm lug-to-lug, the Aquasphere is a thoroughly modern diver, and sized to match. The steel case still carries a mixture of brushing and polishing despite the tool-tastic intentions, though the latter is mostly limited to the bezel ring. As for the insert, Hanhart will offer it in either black or blue finishes, though I think the blue looks especially ace.
Should you actually take the Aquasphere diving – and you really should – I doubt you’ll have any trouble. Along with the chunky bezel indices, the watch is 300-metre water-resistant, certified by the DIN 8310 standard (if you’re more familiar with ISO parlance, that would be the 2281 set of requirements). To go with the double decent diving capabilities, Hanhart is offering the Aquasphere with three different strap and bracelet options. The Hanhart-branded rubber strap in black or blue is the main novelty, mounted on a steel folding clasp. In addition, the Aquascaphe is available on the stretchy fabric Hook Strap, or a classic, three-link steel bracelet.
A change that I’m quite surprised about is one you won’t see on the outside. Hidden beneath the solid caseback, Hanhart has opted for a Soprod P024, a movement that’s the less common clone of the ubiquitous ETA 2824. For the first Aquasphere batch, Hanhart used the Sellita SW200, so I wonder whether movement availability from the manufacturer affected their choice this time around. Either way, the specs you can expect are all the same – 4Hz beat rate, automatic winding, and a (quite measly) 38-hour power reserve.
I can’t quite explain why, but the Aquasphere looks exactly how I would expect a Hanhart dive watch to look. That’s a good thing, and proves that their design team is capable of branching out, despite most of the interest coming from their 415 and 417 chronographs.
Hanhart Aquasphere Ocean Fade pricing and availability
The Hanhart Aquasphere Ocean Fade is available now. Price: €1,490 (Hook Strap), €1,590 (rubber strap), €1,690 (steel bracelet)
| Brand | Hanhart |
| Model | Aquasphere Ocean Fade |
| Reference Number | 772.271 (blue bezel) 777.271 (black bezel) |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 12.95mm (T) x 49mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Domed sapphire front |
| Dial | Gradient blue to black |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap |
Hook Strap in blue
Rubber strap in blue or black Stainless steel bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | Soprod P024, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, unidirectional diving bezel |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | €1,490 (Hook Strap) €1,590 (rubber strap) €1,690 (steel bracelet) |