The new 417 ES Heritage Flyback is the result of Hanhart listening to its customers
Borna BošnjakHow does a watch become legendary? For starters, you need a good origin story, and hopefully one with a recognisable face to carry it. When it comes to Hanhart, there are several, though it’s the brand’s red pusher and its association with Steve McQueen that are the most impactful. So when you put those two things together, especially in response to fan feedback, it’s pretty easy to see why the new Hanhart 417 ES Heritage Flyback could have a lot going for it. The recipe is a familiar one, as the German brand is essentially reissuing the 417 ES 1954 from 2022, but adding two important features. The first one I’ve hinted to already, and is the one you’ll be able to see, while the other is hidden under the hood. Let’s see how these subtle changes make a good watch even better.
The case
Starting with the case, the new 417 ES Heritage Flyback is available in either a 39mm or 42mm diameter. This is something Hanhart has offered for some time now, with fans being especially happy once the smaller variant was introduced – and it’s that 39mm version that we got our hands on. With a mechanical chronograph movement inside, the thickness sits at 13.3mm, which isn’t all too bad, and the 46mm lug-to-lug fits on pretty much any wrist.
Despite being a tool watch, there is quite a fine case finish. The flanks and tops of the lugs are finely brushed, while the pushers and bevels have a really nice polished highlight. And speaking of highlights, it’s that red pusher that stands out the most. The story goes that an aviator looked down at the watch, finding the pusher painted in red nail polish as a memento of a beloved. Even Hanhart admits this may be just a story, but it is a cute one. Originally, it had a functional purpose, as even early Hanharts had flyback functions, so if engaged at the wrong time, an important timing sequence could be mistakenly reset. On the new 417 ES Heritage Flyback, the red pusher is made of HyCeram, a blend manufactured by Invicon Chemical Solutions consisting of 60% ceramic with polymers added in.
The dial
Oftentimes brands make changes to their watches just for the sake of change, rather than implementing a new feature or improvement, but I’m happy to report that Hanhart got up to no such things with the dial. I’m honestly not sure whether I’d make any changes to the ultra-legible, black 417 ES dial (though the Moby Dick is pretty hot too). You’ve got nods to the vintage stuff in the open 6 and Hanhart script, with perfectly sized sub-dials that don’t interfere with the minute track nor the hour indices. The syringe handset allows for plenty of luminescence, including a thin strip down the central chrono hand, which is not something we always see. And if you did wish for something different, Hanhart still offers the 415 ES with its winged logo.
The strap
What is probably the most jarring design feature on many of Hanhart’s Bundeswehr-inspired pieces is the strap. Bringing ol’ McQueen back into the conversation for a moment, he famously wore his example on a bund strap, named so for its German armed forces origins. While I’m usually not a fan, I think it works an absolute treat on the 417 ES (and Hanharts in general), but the good news is that you can easily remove the additional layer, resulting in a traditional two-piece leather strap. Either way, you get a high-quality piece of leather on your wrist, and can even option a steel bracelet, with the 20mm lug width giving further aftermarket flexibility.
The movement
As to the other big update for the 417 ES Heritage Flyback, we have to look beneath the caseback, though, the 39mm that we reviewed makes that a tad more difficult. While the 42mm variant does come with an open caseback, Hanhart notes that the 39mm has an “anti-magnetic case“, though without quantifying the differences in their anti-magnetic resistance.
While perusing the above image for visual reference, it won’t surprise you to learn based on the new model’s name that Hanhart has added flyback functionality to the 417 ES. While the previous iteration used a Sellita SW510, the 417 ES Heritage Flyback upgrades to the AMT5100 M. The AMT division of Sellita’s manufacture has seen plenty of business as of late, basing its solutions on Sellita’s well-respected range. As such, the AMT5100 is not just a renamed SW510 with a flyback, as it also upgrades the cam-operated chronograph to a column wheel one, visible in bright blue to the right of the crown. Most of the architecture is retained however, including that large central bridge that unfortunately covers many of the components, with just a simple, striped finish. It was never my favourite-looking chrono movement, so I’m certainly not opposed to a closed caseback. Alongside the look, the 58-hour power reserve and 4Hz beat rate are carryovers too, still making it a compelling, entry-level Swiss chronograph.
The verdict
This one’s pretty easy to sum up folks: it’s a good watch that got even better. The red pusher is a cute nod to the brand’s past, and the movement is an upgrade not just in terms of complication (more closely aligning it to vintage Hanharts too), but also in user friendliness owing to the column wheel. I do have to admit an indiscretion, though. You know how I said the dial wasn’t changed at all? Alas, that wasn’t true. The new Heritage Flyback does add a third line of text at 6 o’clock, reading “flyback”, and in the spirit of unnecessary nitpicking, I did think the two-liner of the 1954 had better symmetry. Though, for just €300 more than its non-flyback predecessor, the 417 ES Heritage Flyback is still a great value buy.
Hanhart 417 ES Heritage Flyback pricing and availability
The Hanhart 417 ES Heritage Flyback is now available. Price: €2,590
| Brand | Hanhart |
| Model | 417 ES Heritage Flyback |
| Reference Number | H701.212 |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 13.3mm (T) x 46mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Box-domed sapphire front |
| Dial | Black |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Black bund strap, steel pin buckle |
| Movement | Sellita AMT 5100 M, manual winding |
| Power Reserve | 58 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | €2,590 |