First Look at the Hanhart Primus Nautic Pilot Bronze

Starting in 1882, Hanhart has been specializing in pilot chronographs and stopwatches for well over a century. Hanhart’s first chronograph in a long line of many was the Caliber 40, which began production in 1938 and became the company’s main product, and its re-issue is now a great collector’s piece in its own right. In recent years, Hanhart has been producing both vintage inspired pilot watches (Pioneer series) and modern pilot watches (Primus Pilot series). Hanhart’s newest model is the Primus Nautic Pilot Bronze.

Hanhart Primus Nautic Pilot Bronze

• Case Material: Stainless steel with bronze PVD coating
• Dial: Royal Blue
• Dimensions: 44mm
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Water Resistance: 100 meters
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: Sellita SW510 (modified with La Joux-Perret)
• Strap/Bracelet: Textile blue with leather inlay
• Price: 2,950 Euros
• Expected Release: October 2019

This is a bold watch, both in the terms of its larger case size and the satin bronze coloring. The case measures 44mm across with a height of 15mm. Despite the watch’s name, the case isn’t actually bronze — it’s stainless steel with a bronze PVD coating, so unlike actual bronze cases, this case will not develop a deep patina. For those who prefer that patina, this is likely to be a non-starter. But for those who like the aesthetic of bronze before it patinates, this might be right up their alley.  Additionally, the coated case has a hardness of 1,300 Vickers HV (as a point of comparison, your average 316L steel case has a hardness of 200 Vickers HV). It’s a nice touch to make this pilot watch highly resistant to scratches.

The combination of the royal blue dial, the bronze-colored case, and the bold white markers and numbers works really well here. The handset is dramatic, and while wide skeleton hands can be hit or miss in a watch, in this instance the skeleton hands serve a functional purpose by making it easier to read the sub-dials. For optimal low-light visibility, there is a thick coating of Super-LumiNova on the hands, numbers, and markers. Another functional element is the large screw down crown. The case is rated to 10 atm in accordance to the German DIN 8310 standard.

The Pilot Bronze retains all the fun elements we like in a Hanhart watch — the fluted bezel, the red index inlay, as well as the iconic red chronograph pusher at 4:00. Consistent with historical Hanhart chronographs, this pilot watch retains the easy-to-read two-register dial with sub-seconds counter placement at 9:00, and the 30-minute chronograph counter at 3:00. A noteworthy feature of all Primus Pilot watches is the articulating lugs that move and contour to the wrist for a comfortable fit. Hanhart selected Sellita’s SW510 automatic movement for this chronograph, and modified it with movement house La Joux-Perret to give this watch a two-register layout. This movement is visible through the case back.

The blue canvas strap with a leather inlay is comfortable from the first wear, but the adjustment of the folding clasp requires closer attention when you snap the clasp pin into position. The machining on the clasp is excellent and in line with the quality of the case.

The Nautic Pilot Bronze is a bold statement piece, one that stands out with its bright blue dial and bronze case, two details that add an extra bit of pop to an already aggressive base design. The watch is limited to just 300 pieces, and retail price is 2,950 Euros. Hanhart

Words by Bhanu Chopra. Bhanu is one of the proprietors behind JUVO, an avid watch enthusiast and writer, and a lover of German watches. 

Photos by Ondrej Vislocky (tempusx on IG)