Hanhart is not as well-known outside of Germany as their competitors from Sinn or, say, Mühle Glashütte.
Yet, even if they feel uncomfortable about that, I am sure that they still can find solace in knowing that there are not so many independent brands out there that enjoy as long a history of making fine watches as they do. Established in Switzerland back in 1882, Hanhart now operates on the other side of the border in the German town of Gütenbach, Baden-Württemberg. Preparing for its 130th anniversary, the watchmaking specialist will soon present its new collection of chronographs. The sporty Primus Chronograph Diver is one of them.
Offering the brand’s easily recognizable styling with lots of sharp angles and all of its elements -starting with the bezel and all the way to the wide sword-shaped hands- being deliberately oversized to make as lasting impression as possible. Interestingly enough, they somehow manage not to degrade into the same kitsch-like oh-god-my-eyes extravaganza as some Japanese brands that, too, always try to make an impression on their potential customers.
I can’t say that I like the timekeeper’s styling: I only want to give the guys credit for creating an interesting within the deliberately chosen constraints of a watch that is supposed to look not only sporty, but also masculine and, well, aggressive.
Rated for depths of down to 100 meters, the Hanhart Primus Chronograph Diver isn’t a true “diver” -you need something rated for at least 200 meters / 20ATM or, preferably, more, but it still does look the part coming in a mean-looking ADLC-coated stainless steel case 44 mm in diameter and some 15 mm thick.
Anyway, the water-tightness comes courtesy of a screw-in winding crown and a screwed-down display case back, which is covered with a sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective treatment.
Like almost all modern mechanical divers, the German gadget features a fluted, unidirectional rotating bezel with the inevitable 60-minute scale stamped on it. To ensure better legibility, the bezel has a red-and-white insert at 12 o’clock, which is covered with Superluminova.
Powering the Primus is what they “cal. HAN38” automatic caliber. The movement, of course, is not an in-house job.
It is nothing more (but also: nothing less) than a slightly modified ETA Valjoux 7750 base movement with a black PVD-coated rotor that sports the Hanhart logo on it, and a bi-compax dial layout with a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute chronograph totalizer at 3 o’clock. The date is displayed at 6 o’clock.
Well, although there is nothing particularly new about this timekeeper, it may be a good choice for those in search of an unbeaten path to the world of entry-luxury watches. That is if the price is right.
See also: BOMBFROG BT25 Tactic tritium automatic diver
Photos: Hanhart
Hanhart Primus Chronograph Diver specification
Movement: Automatic, Caliber HAN38 (base Valjoux 7750, modified, bi-compax), 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, black PVD-coated rotor, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case and Bezel: Stainless steel, ADLC coated
Shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Case height: 15.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel, skeletonized
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black vulcanized rubber, folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodized aluminum) made from ADLC-coated stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire, antireflective